The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1894-10-31
ON MOUNTAIN TOP.
GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEW
FROM LONGS PEAK.

Hccnc-stnnh bichinsOhs tbru,
All lovers Of mountain scenery hav-
ing few days time ut their disposal
must make n flying TIP 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 "specklcd 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
$500 feet
We leave our wheels Mt the hotel and
drive up 90 Lambs ranch, where we
spend the night mt an elevation of 10,-
900 feet
AT sunrise the next morning, mount
ed on horseback, with an experienced
guide in the lead, we ride up to timber
line, whero we picket our horses and
commence the climb of the bowlder
fields, necessitating much courage and
determination, as these bowlders are
angular rocks Of solid granite and run
in size from chicken coop to n mod
en dwelling In the center of this bowl
der feldwas passodthe slabrocordingt the
death of Carrie Welton Of Connecticut,
who a few years since unwiscly insist
ed upon the guide accompanying her to
the peak too late in the season. When
returning. they We're caught in 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
guide for hours made supernatural eff
forts to carry her over those almost i'm
passable rocks until, at her request, he
left her to bring a 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 unwelcomo 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 sand 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 speechless with wonder
and admiration. Hard rs it was, we
would make the same heroic effort
hundred times were it necessary to wit
ness the grand scene before us.
Nearly 5000 feet below is Estes park,
the sportsman paradise; to the west is
II.
to the south South park. Beyond these
peaks we see the range for distance of
over 200 miles. With tho 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 Isl What an ocean of mountain
pillows, in constrast to which we turn
to the cast and see an ocean of plains
the one as quiet as the peaceful sea in q
calm, the other as tempestuous as the
tossing pillows.
Never was time more valuable than
now. So snuch TO be seen. Such n pic
ture to paint in our minds so that it may
never fade. Think of making this i'm
preston indelibly upon ones mind,
covering this panoramic Wow of 200
miles in either direction of plains, val
leys, 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 landscape no painter
can paint, NO speech can express. Before
,if,c, %
deposits of visitors. Here is a shingle by
Major Powell, who, with William N.
Byres was the first to make the ascent
in 1868. Here is Anna Dickinson Is 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 CT visitors cards.
The top of the peak is level, covering
few acres, andwe wonder that house
has not been hnit 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.
pendicular descent ,of 8,000ifee How
lnervously we approach the edge, step
Iby step, until our strength fails us and
I'VE can go no farther.
Trembling with fear, we return from
this stupendous scene, bewildered with
mixed feelings Of pleasure and fear. Be-
fore making the descent we take a final
view, the like of which we shall never
again see. We retraoe our steps, and
having passed the most dangerous
places courage is restored, and we neach
the park after nightfal SO tired and
with such longing for onr 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. b. Light
in Good Roads.