The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1879-07-31
A SUNNI FIR JOURNEY
CHEYENNE TO Pixies PEAK.
From Manitou to the Summit IA
Beautiful Canyon and a Mar
row Trail-Some Diff

Beautiful Canyon and a Mar
row Trail-Some Diff
}tI fculties.
NO. II.
Looking from Colorado Springs,
Pixies Peak doesn't seem much of an
affair. Its reddish tbp and sides with
their snow spots tower somewhat above
the surrounding peaks, but they give
no impression of superior height. In
the clear atmosphere the summit seems
to be probably three miles distant, and
one who anticipates making the ascent
feels disappointed that the distance to
travel is not greater and the peak high
er and more perpendicular, that the
trip might require more courage and
strength. Then it were worth some
thing to speak of afterwards. But
these notions all fade away when n is
making the ascent. The nearer INT
gets to the summit, after hour upon hour
Of climbing, the more respect he has
for Pike'sPeak. He begins to wonder
why the point was built so high, any
way, and why it couldn't as easily have
been started nearer the ground. Then
he asks himself whether nature ever
Intended either man or horse to climb
up a narrow and shaky trail from six
inches to two feet in width, at an angle
Of GO degrees, and just above precipices.
And he is thoroughly convinced that
nature never. intended anything of the
kind, while he Is descending.
1t was three O'Clock in the afternoon
when our pony was saddled for the
ascent and we started alone. The liv-
cry men have special ponies or burros
ldonkeysl for the trail. They are all
pretty badly used up, owing to the de-
scent. -Four dollars is the average price
charged, and though 1t seems high, it is
reasonable enough considering the risks
and the abuse naturally resulting to the
animals. There aren't very fine saddles
and brides given you, for If any acct
dent should happen you know, the liv-
tAJ Alati WOAi Y VoQ iIulns Dulil llilOl-
nation as this is well calculated to try
your nerves, and you mentally shudder
at the thought Of tumbling into some
gorge with no help nigh, and possibly
needing no help but that OF, an under
taker. However, nobody backs out
after making up his mind to 60. So
we started on an American pony, re-
specially declining the rongh-riding
and slow burro. a gum overcoat was
given us, and this did good service, as
we passed up through three storm
clouds in as many hours.
Turning into Williams canon from
Manitou, in a westerly direction, we
soon passed the iron springs, and then
a canvas city, for scores of tourists had
set up tents along the creek and were
living there rs happy as children in a
haystack. Now the ascent becomes
steep. The trail twines about the sides
of the foothills just far enough above
the creek to give you a good view of
the pretty little falls and eddies which
appear in rapid succession. Here there
are huge rocks weighing thousands Of
tons which tumbled down from the
tops, and at n point especially they
fitted themselves nicely together to
form q shelter for a pretty little falls,
called Sheltered Falls. There one sees
wild vines dropping from the overhang-
ing trees, and forming a most beautiful
bower in which the water sprites might
1disport themselves in glee. Again, the
verdure on all sides rivets your atten-
tion, and you stop to enjoy the Gene.
Possibly q stray ray Of sunshine steals
through the dense foliage and dances
on the laughing water which makes
music sweet and %tuneful, and in har-
mony with the impressive grandeur of
the scene. And as you speed on, the
soft cadence in the receding distance
courses mournfully sweet in the still
air. lW
But your attention is now called to
the trail. 1t leads around. some ugly
and frowning rocks, which apparently
hang in position merely subject to the
caprice of chance. Away below the
stream PUSHES merily on, while the
almost perpendicular precipice, along
which you are cautiously proceeding
for the pony understands his business
rises up hundreds of feet. The trail
makers have cut a path through one big
crag and constructed a bridge around
another. You haven't time to look
about you-in fact you don't wish to.
The pony may have the disagreeable
habit of walking on the outer edge Of
the trail where one misstep would pre-
cipitate you both a hundred feet below,
or, IL the loose dirt In spots gave way
under the pony's feet, the same fate
would meet you. Thus you journey on
and ON, ever onward, ever upward, and
you begin to believe that the liveryman
was lying when he told you it was only
twelve miles to the peak, for you feel
certain OF having gone fifteen miles
already. Now your mind Is relieved
by reaching a comparatively level spot,
and YOU feel that the high point to
your right is your destination, and that
you will reach it in an hour at most.
But you ascend still another mountain
side and reach another level spot. Then
you ascend some more, and finally you
ora oroof1y DrotsGaI M oaa;,. /, J-o1