National Republican., 1880-08-24
UP GRIY'S PEAK.
Mountain Climbing In Coiorado-Above All
Creatiou-25O,000S square Miles in Sight.
Especial Correspondence of THE NATIONAL RE.

Mountain Climbing in Colorado-Above All
Creatiou-25O,000 square Miles in Sight.
Especial Correspondence of THE NATIONAL RE.
PuBLICAN.l
GEORGETOWN, Col, Aug. 4. 1850.
Washington has been called "a city of mag
nificent distances" but what shall be said of
this great western country where people think
almost nothing of a trip of u couple of thou.
sand miles? The trains both ways over the
Union Pacific railway go crowded not
merely by business men and immigrants but
pleasure-seekers going or returning from the
Catskills, Saratoga and former eastern homes.
have been struck with the apparent insg-
nificanco to these western folks of Journey
OF couple OF thousand miles. Aud the dis.
tances are magnificent in more ways than one
Over the vast prairies after leaving Omaha the
eye searches often in vain for something to
break the view Part Of the way is over, what
to all eastern person appears sterile repu.
svo wilderness for hundreds of miles of al.
kill plains. But tho large herds feeding
upon tho sparsey scattered "buisalo
grass" silently contradict appearances.
Since my last l have seen so much and in
such rapid way, almost without rest, that
l hardly know how, in a short letter. to give
any description Of my trip. But the speaking
of distances has suggested that describe lust
ono little episode of my trip, during which
l was able to look out over the magnificent
space of 100000 square miles-so the guide
book says II had time should like to de-
scribe to you Denver, with its twenty-five
churches, water works, banks, hotels lone cost.
ing nearly $300,000), railroads, elegant resi-.
dences aud forest Of trees, its beautiful
streets, etc, all built within ten years OH
on alkal desert. l would like to describe my
trip through Clear-creek canon and the
mining camps (5o.called) of Georgetown and
Central City and Black Hawk, tho mines |
have visited and entered, and tho reducing
works and many other interesting experiences
and objects But will only try to describe,
in hurried way, trip to the top of
the famous Gray's peak, the fourth peak in
height in tie state, and called the dome of
the Continent" Is is fifteen miles from
Georgetown and three and one-thrd miles
above the level of the streets of Washington.
Two Philadelphians aud your correspondent
started OH bronco horses from Georgetown
about o'clock yesterday afternoon through
most romantic, wild gorge, with mountains
towering on either side, the road in places
making steep ascents, the Clear creek at our
feet making beautiful falls and curves and the
air every moment us we assembled becoming
perceptibly lighter until we reached "high
timber line" whore the trees suddenly ceased
to grow. This was about twelve miles from
Georgetown, and we found nesting betwixt
these giant, trOwning, barren mountain-tops
the cabin, "Kelsos," where we we're TO spend
at least part of the night. 1t is log house,
not very inviting in external appearances, but
when, upon entering, we found u roomy house
furnished comfortably aud decorated, evi.
dently by fair fingers, with those little tribes
which ladies seem intuitiyely to gather about
them, with 4 warm fire and good supper, we
felt nj homo at once.
At o'clock next morning we were aroused
to prepare for the ascent of the great dome.
After taking cup of hot coffee we mounted
our steeds, and, with guide ahead with Lam
tern to show us the way we started in Indian
file for three'mile ride up the trail. The
guide, by the way, was hearty, rosy-cheeked
young man who had come here from the east
only ten weeks ago. as his friends supposed, in
the last stages of consumption, with cough
which emaciated and nearly killed him. He
now can climb mountains, aud says he can
never get enough to cat, and he looks well.
The trail 1t first was not difficult, but soon
we saw that we had before us u frightfully
steep mountain side to climb, and the path
began to zigzlg up this slope, turning sharp
corners, when the horses almost seemed to stop
to balance themselves. Ii you can imagine u
pathway about two feet wide made Of loose
stones and earth, up in u z shape, along a steep
roof, You will have \ very good idea of our
ride. Beneath us we could see q dim, vague
gulf, and above us q towering height that all |
our climbing did not seem to reduce. But at
last, just as the candle in the lantern was OK. |
hausted, we could in the gray dawn see the |
little stone hut above MS, which was built on |
top for shelter from the cold winds always |
blowing At this altitude. Warmly clad as we
were the strong wind was icy cold and pierre
ing and tho surface under our feet covered |
with snow.
We had not long to await the appearance of |
the god Of day" Tho clouds aud morning |
vapors which had hung gloomily over the |
eastern mountain tops began TO put on their
garments Of praise" and with his way strewn
with golden heece aud shooting up most gor.
geOus rays of light, he came. We instinct
lively took olfour hats aud stood in rapt wonder
ana admiration, appreciating as never before
the grandeur of those words, Let there be
lightn In an instant the brillancy of tho
sun, even before lie WAS fully risen from his
golden couch, was so great that we could not
look upon his splendor, and we turned our eyes
over toward the west, where out Of tho gloom
of twilight there appeared in rapid succession
peak after peak, each in its turn made to smile
back glory into the face of the rising monarch
On our right, at great distance, was Longs
peak TO the south stood forth Pixies peak;
TO the west was the beautiful snowy emblem
of the holy cross on the mountain of that
name, and when the sun had risen sufficiently
we could see the bounde5s stretch of praircs
to the east into Kansas aud Nebraska To
stand thus, above all creation, us it were, aud
watch the process Of sunrise over lake and
park, valley aud streRmlet, over Crag and ra-
vine, was one of the most unforgetable sights
one can ever witness.
Now for our climb down the mountain. Our
trusty horses seemed to appreciate the giddy
height to which they had brought us, for with
cautious step, and slowly, they began to
descend. We could now in the full light OF
day realize the danger Of the ascent, and as we
looked down into tue ravine thousands Of feet
below, and knew that n mistop of the horse
would plunge us hopelessly over we were will.
ing TO let them take their own gait and simply
hold fast.
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