Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1912-08-05

past two weeks, was pulled off ac-
cordtng to schedule last Saturday
night and nearly hundred aspirants
to the honor of having scaled the
peak succeeded in reaching their des-
tination near the hour of sunrise yes
terday morning. BY the middle of
last week the number who had signi-
fled their intention of making the as
cent had reached nearly forty and it
was thought a party of fifty would
make the trip. But when the teams
began leaving for Longs cabin Sat-
urday afternoon II, was found that
the number had Increased with the
agitation and the capacity of both
livery barns was taxed to the utmost.
besides numbers of private convey
ances. Nearly a hundred left Ash
land at different hours of the day.
some going up in the morning and
camping at Longs all afternoon, 9TH
ers departing at almost every hour
OF the afternoon and evening in
squads of various sizes. The last
party numbered fifteen and left the
( Plaza by team and horseback at y
O'Clock, arriving at Longs in time to
start at midnight. and to participate
IN the general joy of drinking from
the camp coffee pot. that provoker
OF sleeplessness so necessary for the
night job before them.
A few left Longs in independent
parties before the main party depart
ed for the top, one party of five start
ing at 8 and another a little later
Several boys took the trip indepen-
IDENTIFY and were on the summit to
greet the main body of travellers
when they arrived. At IL O'Clock.
Judge Watson sounded the signal
for all to be ready for the start in
ten minutes, and there was a general
shaking of covers by those who had
availed themselves of the opportun-
ity to sleep, strapping on of lunch
baskets and | ghting up of bugs. &"
The crowd that departed at that
hour was jolly one, most of whom
were making their maiden trip over
the trail. Most of them were afoot.
but some rode horses, and the
twinkle of scores of bugs, at vari-
GUS heights announced to the rear
guard each turn in the trail, as the
vanguard led the way up the hill.
Here and there the party divided into
squads, sometimes several hundred
feet apart, and as they ascended the
sinuous course of the trail. the cheer
ful glimmer of these bugs" high
above or far below, formed one of
the imposing features of the long
Climb. These lights proved of ines
! Unable service.
The climb of eight miles from
Long to the summit consumed prac-
tically five hours, the first of the
party reaching the top at 4:55 and
nearly all being there at 5:20 Those
who reached the objective point first
looked back along the trail and
watched the balance of the party an
proach singly, in pairs, and in squads
of all sizes until the last of them ap-
peared, some fresh and signing for
created heights, and others more or
less tagged out. Those who arrived
before found party of boys ahead
or them, Young America having tri-
umphed over those of mature years
In the ascent of the mountain Less
than a half dozen saw the first ravs
of the sun, about thirty were on the
scene when Old Sol was half visible
above the horizon, while the entire
party saw him in all his fiery glory
before he was fifteen minutes high.
From spectacular standpoint the
sunrise was disappointment to
many, thin haze covering the disc
SO completely that its appearance was
that of huge ball of fire No glar-
ing. rays radiated from it and the
llght was diffused rather than bril-
liant. The silver, piercing beams
were lacking, because of the clouds.
while the sharp air of an S.OOO-foot
attitude was such as to drive MANY
TO shelter after the warm eXertion
OF a long climb. Because of this
chilling breeze many did not stay for
the free and unIimited'use of the tel
escope, which had been provided, but
hastened to lower attitudes. the OBJ
lect of the trip having been accom-
plished, namely, the ascent of Mount
Ashland and the witnessing of the
sunrise.
Despite this disappointment. the
view from the summit was pro-
nounced magnificent. Shasta. Nc
Laughlin, the cliffs of Crater Lake.
the Three Sisters and countless other
peaks andSpinnacles loomed upon the
horizon in>every direction. The tele-
scope of the Siskiyou Club was
brought to play upon each in success
sion and everyone had an opportun-
ity to behold the wonders of Natures
work in this, one of the grandest set
tings for picture that the west pro-
vides. Below on every hand stretch
fertile valleys, bordered by snow
capped peaks. Nestled in the valleys
lie cities and villages, while the out
lines of orchards and farms are
plainly discernible in the valleys of
the Rogue and Little Shasta The
united was seen to. crawl out of
Phoenix on its way to Talent, a long
trail of steam and smoke marking it's
course between the two cities On
the other side, the first outburst of
smoke from the sawmill at Hits was
marked by the watchers, and the
wonder increased when someone was
heard to remark that, from this van
tage point, the train could be fol.
lowed throughout the greater part of
its course from Ashland to far below
Hits. But the view must be seen
to be appreciated. Pen cannot de-
, scribe the beauties that are unfolded
I ON the summit of Mount Ashland