San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1889-10-24
PIXIES PEAK.

From q distant view OF the Rocky
Mountains, it is hard to imagine them
built OF earth and rock or Of anything
terrestrial; hard to fancy them rent
by frightful chasms or their sides
covered by shaggy woods. 1t is hard
to realize that tho mighty forms be-
fore us once formed the floor OF the
ocean, and their present elevation is
due to internal commotion which
produces upheavals Of the earth't
surface. Yet evidences of this fact
exist in the soil, the rocks, and in
the form OF the mountains themselves.
The zest and eagerness, with which
one goes about an expedition Of any
kind in the Rockies, is phenomenal in
itself, nor can it be comprehended by
those who have not experienced it.
It seems that the senses are quicken
ed by the clear vivifying atmosphere
of the western highlands in summer,
and an excursion is ten fold more
pleasurable than it could be where the
air has less invigorating effect. One
will sometimes feel completely ex-
hausted with climbing, but after o
short rest he feels refreshed and eager
to go on and explore new scenes Of
beauty aud grandeur.
At eight o'clock on the morning OF
the 3rd of Aug. 1889 we found our
selves seated in carriage at Cascade
with the summit of Pixies Peak as
our objective point. There were FIVE
carriages in the party, each having
on the back of itin large letters "PIKE's
PEAK OR BUST Each carriage was
drawn by six horses until the half
way house was reached, there we
stopped for refresh and the six
horses were changed for six mules.
We reached the summit about three
in the afternoon, and remained ON
hour. The descent is, comparatively
speaking, made in very thort time.
The scenery, along the entire route,
IS wild and fanciful in the extreme.
The road winds between huge boul.
leas, along the steep and dizzy sides
If canons, past cascades and water
'alls, but ever upward. With every
urn was presented fresh views which
'eemed, if possible, to rivalin beauty,
grandeur, and sublimiiy, those which
lad preceded them,
The impression of the brilliant and
loud like beauty, obtained from q
listant view of Pixies Peak, is speed
ly dispelled. Its sides are rugged,
ough and craggy, with here o seam
which was probably worn by torrents
+ water as they rushed madly down
he mountain side, there q chasm
doubtless rent by an earthquake,
here right at your feet before you
re aware, is an almost fathomless
bys; the next moment you are con-
ronted by colossal rocks which, like
hurch spires, lift their towering
orms high in the air.
The mountain is heavily timbered
o within few miles OF the summit.
luch Of the timber has been killed
y forest fires. The fibre Of the wood
lns around the tree in spiral form,
nd, what is unusual and contrary TO ,
he usual rule, the fibre turns from
he sun.
Wild flowers grow luxuriantly all
le way, and among them may be
,und representatives Of the fora
almost every cline and season.
At timber line q kind Of bright 1
zen vine covers the sandy slope
ith perfect mat Of tangled foil 9
e. Above this for some distance !
e mountain resembles vast rolling ;
sadovs covered with Q short green K
rf tbickly dotted with brilliantly
lored flowers Of every shape and
Is. The gulcbes. and in fact all 3
acss TO which the suns rays do =
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