The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1882-09-03
BALD UTAH.
Camp on Summit

i1NNNNi.
Sir; Bald Mountain las it is
called is as tall if not the tallest
peak in the Uintah range; its
height has been estimated to be
about fourteen thousand feet
above the level of the sea. The
prospector or tourist that intends
visiting it would do well to start
from this point, as the distance
does not exceed six or seven
miles at the farthest, and directly
east it can plainly be seen. Leav-
ing camp at 1920 a. III. on the
Dist inst, myself and partner, he
with stick, l with my Springfield
rifle started for the above named
place. The ascent to the base of
the mountain was one continu-
Gus forest. White and spruce
pine with a dense underground and
fallen timber overlapping each
other form almost an impenetra-
bic mass, and it was only with the
greatest difficulty that we made
our way through it. Continuing
our trarvel we came to a pure
mountain stream where we paused
Tor halt an hour; had a lunch and
IA sociable smoke. gathering our
traps together we started, being
then three miles from the base of
the mountain. We had not gone
far when to our surprise we came
to a beautiful park studded with
tall spruce pine. Tall grass famed
by the mountain breeze, waved
backward and forward like ripen-
ing grain near harvest time, grew
as if it had received all the care
and culture the hand of man can
bestow. A clear, cool mountain
stream ran through its centre, and
flowers of many varieties grew in
luxuriant ~profusion upon its banks
Fresh bear, deer, and elk
tracks could be plainly seen.
Meditating as to whether we
would kill any game if we saw
any, we came to the conclusion
that we would not, as we had no
pack animals along; and even if
we had we never could have en-
tertained the idea of ever reach
ing camp with it; we intended
only, then to act on the defensive
as we knew not how soon Mr..
Bruin would make his appearance,
and we wanted to be ready for
him when he would honor us with
his presence. We did not see him
however. As we were walking
along the outskirts of the park a
bird from some bushes that wei e
nearby commenced chirping,
screeching, and in fact making all
manner OF noises, which gave us
to understand hat the deer was
not away, for no sooner had he
given his note of warning, when
out of the tall grass like a shot
sprang a noble buck. The temp.
tation to shoot was great but ]
did not do it for reasons already
stated. From this place in the
distance could be seen the tai
and majestic looking Bald noun
tains from whose caps the snow
never entirely melts, and at its
base is a beautiful valley in which
could be plainly seen a vast hero
OF game as we approached
nearer. Managing to concea.
ourselves from their view by
travelling to the southeast of the
mountain, as they directly were
north of us, from behind the
scrub spruce (as we were almost
beyond the timber line) we could
see them gamboling, frisking and
totally unaware of our approach
and they proved not only deel
but elk too. There in the cool and
shady nook where there is moth.
ing to disturb them, tender grass
on which to feed, watered by q
pure mountain stream and an ele-
waited position from which they get
magnificent view of all the sur
rounding country, they could de-
sire no better spot on which to
roam. Arriving at the base OF
the mountain we sat down to rest
preparatory to ascending; loosen
ing the sling of my rifle, and
strapping it over my back, my par
ner with his staffwhich was soon to
be brought into requisition, we
prepared to ascend; boulder upon
boulder met u weary feet, and
occasionally one would become
detached, when down the noun
tain side it would tumble and
coming in contact with others were
precipitated down together, max
ing a fearful noise. After one
hour of hard toll we reached the
summit, which we found to be
covered with a kind of short, thick
grass, except where there were
large erevices in the rock, partially
filled with stone, that had become
separated from the main body of
the rock. Our eyes being almost
rivcted to the scene at our feet, it
was with the greatest difficulty
that we could put forth energy to
leave the place ofawe and wonder
to that of the sublime and the
beautiful.
Looking toward the north we
| hal n O,onn;Ea,ot ,,ar- - A.