The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1882-02-10
An Englishman's Ascent Of Pixies Peak.

The ascent of Pixies Peak is usually
made on horseback; for, just as in Swift
Zerland no one rides who can walk, so
in America no one walks who can ride
the guides themselves accompany the
expedition on horseback. 1t is curious
fact that, on attaining an altitude of
about $4,000 feet, the pedestrian is at
tackled with feeling Of extreme lassi-
tude and oppression not experienced on
the Swiss Alps even at much higher alti-
tudes. This statement we do not make
only on our own authority. We have
the assurance of very distinguished
mountaineer, well acquainted with
Switzerland and the ranges of Central
Asia, that it was as much as he could do to
struggle up to the top of Pixies Peak.
Occasionally a party will announce their
intention of going up the Peak on foot to
see the sunrise therefrom, and will make
great preparations accordingly. They
will start early the previous afternoon
with goodly supply of wraps and food,
carrying revolvers to intimidate the
bears; but, according to the inhabitants
of the signal-station before mentioned,
they usually arrive somewhere about ten
a. m. and are content to see the sunrise
from much lower level. Should you
chance to fall in with 'ssunrise'' party
on the mountain, you will find they are
little tetchy if you cOndole with them
on the incomplete success of their expe-
dition, and they will assure you with
some warmth that sunrises can be seen
just as well from the precise spot at
tanned by them as from any more eleva-
ted position. After this assurance you
would do well to drop the subject. The
path all the way up is perfectly well de-
fined, and no guide isneeded. Wherever
any reasonable doubt can arise a sign
post treasures the traveller. 1t is prac-
ticable by moonlight, even through the
forest, and revolver is not a necessary
part of the outfit, the chance of encoun-
tering bear being remote in the ex-
IRENE. The mountain buck, a species
of wild ram much affected by the sports
man, is not unfrequently met with. To-
wards the top the path becomes bare and
uninteresting, but for most of the way
the scenery is picturesque, bold and d.
versified. From the stony plateau on
which the weather-signal station is built
one can see about one hundred and fifty
miles over the prairie, and on the opposite
side a long range of mountains is visible.
The station is substantial building, con-
tanning three or four rooms, in which
the two permanent inhabitants contrive
to look very cheerful. The furniture of
the principal chamber in this highest in
habited house in the world-14, $50 feet
above the sea-level-consistso of an elab-
crate writing-desk, large wooden bed,
a few book-shelves, well-filled, stove,
a table, and few chairs. One of the
signal men, an ex-first Lieutenant in the
American army, dispenses hospitality for
a consideration. A cup of coffee with
condensed milk costs twenty-five cents,
or one shilling, and the charge is the same
for a glass of lemonade. The gallant
officer is much pleased with his quarters,
in spite of the low winter temperature,
the mercury, or rather the spirit Their
mometer, having been known to recede
to forty-seven degrees below zero. He
affirms that he never had a good nights
rest till he attained his present elevation,
having previously suffered from asthma.
The number of signalmen attached to
the station is three, of whom two are al.
ways there. Their experience of climate
changes must be interesting, as furious
thunder storms take place with short no
tice, and heavy gales come on quite sud-
denly in clear sky, blowing over with
out drop of rain, on which occasions
the dust is intolerable. Re-
2.ie,v