The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-08-25
GRAY'S PEAK.
Rev. A. n. OFT Describes His Elk
perience in Rockies.

perience in Rockies.
Following a brawling mountain
stream from the plains where it makes
the desert blossom as the rose, up
through precipitous canonS to its source,
amid the eternal snow banks even in
August, is an interesting experience to
one who is accustomed to the sombre
life of the prairies. Our trip to The
Rockies included such an experience
Leaving Topeka, Kansas, one evening
just after dusk found US in Denver the
next noon, and before dark we were
cozily sheltered in Georgetown. an old
time mining camp. 1916 feet above the
sea, situated in Clear Creek Canon, one
of the most picturesque in the state,
ready for some real strenuous opera
tons
our objective point was the famous
Grays peak. one of the highest of the
Colorado Rockies, whose bald summit
towers 4.341 feet above the sea, and
two hundred feet higher than Pixies.
However fifteen weary miles, over
wooded gulches, through twisting can
ons, skirting precipitous mountains, and
over bald and blasted rocks, lay be-
tween US and the peak.
Our ladies fearing the trip too ar
duous were content to remain behind.
So one ideal Colorado morning, shortly
after sunrise. in company with another
mountain climbing enthusiast, mounted
on two large burrOs we started. The
first eight miles took us up through
Clear Creek Canon on the well known
Empire road" by the far famed loop,
past Silver Plume and what was once
"Graymount," thence bearing to the
south we began circumscribing Mt.
Kelso until we reached what is called
Stevens mine, and all along this jour-
new our ears were constantly greeted
with the delightful music of falling
waters. This mine with a complement
of a score of buildings was deserted
For five hours we toiled on without the
sight of a human being. Stevens mine
evidently a PROSPEROUS min
ing property with wooden and steel
tramways, and miners huts for the
workmen. 1t was situated at the base
of a vast "hogback," a stretch of solid
naked rock 1000 feet high, and almost
perpendicular extending for ten miles
finally merging into the approaches of
Gray's peak.
Here our wagon road ended and only
a narrow trail remained and here our
real troubles began. Timber line was
still somewhat above US and beyond the
white snow banks beckoned us on. Up,
up, up, we jOurneyed, the scenery
growing more rugged and sublime every
step Finally UNDERLINE was below US,
and our babbling brook had dwindled
down to ripping rill. Ahead of US we
found the "hog-back made a deep
curve carving out of the side of the
great divide a sort of basin In which
lay great banks of virgin snow, and
which was the absolute source" of Clear
Greek along which we had recently
Travelled about seventy miles. Here was
the source of a mountain brook, which
when it arrived at Georgetown was
bounding stream, and which If harness
ed was capable of generating electrical
energy to the extent of from two to
four thousand horse power every mile of
it's downward journey till it leaped out
from the foothills near Denver.
As we assembled our burroS began to
get weary and insisted on resting every
few rods. Indeed we felt the altitude
ourselves. although the summit was
fully $500 feet above US, and the way
was one mass of f1inty rock. Our trail
no longer pointed towards the peak, but
zig-zagged up the mountain side
Oftimes we were skirting steep inclines
and projecting rocks almost brushed US
off our saddles. Had not our confidence
in the climbing capacity of our noun
tain canaries'' been very strong we
would have been frightened out of our
wits while passing these sharp inclines.
Finally we arrived at our first snow
bank. Think of it, snow banks a nun
dred, two hundred feet long and God
only knows how deep on the 10th of
August We were boys once more. We
gamboled snow balled. slid. tobog-
gained. rolled over, somersaulted and
kicked up the beautiful to our
hearts content. and filled our pockets
for munching as we journeyed on. The
climbing soon became more difficult
Our trail was one solid mass of broken
and unstable rock. so steep that we
felt safer in diSmOunting and driving
our burrOs before US. On and up we
stumbled pushing ourselves along with
our aloenstocks. 1t seemed as if we
would never reach the summit We
pushed on. perspired, stumbled, in our
zig-zag course. while in our fancy we
checred each other on by seeing Excel
sior" emblazoned on the summit. After
hard climb we were finally on the
Hogback of the great Continental di-
vide. This was a sharp crest leading
up to the peak To roll down one side
would be to roll toward the Pacific, and
to roll down the other would be to land
in snow banks which aided to water
the Mississippi valley Pushing on IN
one great final effort we at last landed
on the summit after seven hours of
strenuous climbing. exhausted, with
heart palpitating and trembling from
head to foot. glad for a sheltered nook
in which to lie for a few moments for
the purpose of recuperating our
strength.
The summit is small, literally a
peak" 20 feet broad and 300 feet long.
Years ago there was erected here a
square stone enclosure with walls five
feet high. and laid out with the points
of the compass. and roof1ess, and be-
hind which one could find shelter from
the fierce winds which sweep its sum
NIT. Within this enclosure I'VE four"
reste1. Kindling a fire out of the wood
which we had brought with us. and
splitting our coffee pot, we were soon
ready for our lunch up in the clouds
We found that water boiled at a much
lower temperature than in the plains
below. in fact our pot effervesced while
hanging a foot above the flames After
luncheon we turned to view the SPLEEN
doris about us, and our burros proceed
ed to swallow our paper napkins and
MUNICH our lunch boxes. which they
seemed to prefer to the nice feed of
oats which we gave them. Indeed, we
were told semi-seriously that these pa
tient animals thrived on bale wire and
/ tin cans.
The magnificent vista from the peak
vastly paid US for our expended ener-
gies Far as the eye could reach there
spread out a Titanic eXpanse of snow
/ decorated mountains. FathomleSs
/ depths caught our eyes as we gazed
down into the plains over 100 miles