The Klickitat County News, Goldendale, WA., August 1, 1935, page 1

GULER-TROUT LAKE AREA IS FAMED FOR SCENERY, FISHING
Dairying Great Industry in Valley Surrounding Communities Near Mt. Adams Playground;
Christian Guler Pioneer Developer and Resident of District
By J. Fred Stilwell

     A News representative spent some time during the past two weeks in the Guler and Trout Lake area in the north-western portion of Klickitat county. If one was to write his personal impressions of the people and the territory and would be detailed, one issue, devoted entirely to the subject, would hardly be ample.
     But in order to present a "boiled-down" viewpoint and to give a great district recognition justly deserved, The News representative who was privileged to make the contact has shown to devote considerable space this week to the area and to one individual, especially, who has been and still is exceedingly instrumental in the success of the various industrial enterprises there as well as the successful publicizing of the mountain area to visitors from other sections of the country.
     Having read thus far, the causal reader will have but little difficulty in being able to guess that the individual referred to is one Christian "Chris" Guler.
     Mr. Guler, one of the county's pioneer residents is as well known over the county and the entire Mid-Columbia district as any one other person.
     The writer learned, on the recent trip and friendly visit at the Guler place, that "Chris" came to the United States at the age of 19 years from Switzerland. He settled for a time in Minnesota and thence made his way to his present home, known now as Guler. Perhaps, Mr. Guler's acquaintance with the mountain reaches of Switzerland, indelibly impressed upon the youthful intellect, forced him to seek a similar home in this country. His mountain home is somewhat typical of the Switzerland area and, no doubt, brings back fond memories of his youth.
     Mr. Guler is now 69 years old and looks back upon his years spent in the county as pleasant and extremely interesting. He resided in the state before it was admitted to the union. Mr. Guler possessed the first mail contract which called for transmission of the early day mail from White Salmon to Trout Lake. This, Mr. Guler refers to as "before roads were invented." Winding in and out of the ravines which abound in the wooded area between the two communities, and making every effort to miss this tree and that, as the team and hack (in the spring, summer and early fall months) made the perilous trips, and riding horseback when snows made the going to "tough" for wagons or any type of vehicle.
     Mr. Guler lays claim to the first telephone in the area. He cared for the first telephone switch board for five years without a cent of compensation, merely choosing to do the duty for the accommodation of his friends who resided up and down the valley at that time.
     Mr. Guler owns three acres at Guler which he has developed into a wonderfully scenic and attractive natural park. The park is one of the show places of the locality and is visited annually by hundreds of persons, both from the county and from points distant. The pioneer has maintained the park for 20 years and through his association with the visitors who have visited, has acquired a host of friends over the country.
     The community of Guler, and a fact that the town's namesake does not overlook, is located approximately 10 miles from the famed Mt. Adams huckleberries fields. According to federal statistics, to say nothing of those not checked, 60,000 gallons of berries have been harvested in a season - and this figure is increasing annually has been noted berry field becomes more widely known.
     Another source of extreme pleasure to this veteran of the county, is the fact that Guler is located but two miles from the Big Lava Cave, three-quarters of a mile in length,. The pioneer knows and correct he is, that this feature will soon be an important attraction with which to draw tourists from all parts of this country, perhaps foreign points.
     Another important feature that Mr. Guler will speak of is the fact that the community is only six miles from a great ice cave where one may find ice year 'round and a cool atmosphere despite the warmth of the atmosphere in lower altitudes.
     Another interesting note that the writer found while visiting with the pioneer was concerning the construction of the first road into Morrison creek. Mr. Guler, with T. Thode and Dr. A.G. Belshein were the men who were responsible for this pioneer roadway and a forerunner of more roads into the more inaccessible portions of the mountain area.
    The veteran of the section will tell you of the cool nights and comfortable days during the spring and summer. He will impress you with the angling and hunting grounds which abound in the area and he will tell you that the Guler-Trout Lake vicinity is coming to be known as a "Fisherman's Paradise." And right he is, if one will take the sportsman's word for it.
     The hotel at Guler was constructed by "Chris" more than thirty years ago, and while not actively engaged in its management at the present time, the pioneer residents became well and favorably known to hundreds while he stood in the lobby and greeted his many visitors in European and you're out.
     This story, if one may term it so, is written, not alone to better acquaint the reader with the subject, Mr. Guler, but to also acquaint one who may not have enjoyed the pleasure of the vicinity with the scenic, atmosphere and geological wonders there. If one would hear the complete story of the development there and would hear of what is in store for this great recreational area, a suggestion to contact Christian Guler, better known to his hosts of friends as just plain "Chris," is not amiss.

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©  Jeffrey L. Elmer