Jeff_Liz.ged

Diary of Isa E. Nix ETCHEVERRY

July 22, 1938 Married for one month, seems longer Not that it hasn't been the pleasantest months but because I feel like I had belonged to Pate much longer than that.. With much to do this morning in preparation for our trip, and finding our horses and mules, which got out of the pasture, we started at eleven thirty a.m. for a twenty eight mile ride being tired before we started I wondered if I would be able to-make the trip, but, after we were on our way a few miles I fe1t rested. Riding the nicest pinto horse (Prince), I found the trip all the way a very easy and enjoyable one. The first ten miles of the way I was familiar with the beauty of the hills, but after those miles I was discovering new places, beauty, and steeper climbing.. I thought as I rode along the trail that day, that very' few people really realized what a beautiful world we live in. In a car one passes the** hidden places, on foot one doesn't get so far, but horseback one sees everything. The Columbines and wild flowers were beautiful, I never saw such big beautiful spruce and fir trees. I don't have the words to put down the real beauty of it all. We had lunch on a clear cold stream on the Umpoguery forest reserve line. While we were lunching, (which seemed better than most dinners-because we were hungry), it started to rains so being well provided with proper slickers for the rain, we were not bothered at all. So the next few miles we traveled in a gentle rain which seemed to enhance the beauty of everything. One trail after leaving the Rangers Station was a very steep zigzag one. It seemed like it took us hour* to climb to the top which must have been three miles in length. ALL the way from there we were gradually climbing steeper into the higher mountains. The number of swift running streams of clear water was always a thrill to me; It seemed that there were so many of them. Roses, I never saw such large ones: a& the wild one & we came through. Pete got off and picked me a few which I carried a distance of about seven or eight miles in my hand. Anyone who has never seen the Indian paintbrush can never appreciate the gorgeous colorings from a most delicate pink and cream to the darkest of these colors. Well, we arrived at Fall Creek and Pete's brother's camp around seven o'clock p.m.., unpacked, and I put on my first pair of horse hobbles - always 'something new - made our bed which is a good one under a tree and the stars, cooked our supper of fried potatoes, sour, dough broad and tomatoes, visited with Blackie (Salvadore) and retired to bed - which seemed all of heaven to rest weary bones. July 23, 1938. Went back to sleep again, What a grand country Awakened about four but we to sleep in, frost an inch deep on our bad tarp, didn't get up before seven thirty. Found breakfast ready, which consisted of bacon and eggs and postum for me. Helped with the dishes and went with Pete to find the horses The horses were at the falls, and there for the first time I saw falls which were fall *, Some say they fall over two thousand feet, nearly three A large stream of water becomes a mist before it reaches the bottom., What a eight, surly nature has provided this country with some marvels which aren't seen but by a very few people. I feel honored. We packed our mules and left for another camp. I was riding a mule because of the steep and rough trail we were going to go over. More beauty and a flower garden all the way. Many kinds which I am not familiar with. Towards the last of our ride we were above timberline and in among big snowdrifts with streams of water running in every direction. We left six hundred pounds of salt we were carrying at a camp ground, stopped and visited with a friend who lives in a tent (Clara) then came on to our camp- found things not so clean as at Blackies Also the herder having troubles: with sheep, having mixed herds with another outfit. After setting up our teepee tent, Rote left to see what could be done, Clara came down to this camp while her husband (Agee) went and helped. We had quite a ha" storm which left the ground white and the air colder. I cooked supper and after Clara left I retired feeling tired than I was the first day, July 24 Got up after Pete had gone to finish cutting out the sheep. Eight o'clock a.m., feeling hungry but rested. I built a fire and cooked some breakfast, cleaned up the camp boxes and cooked dinner, still they haven't returned, so it seems; this day will be one of real rest for me. Three o'clock and they finally came for dinner:. Between wait* I have had some nice sleep. Dinner over, I helped Pat* got some wood, early supper and we went to bed. July 25 Got up about eight o'clock. Got me some breakfast and went to look for Pete.. Didn't see him, so decided to do a little fishing. Stream by the tent, or I should say two, we are in a small neck of land between two large streams of water, but no fish. Finally saw Pate, Went up and watched them cut lambs and eve of Ketchems out of our herd. Came back and had an early dinner. Our camp to close to the main trail, has been several people pass horseback all-day. Two men have been fixing trail across from our tent all day so it hasn't been lone some as far as seeing people. Slept four hour* while Pete cleaned up. Clara was down for a hour and Agee came by a few minutes later and they just left. We are going fishing tomorrow. July 26 Got up early. They finished cutting out the sheep and Pete came in sick* I gave his a big cup of soda water and two aspirins, and he felt some better - after that* Clara and Aggee came and we fixed our lunch and was off for Lake Crystal a distance of about ten miles. One cannot describe the trails. I felt like I had a bit of panty-waist about me when it came to some of the places* We stopped at a camp and picked up a fellow (John). who was to show us a part of the trail also fish with us. After some time we landed at the lake and there we found a party of some fourteen tourists there, having come up horseback from Lack City to fish. The wind was blowing and it tryed to rain Five fish were caught by us. Clara the first, Agee the second and largest (1/2 lb.) and John and then Pate and then my line. I say my line but I didn't land. it, the fish took line & pole and all into the middle of the lake and if it hadn't been for a ver,7 smart dog which retrieved it,, our fifth fish would have been lost It was all as large as Agee's. We returned over another trail, Agge case" a, coyote and several ground hogs. The trail was some what better although I nearly got Holley stuck in a mud hole. Snow was all around us I had a snow ball to eat while waiting for Pete, and Agge to *reset a trap, got rained on, got home to camp about five or six o'clock hungry and tired, (Clara and I)- had supper Agge and Clara left for camp and we went to bed. July 27 Got up early, helped count Raleencies sheep got my feet wet end they stayed that way all day. Had breakfast while Pete got the horses. We packed the camp but it rained so hard we were afraid that we wouldn't be able to wave. camp but finally it cleared up enough so we moved up about a mile, got camp set and it rained like the devil. We were coming on to Blackie's Camp and after so long a wait while we cooked dinner and ate it, it cleared up and we came back over the trail. We met Blackie on the way to his sheep, stopped and talked to him then went on to his camp. We unpacked, pitched our tent, and had supper. I read an article to Pete out of the "American" - talked with Blackie then went to bed. Aft July 28 Had breakfast early and packed camp and moved some two miles from old camp. It's a beautiful place-but I preferred the other because of the trees., Set camp, had dinner. Pete took a bath, and I washed. Put out a fairly good washing, then I took a bath, washed my head and felt like a new person. Went to bed long before Pate did* July, 29 Blackie's birthday He is 36 years old. Day uneventful except for the pills Pete and I took last night.