Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-04-18
Experiences Of Party Of Las Vegas Men While Pho
tographing Supb4 ~ Scenery For The
WorIdg
HERMIT

The publicity committee Of the Com
mercial club sent out an expedition
last Tuesday to procure some photo
graphic representations OF the grand
est natural features Of this vicinity,
the Hermit peak, Poryenir grand cam
y0n, Harvey canyon, Elk mountain and
the great mountain range culminat-
ing in the Truchas peaks which hens
that noble region OF mesa, forest and
innumerable streams, the basin Of the
upper Pecos covered by the United
States forest reserve popularly called
thePecos park.
Chief Of the party was Photographer
". A. Stirrat, whose recent work on
views Of the Scenic road and the pan.
oramic picture of Las Vegas has been
so favorably commented on. S. w.
Moore, Of the Moore Real Estate &
Investment Co, was head commissary,
and r. b. Schoonmaker the guide ana
camp cook. The outfit consisted Of a
long. bodied mountain wagon loaded
with tent, bedding and enough supplies
for six men six days, such was the es-
innate Of the party's appetite made by
Mrs. Moore, whose thoughtfulness In
preparations for the trip is gratefully
acknowledged by the participants
therein. Believing that an account Of
the expedition would interest readers
the "Optic man OF the party recounts
their experiences thus:
Tuesday, April IL. was warm and
sunny day that augured well for the
picture-taking party that set out for
the mountains shortly after noon. Our
way lay through the Hot Springs can
yon with It's ever interesting vistas Of
rock and stream and sparkling pools,
then over the high road to lovely Trout
Springs, getting inspiring glimpses Of
the distant range and Of stately Her.
nit peak as We proceeded.
AT the old Leroux mill we turned
eastward toward the village Of Las
Dispensas, whittier We were bound In
order TO get view of Hermit peak
from Its loftiest side. The road tray-
erses a pretty park-like country made
up Of long low ridges running from
the base Of the peak. their slopes and
the hollows between covered with IT.
ale farms, the soil now being freshly
plowed and showing rich and black,
while the SUBMITS are crowned with
timber and low shrubbery, beneath
which the surface Is well covered with
grass, although not yet green. In the
long rayines dividing these mdly
ridges are water courses now,dry from
the long absence Of rain or snowfall,
but having yet numerous springs Of
pure, cold water. The farms show
some signs OF thrift, and good con-
ditioned cattle and flocks OF goats with
their skipping kids were seen In pass
ing. Arrived at Dispensas with It's
beautiful meadows and fields inter
spersed by wooded hills somewhat
SCARED by the forest fire Of last win.
ter, we picked up young man Of the
village. Roman Marques. who knew a
good camping spot in the canyon to
which point he guided us In time 10
pitch our tent before sunset. A spring
of ice cold water was the feature of
this camp in the deep, rocky canyon
where fire had rayaged every living
thing, burning even the roots beneath:
the soil. which also appeared 10 have
been calcined by extreme heat. But
the birds we're there. and through n
rift OF the canyon rim old Hermitanno
looked down upon us majestic and se-
rene. A cheerful camp fire lighted US
TO bed after hearty supper that would
have caused a wek Of dyspepsia II II
had been eaten In town.
Next morning early we set out upon
the business Of picture-making. Fol.
lowing the tracks Of deer from the
spring at our camp we came out upon
a point whence Hermit's brow loomed
nobly and here the first view was TAX.
en-. Then. possessed with desire to