South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1876-11-17
Graphic Description OF Pixies
Peak.

Having now gained the summit Az
ell to take more dcnnits observations
and bearings. The peak has the honor
of being called the s.Done Of the Nortl
American Continent" and we think tho
term is we'll bestowed. 1t is inc luded
in tho divide" its western slopes send
ing their waters into the Pacific. its,eas
tern into the Atlantic Ocean Tho Col
oraio peaks are nearly i'm the center oil
the Rocky Mountain range Of North A.
merica. and Cray's Peak is central a.
mong the Colorado group. 1t is sur.
rounded by goodly company fourteen
mountains upward OF fourteen thousand
feet in height. and fifteen over thirteen
thousand feet, can be easily counted by
the tourist who reaches It's summit. Its
own altitude is IA, 45O feet. The extent
OF mountain ranges which it commands
we are sure will make every one who
visits Colorado desperate to reach the
summit.
Looking southwark, the eye will first
take in the snowy mountain range sur.
rounding Middle Park. over which
Gray's Peak stands as the southeast
sentinel. In these same mighty laby.
rinths and Notifications of granite also
stand Longs Peak, II, 252 feet in height,
and fifty miles distant from Gray's al
so James Peak, twenty miles distant,
and $4,000 feet in height; likewise
Mount Lincoln, LIPS feet in altitude
and fifty miles distant, and q little to
the west one of the most remarkable
mountains in the world--the Mount of
the Holy Cross. 1t is in the Sawatchi
range, is l4,176 feet in height, and dis.
tant from the point we now occupy but
sixty miles. is we'll to bear i'm mind.
while thinking Of these distances, that
they seem In this raritied and transpar-
ent atmosphere less than half rs far rs
they would upon the seaboard in the
clcarest weather. This Mountain OF the
Holy Cross, therefore, seems at no
great distance. and one is easily deceived
into the thought that he could walk the
distance in few hours.
The Hayden party, however, were
several days in merely finding their way
TO its base, its ascent, subsequently. be-
ing made with the greatest difficulty
This is the only mountain in the world
bearing this consccrated name. Upon
nearly vertical face Of dark gray rock
is we'll nigh perfect cross ofpurc, white
snow. 1t is OF such remarkable size.
and so perfect and definite are its out.
lines, that there is no difficulty in recog.
nizing it at the distance of hundred
miles. The snow fills an upright lis
sure so feet in breadth and 1900 feet
In length; the horizontal arm of the
cross Is of the same breadth, and i'm
midsummer is about 700 feet i'm length
1t is estimated that the snow in these
two immense assures is from so to 100
feet in depth so that the season through
there stands that majestic cross, 500 by
700 feet. There are eyes that fill with
tears while looking upon it. Some
tourists shout out their wonder, while
others are filed with silent admiration.
Your correspondent is Catholic enough
to cross forehead and breast at this sight,
so suggestive and magnificent.
Passing the southern boundary OF
Middle Park, the eye will trace the ont
lines of South Park, which is though,
by some, by its delightful climate and
magnificent scenery, To exceed in ut.
Effectiveness all others. 1t is sixty by
thirty miles in area, and, like Middle
Park, is bounded on all sides by gigan.
tic mountains. whose peaks stand far
above the line of eternal frost and snow.
Pixies Peak, 14,2lS feet high and eighty
miles distant, is visible. Also the Con.
tinontal divide, the Sawatcli extending
west of it. Still further south, one hun.
drcd and fifty miles distant, the beauti-
full Spanish Peaks, upward of 1900
ieet i'll height, are clear to the eye. Ex-
Governor Evans assured us that this
southern outlook commands peaks mt
distance of upward of $50 miles.
Such is the view from Gray's Peak
in that direction Now look West for
moment. just above the peak already
described is the inviting snow range {;
still beyond can be seen the Uinta and
Wasatch Mountains of Utah. and at a
few points the far distant Sierra Nevada
range. Here again view Of upward of
ESQ miles Of mountain ranges Westward
will reward the effort expended in reach
ing Gray's Peak; northward the extent
OF mountain ranges is about the same.
The divide between North and Middle
Park are the first mountains sccn.-
Longs Peak, standing at an angle Of
the East and South walls OF North Park,
is prominent. In this last mentioned
park fislrand game arc far more abuD-
dant than either in Middle or South
Parks. IL is the place for adventure !;
it has never yet been fully explored (;
there is no difficulty in finding within
its boundaries plenty Of wolves and an
telopes. Always in the distance stretch.
es the Rocky Mountain range, which
forms the Western boundary OF this
park. and the Medicine Bow range,
which forms an extension Of its Eastern
boundary. Not far from two hundred
and fifty miles, therefore. tho eye ranges
Northward; and Eastward. just beyond
Denver, the vast plains rise up until
they reach the level of the eye.
Now, when we take into our estimate
the number OF lofty peaks in this inn
mediate neigIborhood, also the variety