The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1890-10-03
UP PIXIES PEAK.
THERE ARE NOW THREE WAYS OF REACH
ING THE FAMOUS MOUNTAIN TOP

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A trip through Colorado which does
not include the ascent of the famous
Pixies Peak is incomplete. To ac-
complish this three routes are offered
the ambitious tourist. Taking the old
trail of the early gold hunters you may
follow the maze of its innumerable
windings up Cheyenne Mountain and
along the margin of the Seven Lakes.
If skill and practice have made you
consummate master of rein and steed
you will make the journey on horse
back. Lacking education in this di-
recton you are consigned to the tender
mercies of cautious mule Or docile
bu:ro donkey self concentrated quad
ruped, deaf alike to crack of whip or
pleading voice. A second route is by
carriage from Cascade Canyon. II,
however, spurning the slow-climbing
stage coach, you seek surer means of
rapid transit, the Pixies Peak cog.
wheel railway offers superior induce
ments. This road, however, is still un-
finished, and, having reached the half
way house by rail you are left to con-
tinue your journey on back of horse,
mule or donkey. The relative advan-
tages and attractions of routes hav-
ing been duly weighed, the trip by
coach seemed most feasible. Seven of
these coaches meet the train at Cascade
to carry travellers to the distant summit
An inspiring motto, emblaz )ned in
startling ochre on the rear OF each,
reads pixies Peak or Bust Aided
by horse and mule and skilful driver,
it proved Pixies Peak The ride from
Cascade to the summit is seventeen
miles, through scenery often beauti
full, always sublime. Colossal rock
forms tower above you; on every hand
rise gigantic pilas.ers-vast caryatids
supporting the entablature of the hills.
Your journey is accomplished in five
hours Four horses convey your
coach 10 the halfway house and are
there supplanted by as many mules,
more sure-footed and therefore better
mountain travellers. Your route up
the steep mountain is zigzag one,
varied by innumerable windings on
edges of abrupt precipices and start
ling declivities. But your confidence
in mules and driver is calm and strong.
With assurance of perfect safety and
even sense of power, you look up
1900 feet at the leader slowly moving
along the brow of the mountain, and
then downward 1000 feet at the last
coach, apparently journeying in the
wrong direction. The scene that
meets the eye as you are slowly lifted
up the mountain side is almost be-
wildering in its sublime beauty. The
topography of the entire country is
disclosed to the charmed eye, noun
tain and valley, shimmering lake and
sparkling rivulet making panorama
of incompatible and inspiring grandeur.
Giant peaks to the southwest dwindle
to Insignificant hills. Colorado
Springs becomes patch of green 10
the distance, Manitou steals from
sight within the arms of the hills
Leaving the halfway house you are
soon above timber line, and now the
tedious part of the ride begins. Fol-
lowing the trees the grasses soon dis
appear also; only few hardy persist
eut moses remain to rest the wearied
eye. Higher yet! rocks everywhere!
The mules struggle upwards; vegeta-
tion has entirely disappeared. Rocks
on every hand. 1t seems as if the
groaning mountain had belched forth
this appalling aggregation, whose pro-
| digious mass covers summit and sides.
AT last the very pinnacle of the mount,
ain is attained. Only rocks! a vast
desolation confronis the awe-stIuck,
silent traveller.
And now tie rarifed atmosphere
plays strange pranks with the helpless
beng whose temerity and "vaulting
ambition" has gained for him this
cloud-swept eleYation. The vauquish
ed may be found on every hand. The
victim of superfuous avoirdupois il
| first TO succamb From this assemblayc
of pale countenanccs and whirline
brains we discretely walk,d away
lest sympathy should prove more pc
tent than elevation. For the first time
we looked down upon feecy cloud'
that trailed their shining garment,
along the mountain side. After a sta,
of half an hour at the United States
signal service station at the summit
our return trip was made in three
hours.-From The Chicago Herald.