Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1894-12-22
A PLEASURE TRIP TO TIKI
ROCKIES IN THE FALL.

He who has not yet tasted the pleas
ures of jaunt over the plains of Kan
sas into the mountains of Colorado, has
missed much and has in store a great
treat. Entering the Silver state, now
rapidly becoming Golden by any of
the great roads, the Atchison, Topeka &
Santa Fe, the Rock Island, the Union
Pacific, the Burlington or the Missouri
Pacific one naturally makes Denver or
Colorado Springs headquarters, and
after enjoying the novelties of the great
metropolis of the plains or the gayety
of Manitou and the neighboring pictur-
esque summer resorts, seeks rest and
amusement on the fishing streams or in
the mountain canons, where big game
may be found The first fall of snow
sends the deer and other denizens of the
higher attitudes into the valleys, and
the fisherman who keeps his eve open
and his gun at hand, may secure a shot
when he is not expecting it. Bear,
mountain lions and panthers are some
times encountered, and on Blanca and
certain portions of the Sangre de Cristo
range grouse are abundant. Unlike
MANY other desirable localities for sum-
mer pleasures, this vicinity is open to
the sportsman practically all the year
around. There are many lumber mills
in the canons, where great strapping
men welcome the live sportsman and
make his stay pleasant, be the time long
or short. And they know where the
lakes are and how to get to them with
out using valuable time in search, and
generally there is a good shot among
them who can't resist the temptation to
take his gun and go along, and thus
make the excursion surely successful.
OF course, the party should be pro
vided with good wagon, and strong
horses and well-filled grub box, and
tent is not out of the way. Generally,
log cabins may be found, as have in
timated. There are two or three at the
Bayous, and every body seems to be vel
come to use them. They are usually
provided with stoves or freplaces, and
as the pinon fire lights the shadows Of
the cabin, and warns the tired bodies
of the hunters, song and. story seem
spontaneous and you wouldn't exchange
your situation with that of the biggest
nabob in the country. [ am speaking
from personal experience for l boarded
the Rio Grande train at Denver one
evening recently and awoke next morn
ing in the famed San Luis valley, at
Alamosa, just under the shadows of
Blanca with her fantastic towers and
peaks, among which the beams of the
rising sun we're playing rare game
of hide and seek with the clouds
that scurried before the breeze, to-
ward the Spanish Peaks, cleaning
| under their cover of snow, In the dis
lance From Alamosa, or Monta Vista,
or La lara, or any of the delightful vii
lagos. along the Denver & Rio Grande,
excursions may be made into the heart
of the Rockies, in DAYS drive. One of the
best fishing grounds is known as The
Bayous, or La lara Meadows, where a
trout stream wanders in every direction
through the stump grass. From sim
| gle hole in this creek two of our party
caught 1872 of the speckled beauties in
three days, fishing about three hours
per day. This was in November, when
the ice had formed and it was necessary
to cut it out and put slnker on your
leader and drop your fly down to the
| bottom. Maybe it wasn't sport to pull
them out as RAPIDLY as that The stream
probably covers 100 miles in distance
Of 30, so tortuous is its course.
The mountains are full of beautiful
spots and the camera fiend finds it a
| paradise for exposures. i confess to be-
| ing one of them, and made many fine
pictures in the Rocky canons. The
roads are generally good, with enough
roughness to provide variety. What a
country for sport and pleasure all the
year round! 1t can't be equalled else
where in the states. Try it, and vou
win say 90, too. g. G. y.