Morning journal and courier., 1892-05-24
CORRESPONDENCE.

The Ascent of Wilson's Peak in
 Southern California With Some
 Account Also of the Descent.
 PASADENA, California, May 5. To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
 There is no doubt that the wish to rise above surrounding circumstances is com mon to mankind; therefore having lived for certain time at the base of great mountain and frequently gazed at its top, sometimes covered with snow, occasionally enveloped in clouds, but generally bathed in sunshine, which is glaringly reflected from the red and white canvas of the Harvard observatory perched upon the summit, it is not at all surprising that we should desire to ascend and behold the wonders of which we have been told. Especially, too, as we have recently heard with amazement from President Eliot and other lights and luminaries, who lately made the ascent under the guide and di- rection of Professor Lowe, the noted bal loonist, that in the aforesaid observatory would soon be erected telescope which will easily bring the moon into close, not to say dangerous, proximity to this sec ton of country, and which will reveal wonders beyond even their powers of prognostication. Considering, too. that If their prophecy should come true, the closeness of said moon, commonly consid- cred to be burned out and very cool, might change the climate and render southern California uniuhabitable, we thought it best to be up and doing.
 And to give the real reason last, with & laudable object in view which shall be elu- cidated further on. As has been often ex- plsined, there are two ways (besides the balloon way) of ascending this peak-fast becoming famous-the first or best way being to make the journey on foot, the other and most popular way Is by means of the ell-known burro; sedate in ap- pearance, deceitful in effect and practice; we chose the latter way, we are sorry to say.
 Behold us then outfitted for the jour ney; green goggles to protect our eyes from the sun; leather leggings as security against rattle-snakes, tsrantulas, scorpi- ons and such ilk, large can of blue paint labelled "Pssadens Baked Beans," and an ancient and rusty Colts revolver for de- fense against grizzly bears, whose tracks are said Coy tourists) to be in great num- Der, and to measure much as a foot and a half in length the bears themselves be- ing of uncertain length, no tourist having paused long enough to measure them.
 The selection of 8 burro is 8 serious matter, and one which requires much anI- ious thought. We chose one of 6 beauti- ful cfesm color, handsome enough to look at, but unfortunately the tints and shades of his complexion gave no indication of the depravity of his disposition. There are two ways of riding on burro; not choice that way; the choice lies between fore and aft, for owing to the sharpness and roaoh-like shape of c burro's spine there Is no happy medium. You must either ride very far forward on what might perhaps be called the steerage, or else very far back on what might be called the quar- ter deck. We have not decided even yet which situation was the most unfortunate for us.
 The approach to the coveted mountain top is by broad avenue with paved gut ters and handsome shade trees. This ave- nue abruptly ends on the side of deep canon, where Q sign gives notice of "No Thoroughfsre," and warns of all trespaes- CTS. Deceived by this, we unfortunately turn to the left and are soon lost in 6 maze of orange and walnut trees, through which we wander for considerable time, till luck fly rescued by a pig-tailed celestial, who informs us in pigeon English that the sign is no good, and that we must bid defiance to 1t and descend by that way into the canon. Therefore down we go to the bot. tom of the gulf, traverse 1t for some dis tance and at last arrive ct the foot of the trail and the toll-gste. After this there is no difficulty in regard to losing the way; 1t is impossible to climb the ateep side of the mountain on the left even If one wished to do 70, and it would surely be moro than uncomfortable to fall of the edge on the right hand side. Up we go then. speotaclss carefully adjusted, rs. tolvsr at "rssdy" In our right hsndi tho can of blue paint nicely balanced in our left, tempting fats and supposedly pre-. pared for any happening, but, ss the event proves, entirely unequal to what really be-
 ghs trsrl Is asoss shfss or four feet