New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-10-03

the face Of its captor or course we did not shoot
the hens-an act of selfdenial Tour salt fare beng
oOnsdered which ought to be set down to our credit
Ere long we reached meadows again, threaded by
swift tributary brooks Of the Roaring Fork. The pas
sage Of these streams, small as they were. gave US
some trouble owing TO the treacherous character OF
the soil. Mr. Boards mule went down and rolled
over upon him, pinnng him fast in the mud, and mg
pony only avoided like disaster by bis great shrewd
moss and agility.
At O'Clock we camped on the banks Of brook,
and our fishers Immediately got their gear in readl-
ness for trout Two Of us determined on bath in
spite Of musketoes and water; and while portion
Of the party playing leap-frog solitaire, IN the
search for grasshOpper bait another portion landing
occasional dminutive fish, and the remainder Of
tempting 10 dry their tnglng skins, there was sud
den cry OF Chow! howl" across the low willow
thickets Indians with vermilion faces aud stream
ing black hair There were two braves and squaws'
mounted, and two pappOOses. They crossed 10 us
without ceremony shook hands, and attempted con-
versation, which was not very edfyng until we ans
covered that one of them understood little SPANS
We then learned that they were on their way IRON
the Blue 10 iOn the remainder of their tribe on the
head waters Of the Grand their chief Colorado was
at Breckenridge and they thought the rivers coud 1e
fOrded One of the men--whO. wore, slngularlY
enough, an austrian military coat (from Maximllans
army )pOsSessed some tact and discretion lie pre,
vented the other from going too near our luggage ana
withdrew with him to q little distance when we sat
down to our meal He showed little curiosity about
cine " aud made certain mysterious signs, nc seemed
satisfied The squaws brought their shy pappooses to
look at us-beautfu beings all OF them, with pant,
smeared faces, and hideOuSly suggestive mar ana
blankets. UnCas ard COra-heroeS and heIOlnes OF
romance
Presently another horsemGn appeared, gallopng TO-
ward us over the hills from the opposite direction III
was White, who, to our great JOY had snge-hen az
his saddle bow and supply OF anelope-venlSOn lor
our supper He, too, had crossed corner OF the
moss-agate patch, without finding any OF the Jewels
Considerably refreshed by the bath and by one de-
lciOus trout apiece (would 1t had been dozen we
pushed forward entering billy region, where dcnSe
tracts Of woodland sltornaed with fields OF flowers
The tracks of elk deer and even bear, were frequent
but much as our hunters dashed away from the tran,
they brought us nothing After some miles we iolno
ourselves suddenly on bluff. overlooking hoalInS
Fork which issued, with many snaky tWist, Irolh
stretch of nine forest Into Ills forest went the ral
so Obstructed with fallen timber thaI our progress wa
an unintermtted series of leaps; we o1Iuid al inc
performances that were ever Maue WIN oaIs III 'uo
crcus-ring.
On emerging from this wood we found ourselves IN
the ovelest meadow park, several miles long, opening
before us directly to the foot of the great snowy peaks
A,swift brook sped down it, under bowery thlckets
and past cumps of trees; the turf was brilliantly
green and spangied with flowers; Low hills bounded 1t
on either side the forests with which they were Gov
cred sending out irregular capes, and arms embracing
bavs Of grass; and the sweet pastoral secuson
lowered the Alpine chain, here smitten with gold by
the sinking sun there goomng broad and blue under
the shadows of thunder-clOuds Nothing could have
been more unexpected than the change from aspen
woods and siEery hills OF sage to this green, pineen
framed Arcadian landscape. We made our camp Tor
the night in grove of trees which our huge fire OF
pne-l0gS illuminated with magical effect Moreover,
we had fresh meat for the first time, cOuehes on
mating of pine needless the best of paSturage Tor our
beasts and for the first time since leaving Empire,
enjoyed feeling of comfort. IL rained during the
night but the trees made partial shelter Our days
travel could not have been less than thirty miles.
IL was now very evident that the pass we sought
lay to the right Of the high peak, and that the valley
of the Blue was beyond the range The majestic
mountain has no name. 1t is very the center OF
the Middle Park, and its summit must command
view of this whole incosed region. therefore sug
gest that it be called Park Peak (rather than such
name a. Cummings or DoOlittle). and-if no one has
any oljectOn-will so designate it.
We soon reached the head of the meadow, where
Jungle of willow-bushes, threaded by network OF
streams lay between US and the mountain. The trail
was wet and boggy, and the dripping boughs through
which we forced our way wet us 20 the skin. Then
ensued horrible scramble. which lasted for nearly
two miles We either fOundered in mud in the bot
tom Of glen, climbed over piles OF fallen timber or
crept up and down slippery, crumbling starcaSes oil
loose soil. In such places our pack-mules showed
wonderful talent. The skill with which they passed
between trees, leaped logs and steaded themselves
along the edge of ticklish declivtics without disar
ranging their packs, could never be imagined by one
who had not seen il. We considered these two miles
equal to ten Of good road The trail gradually I'M
proved aud we entered a region which was perfect
reproduction of the mOuntain-dells OF SaIony. Mead
ows of velvet turf lay imbedded in tall dark forests
Of fir which stretched up the slopes above us until
they formed fringe against the sky Al every wind
ing OF the valley looked, nyOluntary, Tor the old
messy MILL and the squares Of bleaching linen on the
grass. SnOw-drifts made their appearance where the
shade was deepest, and the few espens anu aueTs
were just putting their leaves.
This part Of the pass beautiful That we
reached the summit-Inuch sooner than We expected
almost with regret. We had not risen more than
thousand feet above the general level OF the PARK
From the top we looked down marrow, winding gien
between lofty parapets Of rock and bsheld mountains
In the distance dark with shadow, and vanishing in
clouds The descent steep but not very toisome.
After reaching the bed of tho glen, we followed IL
downward through beds Of grass and flowers, under
the shade Of caseated rocks and round the feet OF
natural ramparts until it opened upon wide plains Of
sage bush which formed the shelving side OF an i'm.
mense valley. The usualline OF cottonwood betrayed
a stream and when we caught glimpse OF the water,
its muddy tint-the sure sign OF goid-washlng-
showed that we had found the Blue River We had
crossed the Ute Pass as 1t is called by the trappe,
end are among tho first white men who have ever
traversed it. We now looked on Park Peak from the
west side.
Instead Of descending to the river, trail turned
southwark running nearly parallel with its course,
the top of the slopng plane which connects the
mountains with the valley. The sun came out, the
clouds lifted and rolled away, and one OF the most re-
markabe mountain landscapes OF the earth was re-
vealed to our view. The valley Of the Blue, which,
for length of thirty miles with o breadth varying
from five to ten, lay under our eyes. wore tint of
pearly slyer-gray, upon which the ripe green OF the
timber along the river, and the scattered CLEANS Of
water seemed to be enameed. Opposite to US, above
this sage-eoIor, rose huge Observation-Disclosures
where the grassy openings PALE the forests dark,
the gens and gorges filled with shadow, the rocks
touched with lines Of lght-makng chequered effect
that suggested cultivation and old settlement. Be-
yond these were wilder ridges, all forest; then bare
masses of rock streaked with snow, and highest bleak