Omaha daily bee., 1890-10-13
UP PIXIES PEAK.
There Arc Now Three Ways of Reach
ingthe Famous Mountain Top.

A trip through Colorado which does
not include the ascent of the famous
Pixies Peak is incomplete, says the Chi.
cago Herald, To accomplish 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 consum-
mate master of rein and steed you will
make the journey on horseback. Lack
ing educatitn in this direction you are
consigned to the tender mercies OF
cautious mule or docile burro ,donkey(
self-concentrated quadrupeds, deaf alike
to crack of whip or pleading voice. A
second route is by carriage from Cascade
Canyon. If however, spurnfng the slow
climbing stage coach, you seek surer
means of rapid transit, the Pixies Peak
cOgwheel 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 Il horse,
mule or donkey, The relative
advantages and attractions of
routes having 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, emblazoned 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
| beautiful, always sublime. Colossal
| rock-forms tower above you; on every
| hand rise gigantic pilasters-vast cary
atids supporting the entablatures of the
| hills. Your journeyis accomplished in
| five hours. Four horses convey your
coach to the halfway house and are
there supplanted by as many
mules, more sure-footed, and there
| fore better mountain travellers.
| your route up the steep
| mountain is n zigzag one, varied by in
Vulnerable windings on edges of abrupt
| precip pces and startling 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 1000 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 bewildering
in its sublime beauty. The topography
of the entire country is disclosed to the
charmed eye, mountain and valley,
shimmering lake and sparkling
rivulet making a panorama OF in
comparable and inspiring grandeur.
Giant peaks to the southwest dwindle tC
insignificant hills Colorado Springs
becomes patch of greenin 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 be
| gins. Following the trees the grasses
soon disappear also; only few hardy
| persistent moses remain TO rest The
wearied eye. Higher yet! Rocks every
where The mules struggle upward
vegetation has entirely disappeared
Rocks on every hand. 1t seems
as if the groaning mountain
had belched forth this appalling
covers summit and sides. At last the
very pinnacle of the mountain is at
tained. Only rocks! \ vast desolatiol
confronts the awe-struck, silent traveller
And now the raritied atmosphere play
strange prnnks with the helpless beinI
whose temerity and ''vaulting ambition
| has gained for him this cloud-swept ele
walton. The vanquished may be foun'
on every hand. The victim of superau
Gus avoirdupois is first to succumb
From this assemblage of pale counte
nances aud whirling brains we discreet.
walked away, lest sympathy should prov
: more potent than elevation. For tn
} first time we looked down upon feec
, clouds that trailed their shining gar
L ments along the mountain side. After
: stay of half an hour at the United State
: signal service station on the summit, ou
Y return trip was made in three hours.