Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-16
PIXIES PEAK BY RAIL.
Scaling Americas Celebrated Mount
ain by the Aid of Steam.
THE SCENERY ALONG THE ROUTE.
Unsuccessful Efforts of It's Namesake to
Climb the Elevation.
THE PERILOUS PIONEER TRAIL
rcoRREsPoNDENcE OF THE pIsPArcH.l I


COLORADO SPRINGS, COL, Oct. 12.-
Being compelled by failing health to seek
more congenial climate, L left the "City
of Gas" on June 1, for this invigorating
atmosphere. Having located myself here
at the Springs, in few months 1 have re-
gained my health sufficiently to enable me
to take that most desirable trip to "Pike'E
Peak"
The fame of this lofty mountain is world
wide. Fearless and erect it stands, as if in
its mighty strength to bid US all defiance.
pushing its snow-covered summit far above
the clouds, now light and bright in the daz.
zling sunshine, again dark and ominous from
the breeding storm. Up from the surround.
ing foothills it rises, the unseathed warrior
of many fierce battle with the elements,
the silent but ever watchful sentinel of the
wide spreading plains. At the dizzy height
of an altitude IA, 147 feet above the level OF
the sea, tired nature finished her ponderous
task and left as the result of her labors an
everlasting monument.
Ma lor Zebulon Pike once said, "No hu-
man being could ascend to that summit,
but late in the fall of 1905 he and his small
party made strenuous efforts to reach the
top of "The Great Snow Mountain"
| MAJOR PIKE GIVES IT UP.
| After many weary miles of climbing,
hampered by the chilling blasts of an early
winter and delayed by the depth of the fast
falling snow, they finally reached the sum-
NIT of what is now known as Cheyenne
| Mountain. The outlook from this point was
so discouraging that Pike positively refused
| to risk his men farther, SO further efforts
were abandoned. Such was the frst-known
attempt to scale the lofty heights of the now
celebrated mountain which, although that
intrepid explorer never set foot even at its
base, ever afterward took his name.
The fieecy snow of 40 winters or more
were driven against the hardy face of old
Pixies Peak before another good description
of this mountain was given to the world.
George f. Ruxton in 1847 pitched his lone
ly tent on the banks Of that rapid little
mountain stream, Fontaine qui bouille. It
was the intention of this doughty sports
man to try to ascend the moutnain, but be-
fore he undertook the task he had to flee for
his life from the Indians, who came there to
partake of the health-giving mineral waters.
In honor of the memory of this man park
in that section now bears his name.
1t was along in the ffties that the first
trail was made almost to the top, but it was
q very dangerous one, and not many people
undertook the task of following it. In 1871,
1873 and 1877 three other trails were made,
but in 1889 carriage road was built, which
is very pleasant way of ascending the
mountain, but it takes at least a day to
make the trip, and sometimes longer.
THE MOUNTAIN RAILWAY FINISHED.
The goth of October, 1890, is a memorable
dav in the history of Pixies Peak On that
day the golden spike was set that completed
the highest railroad in the world, and the
finishing stroke was made that assured to
the tourist a safe, easy and speedy transit to
the tiptop pinnacle of the most celebrated
mountain on this hemisphere. Such was
the victory gained over the mighty works
of nature, and to the untiring efforts of a
Jealous few must be ascribed the credit Of
the conquest.
In two respects only does the Manitou and
Pixies Peak road differ from the ordinary
railway. The first and greater of these is
the very heavy grade that in few feet
short of nine miles makes an elevation of
1925 feet, and the other is the system
of rack rails, that forms a contin-
uous track upon which the 80 cogs
of the locomotive operate. The exact.
length of the road is 1892 feet,
and the average elevation overcome s44.4
feet to the mile, making an average grade
of 16 per cent. The maximum grade is %
per cent. The locomotives weigh about %
tons apiece when loaded; are of 200 horse
power and have no tenders. They are de-
signed to push the trains when going up the
mountain and precede them on the descent,
thus having perfect control of the coaches.
While the cars are not coupled to the en-
gine, they can, if desired, be let down inde-
pendently of the locomotive.
In company with friends took front
seat in the coach, wondering what nature
had for me to see.
SLOW AND SAFE TRIP.
At last we start, not at rapid gait, but
one in which person could easily Jump off
or on the car at any time during the ascent,
for.it takes two hours and 20 minutes to 20
up and one hour and half to return. First
we pass the Shady springs, and at this point
is where the Cog and Magog look down
upon the passenger. Now we enter the
Grand Pass, where for 1000 feet the putting
engine pushes us up one of the longest and
steepest inclines of the whole grade.
On we go, passing Echo Falls, Hanging
Rock, Artists Glen and Sheltered Falls.
Again, the musical sound of fast falling
water is heard. A little way farther we
come into view of the beautiful Minnehaha
Falls, one of the prettiest sights on the
road. Still up, up we climb, passing the
Half Way House, going through the mar
row walls of He'll Gate, and soon we are at
Ruxton Park. Here for two and one-quar-
ter miles a comparatively level stretch is to
be seen, covered with beautiful groves of |
pine and aspen.
A little farther on "Baldy" (Bald !
Mountain) elevates itself, and at our left is |
the castle-shaped Sheep Rock, while Just |
beyond is Lions gulch, where we got the |
first grand view of the majestic proportions |
OF historical old Pixies Peak, the father of |
mountains A sleeper incline is soon below |
us. On, on we go. Now we are at timber |
line, II, ,625 feet above sea level. A sharp |
turn is made and we have passed Windy |
Point and are fast climbing into "the Sad |
dle." From this point good view of Man |
itou and the Garden of the Gods, lying far
below, may be had.
REACHING THE SUMMIT.
But we must not stop here; $500 feet |
more and we have reached the upper ter |
minal, the old Government signal station,
and the long talked of summit of hardy old |
Pixies Peak.
1t was on one of Colorado's "best'' days
when we were there and with the aid of the
glass we could see Denver, on the north, |
10 miles away; on the east the broad buffalo
plains of Colorado; on the south, Pueblo
and the Spanish Peaks, and on the west
the snow-mantled peaks of the Rocky
range.
We were on the summit for 30 minutes,
walking around over the rugged rocks, and
did not experience any disagreeable feeling
with the exception of being a little eight
headed" The prices there at the lunch
counter correspond with the high altitude.
Our return journey was made with much
pleasure. The fare Is IS for the round trip,
and the railroad carried during the season |