Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-02-01
ON MOUNTAIN TOP.
GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEW
FROM LONGS PEAK.

(ouSAss NO " oTcs z uily kxpfe8S-Irem'
bling with Fear At the stuperdous
Scene-Anna Dickinson's Card.
All lovers of mountain scenery hav-
ing few days time at their disposal
must make Aging trip to Estes park
the most beautiful and inviting Of all
Colorado parks. but not the largest. Ii
Is Only six miles wide by ten miles long,
through which run several streams, filed
witt: ''speckled Beauties" SO much
sought for by skilled anglers. At the
south end of the park rises Longs peas
in all its majesty and grandeur. with q
sentinel OF either side nearly equal 1t:
height. The altitude Of the park Is
100 feet.
We leave our whesls at the hote, and
drive up 20 Lambs ranch. where we
spend the night at an elevation CT TO-
jOG feet.
At sunrise the next morning. mount.
ed or horseback. with An experienced
guide in the lead. we ride up TO tim be.
line where We picket Cur horses and
commence the climb Of the bowlder
seids. necessitating much courage and
determination, as these powders ara
angular rocks of solid granite and run
in size from chicken coop to a mod.
ern dwelling In the center of this bowl.
der fieldwas 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 Us only one can suffer when sur.
rounded by that intense loneliness, stune
by the pangs of cold and cravings of hun.
ger. her life was sacrificed. The trusty
guide for hours made supernatural eff.
forts to carr 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 all 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 sand and broken rock, rising
at an incline of 45 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 as it was, we
would make the same heroic effort o
hundred times were it necessary to wit.
ness the grand scene before us.
Nearly 5000 feet below is Estes park,
the sportsman's 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. With the 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 600 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 NAV
never fade. Think of making this i'm.
preston indelibly upon ones mind,
covering this panoramic view of 600
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-
ION 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 single by
Major Powell, who, with William N.
Byres. was the first to make the ascent
in 1865. Here is Anna Dickinson . card,
the first woman to ascend the peak, also
of the party who climbed the peak in
1873 to witness the total eclipse. to-
gether with thousands of visitors cards
The top of the peak is level. covering
q 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 a per.
pendicular descent of 5000 feet. How
nervously we approach the edge, step
by step. until our strength fails Us and
We can 60 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 q 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 after nightfall so tired and
with such a 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