The Greeley tribune., 1912-06-27

floor being an open, parklike mead
ow, with scattered groves of pines.
At few points the cliffs jut out
into the valley floor. The Big
Thompson river meanders through
it, bordered by birches and willows.
In the distance the snow-clad range
is visible. . few of Its spurs running
down into the park. The most pic
turesque Of these 10 called tho Ca
tnedral. from its remarkable COM
bination Of domes, cliffs and spires.
Twenty years ago the Appalach-
ian club brought out = book. pro-
fusely illustrated, called "Moun-
taineering in Colorado. which con-
tains one of the best descriptions of
this valley that has ever been pub
! lished.
The proposed national park and
game preserve is not at all inacces-
dble. being located in the Rocky
mountains of northern Colorado.
only 65 miles northwest of Denver.
The area proposed measures AZ
miles east and west by "a north and
south. and contains $4,000 acres.
Thi4s = large enough to insure the
presence OF all the kinds OF game
Indigenous Of the region. It IL cross
ed by the most rugged section Oh the
Continental divide Of the Rocky
mountains. 1t IL also touched by
the Medicine Bow, Mummy and Rab-
bit Ear mountains.
Eighteen of these mountain peaks
rise above 1900 teet. Around the
submits are hundreds OF drifts Of
eternal snow and three glaciers. of
which the Hallett 10 the best known
ice neid. There are so Alpine lakes
and torrents, among which Grand
lake 10 the longest (three miles In
length). Odessa lake the most pic
turesque. and Chasm lake the Wild
est. The last has an altitude OF
1900 feet.
The highest mountain of the
region Is Longs Peak. whose brok-
en- top IL 1926 feet above tide
water. This mountain has among
other picturesque gorges the we'll
known Big Thompson and st. Vrain
canons. 1t was FIRST scaled In 1868
by Major Powell Of Grand Canon
fame and w. NJ. Byers, founder OF
the Rocky Mountain News. The first
woman to climb the mountain WAS
Anna Dickinson. the author and
lecturer. She was induced to visit
tho park by DR.. F. v. Hayden.
known as the Father OF the Yellow
stone Park. DR.. Hayden has de-
scribed the park In the following
eloquent tribute: NOT only has
nature amply supplied this valley
with features of real beauty and
surroundings of admirable grand
eur. but It has 20 distributed them
that the eye OF an artist may rest
with perfect satisfaction on the pic
ture presented"
The area proposed is about
equally divided between the Atlantic
and Pacific slopes. The Grand river
drains the Pacific incline, while the
Platte drains the Atlantic slope. The
approximate height of the timber
line IL 1000 feet Below this the
forest. which is mostly coniferous.
covers all the slopes excepting
where torn by canons or interrupted
by ridges and crags Along the
lakes and streams there are manv
forest meadows.
These meadows are particularly
rich In wild flowers. The hiRh al
titude Ii responsible for great bril-
liancy OF color as we'll as variety Of
species. There IL an, abundance Of
-fringed geitians. mariposa
lilies. orchids of several varieties.
violets. harebells. Alpine primroses.
the Rocky mountain columbine. wild
red rose. and many others. Among
the birds are found that wonderful
singer. the solitaire. the mountain
bluebird. the robin. the white crown
sparrow. crested jay. the ptarmlgan.
and the water ouzel. or big game
the mountain sheep are the most
numerous. Deer are also plentiful
and there are some elk, bears, and
mountain lions. Beavers are num-
erous. and many OF their houses can
be found along the streams and on
the edges OF ponds which they have
created themselves.
The climate Is particularly suited
to a pleasure ground and hunting
resort. as the summer weather ia
perfect and the winters not too cold.
with only light falls of snow below
the timber line.
Altogether the park IL one of