Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1896-06-17
HERMIT CANON.
Written for TIE Opr1c.I

lnat awIul upneaVal OF ages ago wnlcn
lifted on high the huge dome Of rock,
10. 500 feet above sea and 5000 feet above
valley level, known now as Hermit peak,
at the same time rived In its mighty mass
this stupendous chasm; the Hermit canon
The approach to the canon is by way Of
the beautifully timbered little valley Of
the eastern fork of the Rio Galinas, pats
ing Ell Porvenir, whence a road leads a
mile or more to the trail which traverses
the canon. Here the lofty walls of the
Hermit rise on the right, while on the left
rears a noble mass of re OK, springing from
a broad base to a pinnacle hundreds OF feet
in air, recalling pictures of grand gothic
cathedrals' in the Old World.
The trail climbs a rocky spur, and a
visa opens up of battlemented walls,
mighty buttresses, soaring towers. sky
piercing spires, crowned In the distance by
the dark pine-covered SUBMITS. Close at
hand yawns a cavern-like arch in the
mountain wall; a spring oozes fiom the
rock the stream below sings a merry song
among its gravels; birds answer from the
6hOGa bSb6do Vi OttO OOu IN WlllOWt
the air is sweet with wild flower fragrance,
and natures fond lover feels a pang OF rare
pleasure aud a thrill of fresh devotion.
This view gives bat a foretas,e of sue.
ceeding sensations as, pursuing the mar.
row pathway in its windings and climb
crossings and re-crossings Of the stream,
=
there is brought before the eye, first from
one side and then the other, of the fearful
heights which wall this glorious caIou.
On the left hand the summit swells into
forms of projecting, r. d towers, with
a deep recess between, while a great
Deedle-like turret is outlined against the
northward face. On the right hand
this sublime architecture assumes a differ.
ent form, lifting its tremendcu, walls
quito perpendicularly tothe battlemented
sky line 1000 feet above the stream. Here
the daring pines and spruce have taken
hold on the rock and cling to it's surface in
defiance of storm and SUM-. High upon the
precipice's lofty front the most exquisite
c%olorings of greys and greens and olive
have been blended by the magic brush OF
sunshine, rain and air. The silent forces
Of frost and moisture attest their presence
by great masses of stone heaped at the foot
OF the cliffs and by gigantic rocks which
have been hurled from'a far height into
the very bed of the stream, which must
forever struggle past these distractions
with much noisy, futile expostulation.
Passing a certain point the aspect of the
canon's coafaes changes noticeably, on
the left square + m succeeding the
rounded ones, and on the right deep
gorges breaking the regularity. Here in
. season Of plentiful rains a waterfall
leaps Of hundreds of feet, flashing as white
as nov agaist the dark wall of the cliff.
At the lett a deep, dark ravine contributes /
its crytal.clear tributary to the main
stream, and a steep trail ascends to the
mountain top, revealing In its upward
progress a splendid panorama OF CANON,
peak, cliffs, glens, distant ranges and far.
reaching plains. |
Beyond this point the cahon extends
with numerous branches, and is
every where beautiful without the grand
eur which marks that portion traversed in
description. There is not 10 this part
Of New Mexico any natural features ap.
preaching in sublimity and beauty this
and the noble Hermit Peak,
whose glorious dome rises superhiy> rover
hin and mesa, the eternal guard.
IAN of our northern sky. Each changing
reason Of the year, each fiaeting mood of
'he sky brings some new, fine variety Of
expression to the glories Of the cafion and
he peak. The effects of light and shadow
ire most striking At early morning and late
while the impression In moon
light is sublimely beautiful; in. sunshine
I is splendid; in storm, awful. The echoes
thunder are like the pc ,lirg Of organ
'ipes in those profound depths OF the
ia anon.
LAS VEGAS. NEW MExIco.A