Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1894-11-27
ON MOUNTAIN TOP.
taApnlc DESCRIPTION or THE VIEW
FROM LONGS PEAK.

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All lovers Of mountain scenery hav.
Ing few days time at their disposal
must mako flying trip 20 Estes park.
the most beautiful and inviting OF all
Colorado parks. but not the largest IL
II only sir miles wide by ten miles long.
through which run several streams nllcd
with "spcckled beauties" 20 much
sought for by skilled anglers. AZ 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 che park 10
Z. 500 feet
We leave our wheels at the hotel and
drive MP 60 Lambs ranch. where We
spend the night at an elevation Of TO-.
900 feet
Al sunrise the next morning. mount.
al ON horseback. with an experienced
guide In the lead. We ride mp 90 timber
line. whcre we picket our horses and
commcno. the climb of the bowldcr
fields, necs-.itatins much courage and
determination. NJ the-e bowldcrs arc
angular rocks IL solid granite and run
In sire from chicken coop 10 mol
crn dwelling. In the ccnier II this bowl
der field W ~ passed the slabrccotdinR the
death ~ Carrie welton Of Connecticut.
4 who few years since unwisely insist.
al upon the guide accompanying her 10
the PEAK ton lat. la the season. When
returning. they were caught In severe
gale and binding storm. After suffer
ing as only ono can suffer when sur
rounded by that intense lonelino--. stunR
~ the pangs u cold and cravings Of hun
ger. her life was sacrihocd. The trusty
guide for hours made supernatural 81
forts 90 carry her over tho. almost i'm
pas.abie rock. until. nc her request. he
left her to bring r~cuin. party from
the ranch. which upon arrival found
life extinct
Following the guide. we pass through
an opening called the 'keyhole" and
emerge t.sidc mn unwelcome prccipicc.
W. carefully pick our way along tia
brink. which r-luirs all our nerve and
resolution. but yet IL not NJ tirc-ome n
the loo-o sand and broken rock, rising
at an incline 81 Is degrees. Just beyond
By perseverance. and an OCCASIONAL ret
We are enabled to reach that ugly prcci'
pice on our right. and by using both
hand. and feet We make th. summit.
where We stand .pecchlc-s with wondcI
and admiration. Hard ~ 10 was. We
would make the same heroic effort q
hundred times were Il nccc-sary % wit
ne. the grand scene before ua
Nearly 4. 900 feet below IL Estes park.
the spurtsman's paradise: 90 the wet Il
Middle park and Hot sulphur Spring.
Ia the south South park Beyond thcss
f-ak. We -. Oh. range for distanc. II
over 200 mile. With the aid % ouI
glasses We discern Gray's pax. Mount
! Lincoln. Mount Evans. Pixies peak and
OLD Ouray Ia Marshall pa, some O'
which are 900 miles distant What q
scene 10 i.l What All ocean ~ mountain
flows. In oon-tra-t % which We turn
o. the east and see an ocean ~ plains
, the one ~ quiet as the praccful soa In 4
calm. IN, other rs temp-tuous n Oh,
tc-.ing billows
Never was time morc valuable than
now. ~ much a. L. sccn. Such pic
tur, To- paint In our minds - that u mag
never fslc Think Of making this i'm
. preston indelibly upon one. mind,
covering thi. panoramic view ~ coo
, miles In either direction % plains, val
loys parks AMI mountains. 81 growing
fields ~ wheat and far distant citics. O'
snow capped mountains. Of magnificent
forests and crystal streams
Again AMI again We sweep the hori
son and study q landscapc no painter
can paint, NO speech can express BofOr'
returning W. must look nj th. souvenir
: dep~its 10 visitors licrc IL u shingle b,
Major Powell. who. with william n
Byrc-. was Oh. first 90 make th. ascen
In 1868. Here L. Anna Dickinson carl
the iirst woman o. ascend the pax. als,
20 the party who climbed the pax IN
!. 1875 a. witness the total ooliI~,. TO
gcthcr with thousands ~ visitors cards
The top ~ the peak IL level. GOVERNS
few acrc-. AMI We wonder that hous'
ha. not been built there for the accom-
, mediation ~ those who might wish q
remain overnight and $50 the sun iiso
Before returning We must take one looI
over the crater wall. which has . pr
: r.ndicular descent ~ 5000 feet How
ncryously We approach the edge, .'eI
/ by step. until our strength fails Us AM
, We can 20 no farther
: Trembling with fear. We return frou
this stupendous scene. hewildorod will
. mixed feeling. - pleasure and fear. b.
J fore making the descent We take q fna
view. the like 81 which We shall neycI
again se We rrtrac. our step-. an'
having passed the mort dangcrou'
PLACES courage IL restored. and we reaci
. the park after nightfall - tired anc
, with such longing for our couch. bu
! with the feeling that We would sacrifice
. anything reasonable rather than den,
ourselves 10 Longs p.ak. but hayins
once made IL nothing would tempt NJ
!, 90 climb IL again. Edward u. Ligh
p A.