The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1880-06-12
UP THE PEAK.
SNOW STORM N THE MOUNTAINS --BEAUrI-
Full sCENERY-THE LAKE HOUSE
'RoUGHING IT. IN THE WEST.

SNOW STORM IN THE MOUNTAINS --BEAUrI-
Full scENERY-.THE LAKE HOUSE
'RoUGuING IT. IN THE WEST
SOUTH PARK, May 18th, 1880.
DEAR FATHER One OF the greatest
pleasures had in anticipation from the
beginning Of my trip across the plains,
was the ascent of Pixies peak, aud o. course
on our arrival at Colorado Springs, felt a
strong desire to crafty this wish at the
earliest opportunity,
Tuesday morning, May 25th, Messrs,
Armstrong, Humboldt, Douglas and, self,
left Manitou at an early hour, going up the
canyon toward the peak. Found it i'm
possible to procure "burras' mexican don
keys as they had all been engaged Being
true Cairoite, OF course. would not allow
such trihe to discourage me. The other
members of the party were easily persuaded
to make the ascent on foot
The first place Of interest we found at the
foot Of the canyon-the iron Ute, a fine
mineral spring. After partaking of its
waters, we wended our way up through
what is known as THE New Trail" This
winds around the mountains nearly all the
way at an angle of from 80 10 60 deg, and
is from foot to three feet in width, just
wide enough for "burras" to walk, and if
he should chance to fall the result would
be frightful death TO the rider. The
scenery for the first six miles is grand in
the extreme; mountains rising thousands
feet on each side, huge boulders torn from
the parent rock by the relentless hand of
Time, lie heaped in gigantic disorder,
seemingly just ready to topple over.
Down the canyon fine mountain stream
rushes, tearing and surging against its
rocky sides, its waters as clear as crystal
and as cold as ice. About three miles up is
Sheltered falls, very appropriately named
as huge boulder has fallen and lies d.
rectly over the falls a fine view Of this
beautiful cascade falling from heigh, of
fifteen feet, can be obtained from rustic
bridge near by, Passing upward dis
lance of three and half miles we had
view of Little Minnehaha falls" From
this place for several miles the scenery is
exceedingly picturesque and can be enjoyed
by sight and recollection but cannot be
described. 1t changes at every step AMI
can not fail to elicit admiration
from any one with even the
slightest love for the beautiful.
Situated on the banks of lake Moran,
seven miles from the foot of the canyon, is
the Lake house. This was built for the ac-
commodation OF those who do not care 10
make the trip in one day. Here We stop
ped for luncheon. On looking over the
pages OF the register, | found only one IA
miliar name, that of George c. Lounsberry.
now deceased. There is telegraphic COIN
munication with the signal observer on the
top of the peak. After resting ana re-
treshing the inner man, we proceeded on
our weary march. We were still four and
q half miles from the top. We logged
on as fast as our tortured limbs would per.
nit through the snow which had began to
to fall just after We left Lake house.
our efforts to keep warm were futile as we
had not cared to cumber for ourselves with
overcoats and we're 1890 feet above the
level Of the sea. We finally managed to
reach timber line, one and half miles
from the top completely, exhausted. We
rested as long as we dared on account of
the cold, the snow was still falling and
nearly binding us. But we were going to
the top "if it took all summer" We did
not propose to come all the way from the
estates to crawfsh," as it were in that man
ner. The rarifed condition OF the atmos.
phere was now felt in the extreme. We
could only walk about fifty feet when we
were obliged to lie dow and gasp for
breath.
We were accompanied by our dog,
"Shep." If we could have spared breath
and strength would have INDUCED in a
hearty laugh at his antics, which were in
deed comical; but breath was breath in
that locality, and the demand was far in
excess Of the supply After hard and la
borious struggle we finally reached the top.