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Show Maple Canyon is of fascinating interest alike to the geologist, the historian, and the non-technical lever of beautiful and impressive scenery. To the geologist, this awe inspiring inspir-ing spectacle speaks volumes concerning con-cerning those dim, dark ages of the past when this turbulent earth was undergoing the stress and strain of formation. It indicates the gigantic convulsions that must have taken place to take these colossal co-lossal cliffs, wrench them from their quiet beds;, and hurl them skyward so that their upended bases overtop the reaching pines by hundreds of feet. It speaks of the mighty torrent that swept down through the canyon, tearing away the conglomerate mass of the cliffs, cutting deep, perpendicular chasms through the rocky walls, strewing its cargo of boulders and silt at the gaping mouth of the canyon. The historian will be interested to note how this great canyon became be-came a natural and choice habitat for the red man, who made it his camp many hundreds of years before be-fore the white man appropriated it in his endless quest of empire. Its walled-in valley made it an ideal site for the Indian camp, sheltered from the winds, abundant in its supply cf water, teeming with its yield of berries and small fruits. Its winding forks abounded in deer and elk; the underbrush was alive with quail, sage hens, grouse, pine hens, rabbits, squirrels, and myriads of furred and feathered creatures who have been forced farther and farther back to disappearing frontiers fron-tiers which are now no more. Even yet, the stillness of this echoing paradise is broken by the whirr of coveys of audacious quail and pine hens raising from the ferns and scrub oak; the canyon frequently echoes with the crackle of breaking break-ing pine limbs, broken by some venturesome ven-turesome deer or elk that comes to drink at the bubbling spring at the forks, or at the emerald pools along the rocky little creek that traverses the maple clad canyon. What a natural fortress it "provided "pro-vided for swarthy old Black Hawk and his people! Box Canyon, one of the arms of Maple, is a narrow cliff-walled chasm rising over five hundred feet in sheer perpendicular beauty. Never more than fifty feet wide at the bottom, it is always narrower at the top. One Indian Brave with bow and arrow at its narrow entrance could hold at bay an entire army of beseigers. Within With-in Box Canyon, their position was impregnable. The gurgling little fails at its head acted alike as barrier bar-rier to enemies and provided good water so the Black Hawk and his tribe could withstand an indefinite seise. Black Hawk is gone gene are his beaded and feathered people to make way for the steady advance r.f white civilization. But his lovely camp remains. Into its once almost inaccessible ruggedness, enterprising enterpris-ing citizens, civic and fraternal organizations, or-ganizations, with federal assistance, have constructed a splendid automobile auto-mobile road. At the old Black Hawk Camp at the Forks, without marring 'its natural beauty, tables and benches have been installed under the maples: its grassy plain bes been made into a parking space, cool and shady; rustic stoves and evens are installed to permit convenient camp cooking; the towering tow-ering cliffs wall in a natural auditorium, audi-torium, so that rn gala nights, with onlv the stars and crackling camp fires for light, the canyon resounds with Jcvous music. The springs have been protected to provide clean, cold water for camping; rustic rus-tic signs point out to the visitor the scenic novelties of the canyon the natural bridge, Leaning Rock, Lovers Leap, the human footprint in solid rock, the Lion, Pulpit Rock, the Falls, Box Canyon, and many other unusual attractions. Over ten thousand visitors registered reg-istered at Maple the first year, and a far larger number have returned every year since. Governors Dern and Blood have been its guests. Secretary Welling makes his yearly pilgrimage to attend Maple Canyon Can-yon Day celebration. Our educational educa-tional directors, including Dr. Thomas, Dr. Harris, and Dr. Peterson, Pe-terson, our naturalists and geologists geolo-gists including Dr. Pack, Dr. Merrill, Mer-rill, and others; noted radio artists, including Peter Spraynozzle and the Danish comedian, P. C. Peterson, Peter-son, and countless other state, federal, fed-eral, and civic officials have been our guests, and have contributed toward the success of these celebrations. cele-brations. The best musical talent obtainable in the state has contributed con-tributed its services to make these gatherings memorable events. The Maple Canyon Day celebration celebra-tion this coming June 22nd promises promis-es to be the climax of all celebrations celebra-tions to date. The attendance of -.?.;'-. t i the most distinguished and i 'teres ting people of the state and icd.:ral service is assured; artists and organizations who have won state coXests in their arts will furnish entertainment; the road is porfect; parking facilities have boen improved; a fine speakers stand has been provided by the forest service in the natural auditorium aud-itorium in fact, every conceivable convenience and entertainment will be provided for the visitor. Maple Canyon is not only an I-deal I-deal place for a celebration, but it provides an incomparable place for individual camps and family outings. A more restful setting ranrot be imagined. Beauty, romance, ro-mance, interest it abounds in all three. |