Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1875-08-11
MOUNTAIN SRtrcnEsi
txuxSsas ix.ll

AAy - shs Msu.tai.s-IAS Az
- AassieA-Asesss 90 Hsaae -
lae-aasw DsAs snA D1se ling
Rnswsss - ssvsaessa usf htain
LAkss ~ oae - eessess
Exsssssna Grandeur cry sesss.
Eprroa Nsvs: Many Of ! gur readers
Who have crossed the sil Ia over the
old Placsrvilis route " remember .
lofty. rugged mountain sak that shoots
sharply upward from The western range.
until Il seems 70 ovsrtop the highest Of
The surrounding mountains. distant. -
the crow fiss. about fifteen miles to
the northvard Of the crossing Of ths
western summit. twelve miles west Of
Yank's old station. and fourteen miles
southwest Of Emerald Bay. This noun
tain forms . part Of the great Western
Sierra. and 10 one Of the loftiest Of the
range. rising 70 q height Of 1880 feet
above the level Of tide water. and 5,28A
feet above the level Of Lake Tahoe. By
soms geogrsphsn u has bean called
Crystal Peak. but its original name. and
that BY which Il should Be known. II
Meant rahlse.
Tahlac, In the Indian vernacular Of
this section, means '.Grsat Mountain"
Interest begets interest. and 20 with all
the charms Of nature; tho more We be-
hold and drink in Of its ever changing
beauties, the more we desire. II 10 like
the soul Of the artist as he gazss upon
some great work OF genius; IL abscrbs
the wondrous graces with all fullnsss OF
admiration and satisfsction. and yet In
every ready 10 turn 10 the enjoyment OF
others. And 30 with rs; the charms
snd grandeur by which we were sur
rounded but whstted the appetite for
more, and We felt that the pleasures OF
OF the visit would b but half realized
did va mot stand upon the top Of this
famous mountain. To resolve wal to
accomplish. Five thousand three hun.
dred feet Of altitude. and fourteen miles
OF granite crsgs. offered no discourage
ing impsdimsnt. and the first rays OF
the rising sun greeted US on our road to
. realization Of the dangers, the toll and
the pleasures OF tho trip. Over the first
mountain ridge. to the south OF Emsr-
aid bay. lies
Casesas Lake.
Separated from Tahoe BY . narrow strip
Of pine border. surrounded on three
sides by lofty mountain ridges covered
With forests OF Pine and cedar; at It's
wsstern extremity cascades OF sparkling
beauty tumblng down the rocks, simi.
Lar In sixe, shaps and beauty. In fact,
needing nothing bat an outlet to make
il o foe simRe Of Emerald Bay itself.
Around the head OF this charming lake.
upward and over the steep rocks OF the
pictnresqus little falls, lay our course;
catching m the morning sun rose In the
heavens, the changing shades OF light
and shadow on the shifting scenes OF
the landscape above and below. lending
fesh inspiration and qualification to
each onward foot-step.
Passing above tho Cascades, We So
lectsj what appeared TO DO the most
vulnerable point Of ascent, and spent
hour after hour clambaring over huge
blocks Of granite winding through the
forest. scaling lofty precipices. shifting
and searching for accessible paths, I'M
Ill our weary bodies ached with fatigue
and pain. Gradually w rose higher
and higher. until the great pines gave
way to stunted osdars. clinsing in the
c~rrvices of the rocks. and these In turn
disappearing. left around NJ nought but
barren rocks and beds Of snow. Rest
ing on the edge Of q deep drft, with
Appetites sharpened by toll. and the
fresh mountain air. we swallowed vora-
~aiously the lunch provided Ms. washing
il down with big mouthfuls Of melting
snow. Again refreshed and strength
ensd, We mounted upward until. a. the
sun crossed the meridian. We exulhng-
ly mounted tho last rock and stood
ON the summit OF the towering peak.
Rich was our inward. 10 the northvard
and southwark stretched the great chain
Of the Sierra. the summit. . mass Of
desolate peaks Of naked rock. spotted
with white glittsring drifts OF Enov.
while q little lower down In the gorges
and fats between the farther peaks and
ridges nestled silvsry lakes flashing like
mirrors in tho bright sunlight, fed BY
the trickling waters from the SHOWS
above, and whose outlets were breaking
like threads and globules Of crystals
into beautiful cascades and streamlots at
every turn, while lower down the pur-
plsd Rrson Of the mountain laurel.
blended with the hues OF the rocks until
finally the whole WA clothed to the base
in the sombrs foliage OF tho dense dark
pines. Far TO the south and westward
iaint glimpses Of the coast range we're
jiscernibls, while on every hand stretch
cd views Of grandeur and sublimity un.
surpassed by any. From Dur stand
point we could count seven
teen beautiful distinct bodies
Of watsr as fresh and pure - the fonts
OF heaven itself. Bat what shal No
say Of the great lake stretched hks Q go
Of molten silver Il our feet, Gods own
mirror. set In agarnishej framework OF
mountain gems. unapproachable by art
and indescribabls by tho pen OF man.
Bordered with q brilliant emerald green.
mingled with all the varying colors Of
light and shade, rejecting from every
shors the beauteous, magnificent out
lines Of Ii every surrounding. u seemed.
as w Looked into It's clear. crystal
depths, q portal. . gateway left ajar. to
reject back 10 earth q portion OF the
glory. grandeur and nagnihcencs OF
heaven itself.
TIE rravssss nay Crsss
The mountains q thousand times. fol-
lowing the beaten trails and roads. and
never receive any correct idea whatever
Of the great breadth and extent Of the
Sierra. In order to graft on the mind a
correct conception Of their magnitude,