Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-05-11
'sPatsy and I" and the Great
Snow Fields of Picturesque
Elk Peak
WHERE LIES SCENIC ROUTE.
A Night in the Open Beside
Fires Banked by Winter
Drifts.
pIfRltss BEAUTY OF THE HILLS

Patsy is a pony; am seeker OF
rest and relief from care. Elk mount
ain is the noble summit OF the Las
Vegas range OF Rockies. the brow OF
which. crowned BY banks Of driven
snow. is visible from Normal Hill and
all higher parts Of the east side, Las
Vegas.
The morning OF Nav 5th on Del Ci-
clio was bright asd fair as one could
wish. Patsy, withsa Mcclellan saddle
cinched to him to stay a little sack
Of lunch and an old ulster tied to the
saddle. was ready for me as soon as
an early breakfast at Harvey's was
finished.
"Adios Don't expect me back un.
til you see me" was my parting sa-
lutte as Patsy and took the trail over
the slope. through the little west
meadow, past the miners cabins. up
Mica mDuntais, soon gaining the ridge
whence we looked down upon that
lovely vale where lies the Park ranch
with its grassy stretches. tall sentinel
pines and three uniting brsoks. all
guarded by densely wooded peaks
rising on every side unto the blue and
sunny sky Birds sing in springtime
happiness. grouse whirr up into the
mines. ground squirrels scurry over
fa,sen tree tr,anasa, aii.sis reaeefal md
soothing There is balm for sorrow
and calm to troubled thoughts in this
scene of beauty. while health and in
spiration are inhaled with every
breath of the pure mountain air.
Down an easy, well-worn trail into
The valley, then turning up stream and
westward we soon leave The confines
of the ranch and pass through grassy
wooded dells along the stream. here
finding a lonely cabin. the last sign
of habitation. which was the abode
one season Of Peter. the Poet, and
from which he was oiisted BY heartless
forest rangers, acting under orders Of
Uncle Sam.
n Be it remembered that we are trav.
ersing now a portion of the Pecos riv-
er forest reserve. upon which settlers
may not take up their homes hence
forth. It is sacred for the prescrva-
tion OF growing timber and the con-
servation Of water courses which have
their rise IL these forest-covered can
ons. Wise, indeed, is our government
in thus guarding the vital sources of
our very existence. and foolish beyond
expression are those who would re.
move the restrictions which hedge the
forest reserves, and would place them
again at the mercy OF timber butch
ers' and greedy lumbermen. as well
as the almost equally destructive
sheep grazers. Heaven forbid the day
when In arid New Mexico our life-giv-
ing streams be ever jeopardized by
any encroachments upon these forest
reserves, which give them their birth
and are their nurseries.
Now Patsy and begin to pick our
path with watchful regard to the
"blazes' upon the tree trunks lining
our way. This is the main south fork
of the Gallinas. and we are bent upon
following II as fas as practicable to-
ward its head at the base of Elk noun
tain. II had been said that this would
be a possibly desirable route for the
proposed grand forest highway con
Meeting the cities Of Las Vegas and
Santa Fe. Patsy and would like ID
know about that.
The canyon Is narrowing and fallen
timber compels us to cross from one
side of the stream TO the other fre.
quently. but the grade Is easy. and a
level bench bordering the creek would
AFFORD width for a roadbed.
Gradually the mountain walls are
drawing nearer and becoming sleeper.
Patches OF snow appear In rocky
clefts. The stream rushes with ever
impetuosify. As we 20 fur
ther 1t becomes series OF cascades,
cleaning as white as the snow which
more and more frequently lines IT.