Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1890-10-24
CLIMBING PIXIES PEAK.
An Adventurous Lady Made Up
Her Mind She Would
and She Did.
How One Feels i'll the Light
Air At Such a High
Altitude.
Pixies Peak is 14,147 Feet High.
From Manitou il is
Over 5000

''Punch's'' celebrated alvice to young
man about to marry. Don It, >" should be
volunteered to those ambitious to ascend
Pixies Peak on foot. 1t is highly proba-
bic, however, that the good advice will be
wasted. in that case experience is the
only teacher
We are of the misguided num5e who
scorned the salutary advice OF the expert
encad. Yesterday morning We sailed
fourth. brave, enthusiastic, filed with the
new wine of life. In the evening We re-
turned, f0otsore. iispirited, with the
weight of centuries upon US. Physically
We were an exhausted. mentally and NOR
ally. sadder and wiser pair.
MaDitou Is is said to be twelve miles by
trail from the Signal Station on the peak
The altitude of the town is 5000 feet;
that of the mountain A. 147. This ascent
of over eight thousand feet accounts in
a great measure for the difficulty of the un-
dertaking
The morning was beautiful. When.
after an early breakfast. we started out at
Z, the sky was as blue and cloudless as on
a sunny day in April. One side of Eng
liskman'S canyon, where the trail begins,
was bathed In sunshine, the other dark
and cool in the shadow.
At half-paSt s we were restinZ on the
rocks beside the Cascades at the Halfway
House, quatfing ice-coId water from the lit
tie rubber cup that is the invaluable COM
panion of all our mountain rambes. I'm
fortunately Halfway House is sad
misnomer. There are still ever seven
miles beyond it to be traversed, and to the
H,,oI ai1 n, h tba +--E oh ~,
We reached timber line soon after II,
and there, while refreshing ourselves with
luncheon, we enjoyed the scenery all about
US. At our feet, sheltered on every side by
the mountains, lay peaceful valley.
Golden aspens and dark trees covered it..
and In its midst like green crystal, glim-
mered Lake Moraine. Directly opposite
there Cameron Cone and at our right.
Mouran Garfield reared its rugged crest.
At Timber Lake Spring we had to break
the ice to get drink. Already we had
discerned patches of snow here and there
in the crevices of the rocks. The keen
wind, In spite Of the sunshine, made warm
wraps a comfort. Only three miles now
lay between US and the summit of the re-
dOubtable old mountain.
We will be at the signal station at one
clock, cOntidentiaily asserted the cap
tain, while the mats who had shared his
joys and sorrows for four years, fondly
fancied in her heart of hearts that an hour
before that time they would have reached
their destination. So We rounded Windy
Point, and there took to the railroad grade
for the final ascent.
., the weary memory of those last three
miles. We had already attained an alti-
tude of $4,000 feet. which increased at
every step, and at the same time, the diff
Guilty of breathing rapidly became greater
We were soon obliged to stop every forty
feet or less for breath and rest. Our lips
grew blue, not with cold, although the air
was shaep, but from the quickened pulsa-
tions of the heart
After an hour and half of laborious
climbing we finally arrived at the cluster
of tents where the railroad workers are in
camp.
In reply to our eager INQUIRY Of distance
to the summit, the answer, "A mile and
three-quarters came to daunt om rising
hopes. We paused to rally our forces.
and recall our waning courage. The road
here winds behind the peak. Off to the
west and south lies an ocean of hills and
mountains In bltiOwy grandeur. In the
distance. nearly hidden by haze, we could
j st dCscry a second great range Of the
Rockies. From this point on clear day
it is said Canon City Pueblo are visible
With perseverance worthy a better cause
we arose and resumed our upward journey
ing. An occasional giddiness and ringing
In the ears were additional proofs of in
creasing altitude. The laborers whom we
passed looked at US, we faLcied with pity
ing wonder that two indididuals of adult
age would voluntarily incur so much profit
less fatigue and hardship. But they are
accustomed to daily exhibitions of this
same lunacy. Some of these men have
been working for over a year on the Pike 5
Peak railway, which is now nearing COM
pletion. The grading is all done, and 100
men are employed in laying from 800 to
800 feet of track daily. In week they
told us that it would be entirely finished
1t was after o'clock wben we passed
the last of these workmen. ''Only half a
mile further, " he said encouragingly. But
that last half mile nearly proved the last
straw as well. 1t was d steep ascent over
rough stones, with absolutely nothing in
sight but one deSolate waste of rocks
and snow.
The sun has retreated behind bank of
clouds that momentarily looked darker
and more ominious. Half an hour, and
three-quarters, passed in slow and pain
full progress. Every step was an exertlon
against which the wearied muscles made
violent protest. 1t seemed a pity to show
the white feather after such herioc en-
deavor, but one of the climbers, at least.
was woefully neal it, when lol a seraph.
in cowboy garb and slouched sombrer0.
camC flying down from above. at immi-
nent jeopardy If life and limb A seraph.
indeed for be brought us glad tidings:
Just around tie corner. and there, sure
enough we discovered, a few minutes
later, the haven where we would be, the
signal station abandon for the winter by
its custodian, but with door Hospitality
open 10 ali corners, and comfortable fire
in its big stove, build presumably by the
seraph aforesaid How we longed to hask
for hours in its cheerful warmth But
q storm was gathering, the moments were
flying and twelve miles of return lay before
us.
OF the descent through a snow storm fol-
lowed by the fickl. sunshine. Of the sudden
fall of night while we were crossing the
aSpen-covered plateau, of a hurried cup of
tea after dark 1t the Halfway House. and
a downward rush Of four miles through the
canyon, whose giant rocks assumed gro
tesque and fantastic forms In the ftful
moonlight; finally of the welcome and the
warm supper awaiting the wanderers at
Pine Tree Cottage-the details Of all this
| will leave to the fancy of the reader,
JOHN DINGLEY
EUGENE IN Is70-7I