The Ellensburg dawn. [volume] (Ellensburg, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1911-08-10
ELLENsBuRG KITT1TAs COUNTY, WASH. AUG. 10, 1877

SionS, but also that greater stretch
of awesome mountain mystery; and
now. the swifter traveller, in his jour
neyings toward the setting sun, be-
holds it first IS he is speeding across
the plain and gaZes with quickening
pulses as the lessening distance OK
pands its majesty and beauty to his
view. Authentic history of this
grand monument dates from NoVem-
| Der 10. SOC, when Major Pike
sighted its SnOw-croWned crest while
! yet ten days march upon the plains
, After vigorous attempts to scale it,.
! Pike abandoned it with the state
mcnt that. NO human being can as
cend to its pinnacle" But | must
hurry on with my story.
Each member of the party carried
/ heavy wraps and plenty of lunch. as
we intended to remain and see the
sun rise the next morning. There
are two routes leading to the top of
the peak; one steep and tiresome (as
We soon learned and about nine
miles in length. The other is much
longer. crossing the foothills from
Colorado Springs, up Bear Creek
Canyon for about eight miles to Mys-
land, and on above it along the bare
and rocky lodges to the summit AS
none of the party was accustomed to
violent exercise and especially the
riding of burros up steep and
rugged trail. we went by easy
stages and reached the Half Way
House about two in the afternoon.
Here we ate part Of our lunch and
rested for couple of hours. after
which we resumed our journey to the
summit.
AS we near the timber line, the
trees gradually desert the landscape
and leave only groupes of stunted
aspins shivering in the breeze. The
air is chill and extra wraps are
1onned Away below is the placid
Lake Moraine about whose shores
tradition weaves some thrilling leg
endary tales.
| shall never forget this, my first
night, with a few companions on the
top of mountain several thousand
feet above civilization. 1t seemed so
far away from the rest of the world
the silence so profound and the
starry sky so sparkling. After
while fell asleep, and it seemed to
me but a short time till heard some
one say that it was time to arise. if
Ve wished to see the rising of the
sun: and as this was the purpose of
our remaining over night on the
mountain. we lost no time AL
though it was the middle of July, the
morning was very cold and we shiv-
cred as we stood upon that bleak
summit and looked out toward the
east where the day was beginning to
break. Above our heads, the sky was
clear as crystal: but below us,
stretching out for a undred miles,
lay a bank of snow clouds like a
| placid ocean. Away # in the east.
narrow rim of gold appeared, and
almost Immediately the ocean began
to move. The billowy clouds gently
rose and fell, while over them the
sun shot long arrows of gold and
silver light. 1t was an impressive
sight, but it did not last more than
five minutes The ocean of clouds
scattered as the sun rose higher, and
III a very short time everything was
perfectly clear.
Now the view was magnificent be-
yond the power of brush or pen to
describe In the west the main range
of the Rockies. two hundred miles
away, doomed up with thousand
towering peaks in spotess white.
while Cripple Creek, Victor, Goldfield
and other mining towns can be seen
nestled in among those might noun
|
tains. To the north, seventy-five
miles away, lay Denver, while away
beyond was a white speck which we
were told was Cheyenne. In the
south Pueblo. the Pittsburg OF the
west. crowned by the smoke clouds
from it's furnace fires, lay on the
plain and almost at our feet. and
into which it seemed as If we might
cast stone. lay Colorado Springs;
while away beyond, as far as the eye
could reach. stretches the great Colo
RADIO plain with the Arkansas river
winding through like silver thread.
The descent of eight thousand feet
in a distance Of nine miles was al
most as tiresome as the upward trip,
although accomplished in a shorter
time. There is now railroad run
ming to the top of this peak, and on