Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-10-11
CLIMBING PIXIES PEAK.
INTERESTING ACCOUNT OF A TRIP
 MADE ON FOOT.

On the Old Trail from Manitou-The
 Timber Llne-The North American Pika. Scene on the Summit of the Peak-An Impressive View.
 In view of the opening of the wagon road to tho summit of Piko'S Peak, the following account of L. trip on foot may prove interest ing:
 To ascend Pike'S Peak by the old trail from Manitou is worthy the ambition of any young person. Thus nearly every day during the summer months may be seen from twenty to thirty, some days moro and some days less, vending their way in Indian file along the marrow, zigZag path, up the long, steep mountain side, some on horses or donkeys and some on foot. While both old and young, male and female, may be seen on the trail, the majority are young or middle aged per sons, and the larger number are men or boys, but it is quite csmmon for young ladies to make the journey, and not unfrequently on foot. Some make the ascent leisurely during the day, arriving at the summit in the even- ing, and remain over night in order to enjoy the sunrise
 It is twelve miles from Manitou to the summit, and the elevation to be overcome is nearly 5000 feet, Manitou having an altitude of over 5000 feet and the peak II, 216. This is about 600 feet to the mile. The timber line varies according to latitude and other conditions Here it is from 11,SO0 to 12,0O1 feet The same may be said III regard to snow remaining throughout the year. While there may be no snow on the summit of the peak, it is found many feet in depth in shel- tered places a little lower down.
 THE TIMBER LINE.
 The timber line Is in many cases sharply defined. The Quaking aspen is common to high altitude, but scrubby pines are the most conspicuous timber seen at the upper edge of the line, and beyond this not trace of any kind of woody growth is to be seen. But fine short grass, where the surface is not covered with rocks, is abundant, and there is asproportion of pretty little flowers in great variety, but mostly without fragrance.
 About the timber line an occasional mag pie or snowbird may be seen, also an eagle or hawk. But the most remarkable inhabitant is the North American pika, q little gray animal about the size of q guinea pig and without any tail It is chased with the hares but the points of resemblance are very few and rather indistinct Its home is in among the rocks between the timber line and per petual snow. This is the only species of the animal known in America. They are numer- ous, and several may sometimes be seen at once sitting on the rocks. Their cry reminds one of the prairie dog, but is less loud and shrin. When approached they dart down among the rocks and are safe.
 The summit is by no means craggy and in accessible, but consists of about seventy five acres of nearly level surface, being somewhat dome shaped, and consists entirely of broken fragments of red granite rocks, over which persons can walk without difficulty, stepping from one stone to another, although care is required for safety. The signal service station is low stone building on the southeastern edge of the summit, below which the noun tain is very steep, while on the north side it is precipitous and rocks started here go laundering down over snow banks for thou sands of feet, until they are lost to both sight and hearing. The west side is less steep and here both the trail and carriage road find their way by zigzags to the summit.
 AN IMPRESSIVE VIEW.
 The view from the peak is grand and i'm preSsive, but you are too high up and too far away to get the effects of landscape scen- cry that are to be met with in places of far less elevation. Here one is impressed with the magnitude of the surroundings. To the eastward the great plains extend without ap- parent limit, while far away on the west are piled up mountains upon mount aims, with many snow capped peaks, while to the north and south the dividing line between the mountains and the plains can be traced to the limit of vision.
 While the ascent of the peak is fatiguing and is seldom made ill less than six hours, yet it is always interesting, as new scenes are constantly opening up before us, and besides nature has furnished an abundant supply of ice water at frequent intervals. This water, coming directly from the snow banks, is as pure as one could desire. A small running stream of this ice water was noticed within 150 yards of this signal service station, and where the surface rocks were removed in grading the new road ice could be seen in in- exhauStible quantities,
 We hear much about persons suffering from difficulty in breathing and bleeding at nose while at such heights, but others do not experience any inconvenience. The pulse is generally quickened, however, and is usually about that of fever patient The signal service here will be abandoned in October, as it Is very exposing for the men, and the ad- vantagos to be derived from it are not of suff1- cient value to warrant it's continuance. The winters are long and severe. Last winter the men were showed in for three months, the snow being thirty feet deep, completely bury ing the station, but they always lay in sup plies for such emergencies. Denver World.