Morning journal and courier., 1888-10-02
AmEREoAN MOUNTAIN CLIMBING.
Pike,s Peak andThe Various Ways of Reaching the Summit.


 Reaching the Summit.
 From the Denver World.
 In view of the opening of the wagon road to the summit of Pike's Peak, the following account of a trip on foot may prove inter esting:
 To ascend Pike's Peak by the old trail from Manitou is worthy the ambition of any young person. Thus nearly every day dur- ing the summer months may be seen from twenty to thirty, some days more and some days less, vending their way in Indian file along the narrow, zigzag path up the long, steep mountain side, some on horses or don keys 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 persons, and the larger number are men or boys, but it is quite common for young la dies to make the journey, and not unfre- quentlY on foot Some make the ascent leisurely during the day, arriving at the summit in the evening, 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 eight thousand feet, Manitou having an altituds of over six thousand feet and the peak fourteen thousand two hundred and SiXG06n. the mile. The timber line varies according to latitude and other conditions. Here it is from eleven thousand eight hundred to twelve thousand feet. The same may be said in regard to snow remaining throughout the year. While there may be no snow on the summit of the peak, 1t is found many feet in depth in sheltered places little lower down. The timber line is in many cases sharply ! defined. The quaking aspen is common to | high altitude, but scrubby pines are the most l conspicuous timber seen at the upper edge of | the line, and beyond this not tree or any ! kind of woody growth is to be seen. But 1 fine, short grass, where the surface IS moi I covered with rocks, is abundant, and there | is 8 proportion of pretty little flowers 1n ! 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 inhabi' | tant is the North American pika, little gray l animal about the size of a guinea pig, and | without any tail. It is classed with the | hares, but the points of resemblance are very few and rather indistinct. It's home ii l in among the rocks between the timber line | and perpetual snow. This is the only spe | cies of the animal known in America. They l are numerous, and several may sometimes be seen at once sitting on the rocks. Their cry
 reminds ae of the prairie dog, but is lesi loud and shrill. When approached they dart down among the rocks and are safe. l The summit is by no means crsggy and in
 accessible, but consists of about seventy -hv'
 acres of nearly level surface, being some
 what dome shaped, and consists entirely O broken fragments of red granite rocks, ove | which persons can walk without dihouIty ! stenpine from one stone to another, although ! care is required for safety. The Signal Ser
 vice station is low stone building on tn
 southeastern edge of the summit, beloV
 which the mountain is very steep, while O the north side it Is precipitors, and rock