The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1908-07-04
MEEKER. COLO. SATURDAY. JULY =. 1908.
SANS SCENIC slDE-rRlP.

SANS SCENIC sIDE.TRIP.
[while enjoying an outing In Colombo at I
permanent camp whose elevation 70 400 fest
We made thirty-mile excursion under tA<
guidance Of our host The lake reforrsd 70
l,30O feet deep and IL 10000 fest above ~
level, and ION top where the forget-me-noel
flourish Is about Il, 200 feet.l
Mid the purple peaks of the Silver STATE.
Where Nature smiles on small and sFeat,
We gathered-a Jolly party Of ten
To bid goodbye to the hauntx Of mon.
Altho Handicapped by very late start,
Each one with eayerness and . light heart,
Set on on the trail that beautiful day
Intending to see the Devils Causeway."
Occasionally crossing sparkling stream,
Then again through the forest we catch III
CLEAN
As IL tumbles and falls on it's downward way
And flashes itseff into foam and spsay.
Our camps good sentinel strong and high,
Grand Hines Peak, we journey by,
Foil wing the trail to Trsppers Lake,
Where few pictures we will take.
Through the great forests take our time.
Where pines in majesty are sublime;
At lust we see the lovely lake.
But fair description cannot make.
Its remarkable depth gives beautiful hue,
The surrounding mountaids add to the Wow,
Until nothing IL lacking In form or sheen
To make IT u most magnificent scenc
Just above here we stop for lunch,
And surely we all arc merry bunch;
While our party in number In only ten,
Five ladies, boy and Just tour men.
Still each in himself is host. you know,
30 onward and upward wore ready to 70,
After feasting on sandwiches. doushnuts and
cake,
And pure mountain water our thirst - slake.
And now rs we approach the ''Chinese Wall.
Standing aloft II thousand feet tall.
And begin to wind our way around,
In fact, for the summit we are bound.
We begin climb that is surely n test,
Often stopping the tired horses to rest;
Through giant tmbers Of late Laid low,
They say by the mighty weight Of the snow.
We arc now above the timber line.
With the beautiful lake 10 far behind;
Until on top there stretches plain
That recalls old Kansas prairies again.
Then on for miles We continue to ride,
Until we dismos,nt = large snow-bank bessde,
And there in the beattof an August day
Right merxiiy wewtth snow-falfs play.
Beautiful flowers Of every color and form
Beside our path have seemed to swarm,
But here on the top in lovely sheen,
The dainty forget-mc-not IL queen.
And who can imagine q sight more grand
In the length and breadth Of this great land
Than tho picture now before us cast
For the Devils Causeway" is reached at last.
This famous place Is q narrow ledge
That falls fifteen hundred feet from the edge
In u perpendicular wall Of red rock
Tho sight might easily our nerves shock.
In the narrowest place It's but ffty-four inches
But here our guide stands and never ninches
While we with the camera take Wow,
For this is picture both grand and new.
On each side in 4 beautiful basin below.
A fork of Bear river starts to now
From lovely, shimmering, little lake,
Each its opposite course to take.
Our guide now suggests we start for home.
Or else in the dark we will have to roam
withouta trail save one he can make,
For IA shortcut home We intend to take.
We come to u break in the "Chinese WALL"
Where little stream with its mighty fall
Has worn q canon narrow and steep,
Down which we now attempt to creep.
We wait ut the top and watch Sam Hines,
AS he ventures downward and slowly climbs
Over the loose and pcrilous stones,
Which, II started rolling, mean broken bones,
He makes trail by strength and force,
And then returns to load horse;
| And this is repeated again and again,
Till the horses below now number ten.
Then we in turn start down the trail,
And in keeping our footing almost fall
| In fact are nearly compelled to slide
Down this craggy mountain-sidc.
We have made the descent Of u Thousand feet
And yet our journey is incomplete:
We are now in timber, and now in a park,
Until at last 1t is almost dark.
Presently rises the big full moon,
The light Is welcome and none too soon;
Since none OF the party incline to talk,
And we, the more timid. prefer to walk.
At last the homeward trail we reach,
And all exclaim with jubilant speech