St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1894-10-25
niiscrIlanu.
ON MOUNTAIN TOP.
sRAPHIC DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEW
FROM LONGS PEAK.

ing a few days time at their disposal
must make a flying trip to Estes park,
the most beautiful and inviting of all
Colorado parks, but not the largest. 1t
is only six miles wide by ten miles long,
through which run several streams, filled
with 'speckled beauties" SO much
sought for by skilled anglers. At the
south end of the park rises Longs peak
in all its majesty and grandeur, with
sentinel ON either side nearly equal its
height. The altitude of the park is
1900 feet
We leave our wheels at the hotel and
drive up to Lambs ranch, where we
spend the night at an elevation of TO-,
900 feet
At sunrise the next morning, mount
ed on horseback, with an experienced
guide in the lead, we ride up to tim Der
line, where we picket our horses and
commence the climb of the bOwlder
fields, necessitating much courage and
determination, as these powders are
angular rocks Of solid granite and run
in size from a chicken coop to a mod
ern dwelling. In the center of this bowl
der field as passed the slabrecording the
death of Carrie Welton of Connecticut,
who a few years since unwisely insist
ed upon the guide accompanying her to
the peak too late in the season. When
returning, they were caught in a severe
gale and binding storm. After suffer
ing as only one can suffer when sur
rounded by that intense loneliness Stung
by the pangs of cold and cravings of hun
ger, her life was sacrificed. The trusty
10 ,a6o ,atJ1 Of
forts to carry her over those almost i'm
passable rocks until at her request, he
left her to bring rescuing party from
the ranch, which upon arrival found
life extinct.
Following the guide, we pass through
an opening called the ''keyhOle'' and
emerge beside an unwelcome precipice.
We carefully pick our way along the
brink, which requires all our nerve and
resolution, but yet is not as tiresOme as
the loose saSd and broken rock, rising
at an incline of 40 degrees. just beyond.
By perseverance and an occasional rest
we are enabled to reach that ugly preci-
pice on our right, and by using both
hands and feet we make the summit,
where we stand speeches. with wonder
and admiration. Hard as it was, we
would make the same heroic effort a
hundred times were it necessary to wit
ness the grand scene before us.
Nearly s, 600 feet below is Estes park,
the sportsman paradise; to the west is
Middle park and Hot Sulphur Springs;
to the south South park. Beyond these
peaks we see the range for distance of
over 200 miles. WitlA lthe aid of our
glasses we discern Gray's peak, Mount
Lincoln, Mount Evans, Pixies peak and
Old Ouray in Marshall pass, some Of
which are 200 miles distant. What a
scene it is! What an ocean of mountain
pillows, in constrast to which we turn
to the east and see an ocean of plains
the one as quiet as the peaceful sea in a
calm, the other as tempestuous as the
tossing pillows
Never was time more valuable than
now. So much to be seen. Such pic
ture to paint in our minds SO that it may
never fade. Think of making this i'm
preston inde4ibly upon ones mind,
covering this panoramic view of 900
miles in either direction of plains, val
legs, parks and mountains, of growing
fields of wheat and far distant cities, of
snow capped mountains, of magnificent
forests and crystal streams.
Again and again we sweep the hori
zon and study a landscape no painter
can paint, no speech can express. Before
returning We must look at the souvenir
deposits Of visitors. Here is a Single by
Major Powell, who with William n
Byres, was the first to make the ascent
in 1868. Here is Anna Dickinson s card
the first woman to ascend the peak, also
of the party who climbed the peak in
1878 to witness the total eclipse, to-
gether with thousands of visitors cards.
The top Of the peak is level, covering
a few acres, and we wonder that house
has not been built there for the accom-
mediation of those who might wish TO
remain overnight and see the sun rise
Before returning we must take one look
over the crater wall, which has per
pendicuIar descent Of 3, 900 feet. How
nervously we approach the edge, step
by step, until our strength fails US and
we can go no farther.
Trembling with fear, we return from
this stupendous scene, hewildered with
mixed feelings of pleasure and fear. Be-
fore making the descent we take final
view, the like of which we shall never
again see. We retrace our steps, and
having passed the most dangerous
places courage is restored, and we reach
the park afteg nightfall so tired and
with such longing for our couch, but
with the feeling that we would sacrifice
anything reasonable rather than deny
ourselves to Longs peak, but having
once made it nothing would tempt Us
to climb it again. -Edward B. Light
in Good Roads