Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1859-01-27

rent of water gushing outpf assure in the
base Of solid rock cliff. affording in itsell
apparently On simple supply Of tine element
i6r . respsctable river. .,Whep fairly op.
Iposlee to II and while still nsntally en-
tasasering 70 compute its Gov 10 stssdsrd
gallens, ous guide turned suddenly 70 the
right and ve Moved him quickly cut Of
sight Of ths. Missosri and her wonders.
The folio wing Gay We bed our 6rst dis
tiLct view Of the great Rocky 0ouptains.
about thirty miles distant, stretched gu,
! before " from north 70 south - far % eye
could reach, and forming al ugly barrier,
- Ne thosght, 70 the, pleasures of our
journey. Grown Butte and Bird-tsil Rock,
noted land marks among the spurs Of the
mountains, were each passed in turn, and
At sun set 10 camped on Dearborn river,
q ~ very foot Of the esssd shais, hsyiag
travelled thus far Q smooth and level road
o heart could wish.
That night was clear aud very cold, ~.
Ter freezing to considerable thickness in
the tent, and in the morning the ground
vas covered with severe frost--ths first
No had seen.
Soon after leaving Dearborn river "
struck we'll defined trail, which te learn
ed from the guide would take ss to eur
journeys cad. Turning into this, there.
fore, We logged along At more confident
pace. our road growing roughcr and more
rugged o. We adsascsd until We turned
| into the narrow de6le Or canon which ~
we're TO follow to the summit at its head,
Around and about 10 on VII sides the
mountains we're piled up to an almost in.
conceivable hight, their sides Or slopes
being, contrary to our prs-conceived no.
tons, quite regular in surface and covered
with luxuriant growth Of grass, or shaded
viii dense forests of pine. Where We
expected to find the mountain sides steep,
abrupt and irregular, and destitute Of veg.
citation, save the clinging moss Or stunted
shrub that could exist on the bare rock .
surface, towering up terrible in extent Of
utter bleaknsss and barrenness, We found
the bill sides smoothly coated with thick
verdure, riyalling in richuess and luxuri.
ance the grass on the fertile plain or
studded with stately pines. each equal to
the proudest tree Of the low land forest
And where We anticipated the blank white
Of eternal SLOW, and the severe aud pinch.
ing rigor Of 10y winter, we found the varie.
gated hue Of natures green and the genial
warmth Of summers day. Still We were
forced to admit, though disappointed, tha.
what wss lost 10 the scenery Of the terrible
by the absence Of all bleakness and bar.
rennsss, was amply compensated by an
addition of the beautiful in the richness
Asd rankuess Of the vcrdurs.
Higher up the cauon cur path led thro'
. dense thicket Of young pines whose tall,
slim and graceful trunks and brush like
tops resembled much in regularity and
thickness gigantic stalks of wheat. Wind.
ing our way through them we reched q
more open road and soon thereafter COM
meneed the last ascent to the summit
Having care for our horses we dismount.
ed, and led or drove them up before US
aud toiling slowly and YEARLY, step by
step, up the steep hill side---zigzagging
first to the RICH, aud then to the left, to
gain foot hold or ease the ascent, we
fairly lifted ourselves somewhat tired and
exhausted on the level Of the summit
Often while carrying myself up that hill
my legs would tire and my spirits flag in
spite OF me, and l would involuntarily turn
to observe the others, half hoping to fluid
them riding tina. might have an excuse
10 get on my horse. But it was in vain
each time turned l bebeld the Major
though on the shady side Of fifty, footing il
up as nimbly aad easily, it seemed to me
as an antelope and the Colonel, near ter
years bis senior, followed ~ surely and
steadily as If his sinews were of iron.
However we reached the top, and hav-
ing taken a peep over into the Pacific
world, seated ourselves under the shade o
young pine 10 rest and cool Oft for 1cs
pite our ample provision of thick coats snc
rsbe mittens to keep us from. catching colo
while crossing the mountains, we were &C
tually oppressed with heat though wear
ing no coat at all. When we looked te
The east or west the far off valleys seemed
SO much bela~ as tina. NC could easily i'm
sgine ourselves ION The ridge. pole OF ere
alton - but when we turned to the north
or south, on either hand mountain ros,
up so high above US we we're forced to I'D
NIT we we're pretty low down. Yet ".
were in Lewis and CLARKs Pass, on loE
of the Rocky Moustains, and though there
were many points near us several thou
sand feet higher than where We sat, | toI
one was perfectly satisfied with the high,
" elevated position then occupied in the
world. and felt not the slightest ambition
to climb any higher. provided our ros1
home did not compel mt 10 do 80.
| Having rested ourselves and horses, We
crossed the level ground on the summit
which We found TO be about two husdred
yards vide, and again on foot commenced
tho descent to the west. Though st.ep
the hill vas short and ia less than hall
nile from the top we reached the valley oil
. email stream of pnre and lmpid water
and camped on its banks.
The first day on the Pacific slope was tO
y a day OF vexstion and delay. Our Aor
rs during the night had re crossed the
mountain and ~ers some distance on the
home oad To get them back aud prop
erly loaded requ red time, and it was there
fore eleven O'Clock before we 90, iairl,
started. However, start We did, anu u, d
brisk pace pursued our road down tie val
ley but we were soon brought 70 y SUD.
den s,and-stili to change pack, thu hors,
that day favored With an insignificant load
of bare tent poles to rest him he having
hitherto been honored with the very rsspec
table and responsible burthcn Of two hun
dred and seven pounds OF the solid bone
and sinew which gives proper shape aud
weight to the Colonels person. became dis
satisfied with the change, and pack horse
fashion expressed hi. disapproyal of the