The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-07-27
Across the Divide Into Bakers
Park Amid a Rain Storm.
HowARDsvILLE, BAKERS PARK, Col,

nlson River, Hinsdale county, Colorado, we
had already prolonged our stay week, photo
graphing the surrounding scenery and collecting
specimen ores from the different mines, Of which
there are at present 122 lode claims and eighteen
placer CLAIMS; and had 1T not 0een for the ex-
haustion or our supplies we might have devoted
another week IN thls locality. for there was an
abundance OF material to keep US busy much
longer time. However, to replentsh our larder
we were required TO be as expeditions as possible
and return at the earliest date 10 san Juan CITY,
Antelope Park, where our cargo was stored.
Up TO This time we had HAD almost uninter.
rupted clear weather, but now the rainy season
approached. The mornings were without excep'
ton clear but toward noon the clouds gathered
regularly, and more or less rain fell every after
noon. sometimes q heavy black cloud would be
blown over us by south wind, leaving enough
OF lts moisture in Its passage to dampen our spir-
us ana just as the sky would show through along
the southern horizon and we began TO congratu-
late ourselves upon the prospects OF q pleasant
evening. the WIND would suddenly shift and bring
the same cloud CsomewhaE lightenedl back, re-
peating inc operation; ana thus see-sawing, as it
were, for several hours, the Identical cloud nuctu-
ated across and back, from north TO south and
Ufce Versa. from east TO west and the reverse,
bene6ung us with It's lowering solcitude, until it
became threadbare and the sun appeared toward
stln DE unspent. Having wslreu several days Tor
favorable weather three OF US started on the
SECOND TRIP TO UNCoMPAHGRE.
with the large camera and provisions TO last rs
four days carried by three mules. ON our way to
the mountains we inquired along the wagon road
which was the best route by which to reach the
desired point Station Of Mr. Wilson'S survey OF
1919. and we were invariably answered, "You
can't take pack train up there" But the way
had been broken and we knew better Following
Tor the most part the former trail we proceeded
without much dlnlculty, ascending steadily
through fallen and burned timber, across noun
tain streams, up steep declivites and over slopes
or loose rock. Each of Us led, in addition TO our
riding animals pack mule, which continually
persisted In pulling back or going the wrong
side OF a tree, jerking our arms almost out
or socket or ourselves or our saddles
at most unexpected seasons. As we
approached one unusually steep pitch, covered
with cnarred trunks Of trees we were obliged to
dlsmount and tie Jhe matters OF our packs 70 our
saddles and thus lead train OF two hitched ami
mails single f.e. In our allotment we have a CON-
zeal looking li:tle mule, which we call "Aexico,"
which IS not much larger tnan Newfoundland
cog, possessing very ridiculous expression OF
coun tenance, which 1t receives from tue cnarac-
ter or it's ears, which have been cut of, Ike a
terriers, and stand up stin like two black eath-
crn stubs. at this point in our ascent Mex took
into her head vary the regularity OF the pro-
cession by passing the wrong side Of stout cot
tonwood tree, a2d when the strap OF her halter
became tightened by the efforts OF the mule ahead
Il was too late to retreat. for her
long nose had been drawn close to the
opposite side Of the tree, and sne could not ex-
trlcate herself from this unlocked Tor predca-
ment. AS both mules pulled violently in opposite
directions. the strap suddenly snapped asunder,
aud Mex was lung high IN the air, and making
two or three excellent BACK summsrs1ults landed
IN a sitting posture some distance below among
the bushes. For time we could DO nothing bus
shout with laughter. the whole performance was
50 incxpressioly iunny and the startled look or
surprise with which she greeted our merrment
as she lay perfectly sim ala not serve 70 dIspel
our mirth. Her pack, consisting Of two boxes
nIed with glass bottles Of chemicals. proved upon
examination all right, AMI with this snght diver
sion We continued steadily TO the loot OF sta
ton 8.
inc sun was now low, and we concluded 20
make camp for the ngat al timber line and on
the edge OF a goodly mountain lake Tue stock
firmly plcketed, supper cooked and disposed
o. a huge pile OF spruce trees lighted, by the side
OF which our blankets were spread, and then, TO
be ready .or early start we rolled ourselves up
aud went 10 sleep soon alter dusk. Before tae
sun appeared aoove the horizon Of the valley be-
low us the next morning (and 1t rises here very
early we were I'D and almost ready to be on.
Although we were ALREADY Il, 900 feet In ;ne air
We stIli had another thousand to climb before we
could see Uncompahgre The term
'TIMsER LINE,n
does not express any well-dedned marx along
the sides OF mountain or the apex OF peak, but
- used TO denote the general heIgDt (which is
generally about II, 900 $4,000 feet altitude) AZ
which trees cease 70 grow The tall spruce and
pine and cottonwood trees gradually dwlndle In
sIze as they ascend, and almost imperceptlbly
lcssenIng in number, finally give space TO the &C.
dar which grows in fantastic shapes among the
rocks, dwaried and gnarled, and soon entirely
disappears Then the low whOrteberry bushes
ana low underbrusn grow luxurantIy for a few
hundreds OF feet, and suddenly cease to exist;
aud the rugged peaks are clothed for
space with beautiful flowers OF every hue
aud variety OF form. The potentiha, the
zlzia the viola, the iris, and in marshy
places the caltha ana myrads OF others blossom
IN their fullest splendor. Nearly all the flowers OF
lower attitudes appear here In their most luxurl-
ant growth, but among al these the most con-
spicuous is the superb aqullegia or columbine
whose lavender ana white lowers reach the size
or three inches IN breadth, vita spurs nearly as
muea in length. AS these, the last vestiges OF
vegetation excepting the moses and lchensl,
disappear the loose pieces OF rock, piled up In
mighty heaps are all that appear on the noun
tain's side and the pInnacs is capped VITA q
massive lava crown.
Aswe left our timber-lIue camp great drifts OF
snow came into sight from time to time, along
the ereyIcss and valleys, increasing RAPIDLY In
quantity a. We proceeded upward. Huge layers,
hundreds aud even thousands OF feet In length
and perhaps thirty forty IN depth, lay like great
bands on All sldes or US, aud IN one place we
waded through a drift three feet deep. This,
indeed, began 10 appear quite wintry, especially
as the sun became obscured and the chill air
penetrated our very bones, visiting the ends OF
our fingers and noses and causing them TO wonder
II Caristmss had come 50 suddenly. What con-
trast from the screening heat OF the noon OF the
vallcyf Inc Jour weeks sun bad deprived our
noses OF all supernous epderms and, with a