The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1888-10-31
CLIMBING PIXIES PEAK.
INTERESTING ACCOUNT OF A TRIP
MADE ON FOOT.

On. the Old Trail from SEanitou--The
Timber Line--Tho North American PIln.
Scene on the Summit of tho Peais--An
Impressive View.
In view Of the opening of the wagon road
TO the summit Of Pixies Peak, the following
accounted trip on foot may prove interest
ing;
To ascend Pixies Peak by the old trail from
Manitou is worthy the ambition of any young
person Thus yearly every day during 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 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 quito common for young ladies to
malSe 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
1t 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 14,216. This
is about GOO feet to the mile The timber
line varies according to latitude and other
conditions Hero it is from 1850 to 1900
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, it is found many feet in depth in shell
tered places little lower down.
THE TIMBER LINE.
The Timber limo is in many cases sharply
defined. Tho quaking aspen is common to a
high altitude, but scrubby pines are tho most
conspicuous timber seen at the upper edge of
tho line, and beyond this not a trace of any
kind Of woody growth is to BIO seen. But
fine short grass, whero the surface is not
covered with rocks, is abundant, and there is
aiproportion of pretty liStle flowers in great
variety, but mostly without fragrance.
About the timber limo an occasional mag
pic or snowbird may be seen, also an eagle or
hawk But the most remarkable inhabitant
is the North American pilsa, a little gray
animal about the size of guinea pig and
without any tail. 1t is c1nssed with the hares,
but tho 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 tho
animal known in America. They arc numer-
Gus, 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
shrill. 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-flve
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 tho summit, below which the noun
tain isSery steep, while on the north side it
is precipitous, and rocks started here 20
laundering down over snow banks for thou
sands of feet, until they are lost to both sight
and hearing. Tho west sido is less steep, and
hero both tho trail and carriage road fine
their way by zg2ags TO the summit.
AN IMPRESSIVE VIEW.
Tho view from the peak is grand and i'm
pressive, but you arc too high up and too
fur away to get the effects of landscape seen
cry that arc to be met with in places Of far
less elevation. Here one is impressed with
the magnitude Of tho surroundings To tho
eastward the great plains extend without up
parent limit while far away on tho west
IRE piled up mountains upon mount
aims, with many snow capped peaks,
while to tho north and south tho dividing
line between tho mountains and the plains
can be traced to the limit Of vision.
While the ascent Of tho peak is fatiguing
and Is seldom made in less than six hours,
yet it is always interesting, as now scenes are
constantly opening up before us, and besides
ntturo has furnished an abundant supply Of
leo water at frequent intervals. This water,
coming directly from the snow banks, is as
pure as ono could desire. A small running
stream OF this ice water was noticed within
$50 yards of this signal service station, and
where the surface rocks werc 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 uaually
about that of a fever patient. Tho sigma
service here will be abandoned in October, as
it Is very exposing for the men, and tho adj
vantages to DO derived from it are not of sufn
cient value to warrant its continuance. Thu
winters arc long and severe. Last winter thl
men were showed in for three months, tn,
snow being thirty feet deep completely bury
ing the station, but they always lay in sup
plies for such emergencies. --Dcnver World.
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