Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-08-25

OOiViNuO 10 an piloO bhshe SAfOo HuhSh
returns for all money thus invested; lum-
ber selling readily at $4,000 per thousand
delivered at Boulder or adjoining towns.
The timber is donated by Uncle Sam, rs a
gratuitous capital or inducement for young
men to engage in an honest paying busi-
ness.
AS the sun was sinking from view be-
hind the rugged mountains in front of us,
we halted for refreshments, and hastily
starting fire with dry underbrush, we
soon had a supply of hot coffee, of which
we eagerly p,rtook. As the road was
good, and the moon was just getting up,
we finished our lunch and again pushed on,
desiring to get on our journey as far as
possible that night. as the next days tramp
was to be over an exceedingly rough and
high mountain. 1t was nearly ten o'clock
when we halted for the night, at the foot
of a nearly perpendicular rock, of several
hundred feet in height. The moon was
now well up in the heavens, so that its
rays filled the narrow canon with soft
mellow light that made every object plain
ly visible, so that we were enabled to select
an excellent camping spot. Collecting a
huge pile of pine limbs, we soon had II
roaring fire that filled the narrow gorge
with the resinous smell of burning pitch.
On the south of us was Red mountain with
its steep rugged sides plainly outlined
against the sky. AS we intended making
the ascent of this mountain on the follow
ing day. we gazed at its steep and nearly
perpendicular walls, and its lofty far-away
summit, with some doubts and misgivings.
As it was necessary to make an early start
in the morning, we broke off quantity of
pine boughs, spread them down for a
couch and, lying down upon it was soon
fast asleep.
We were aroused at an early hour in
the morning by Williams. who informed
US that it would soon be time to start on
our days tramp. He had already filled
the coffee pot from spring near by, and
placed it upon the nice bed of Goals that
remained from tle fire of the previous
evening. We partook of our breakfast of
ham, bread and coffee with keen relish {;
Williams promising US something better
than salt ham for our next meal.
After finishing our meal we gathered
up our camping outfit, and commenced
the ascent of the mountain; climbing up
over fallen trees, and forcing our way
through dense masses of underbrush,
where no sign of any trail was to be seen.
After two or three miles of the ascent was
made, the trees and underbrush began to
disappear, and soon nothing but solid rock
lowered above us smooth granite ribs, with
hardly any foothold stood out here and
there and presented Il more serious OBJ
stacle, as many of the rocks were loose,
and went tumbling down the mountain
side when touched After several hours
of hard climbing we reached the top. and
sat down to rest and feast our eyes upon
the unrivalled combination of views spread
out before us. On the east is seen the
great plains. traversed by the many rivers
that come plunging down from the noun,
tains, and which are easily traced by their
fringe of cotton woods to the distant Platt.
Denves, Justly called the queen city of the
plains, is in plain view, with its broad
streets and long rows of cottonwood trees.
Looking to the west, some 25 miles, over
succession of valleys. hills, beautiful
parks, and large tracts of timber; and we
see the great 81 continental divide,' with
its long line of hoarY headed sentinels
keeping watch midway between the two
oceans.
Towards the north,a distance of 40 miles
is Longs peak,-a huge mass of granite
whose nearly perpendicular sides are
broken by yawning chasms and deep ra-
vines, filled with the drifting snow of ages
that during the winter months accumula
tes in such quantities, that it fails to sue.
cumb to the heat of midsummer. Looking
to the south through the light purple mist
to the distance of 100 miles, is seen stand
ing out in bold relief Pixies peak, which
seems to be solemnly reviewing the
boundless plains to the east. Between
these two monsters are seen Cooraphoo
James Gray's, and several other peak;
whose SUBMITS are above the clouds.
We had had no water since early morn
ing, and began to feel the effects of thirst
and as several miles must be travelled be
fore any could be found, we reluctantly
bid adieu to the surrounding glories, anc
commenced the descent of the mountain
going down on the opposite side from thu
one we came up. The course soon becam
very rugged, and we were obliged to cree
along the sides of ugly precipices, II
chamber over great rocks, and cross larg
beds of broken lava, for a distance of abou
three miles, when the country becomes les
rough and uneven, and is sparsely covere'
with grass and forest Trees. Striking a
old Indian trail the travelling became com
paratively easy.
We are now in country that abound
with game, and fiocks of grouse now an
then rise at our near approach and fl
away to some more distant clump of trees
Williams gave us several specimens of hi
} skill with the rifle, bringing down II nun
! ber of fine birds, which we took ava
! with us to serve as part of the bill of far
, for our late dinner. South Boulder cree
was the point for which we were aiming
as that was the nearest place where waite
could be found. AS we proceeded on ou
, course we entered narrow valley, whic
soon became dense Jungle of brush an
t pine scrubs, crossed by innumerable rock
gullies. After forcing our way throug
3 this jungle for an hour or more we reac
the stream, which was found to be YER
, rapid, deep and full of boulders, and cam
pouring down from the mountains, wher
f it has its source amid the inexhaustibl