Arizona republican., 1913-08-03
Camel Back Mountain
(By Fannie l.. Rosen)

Of Phoenix, little east of nortf ! rises the Camel Back mountain The l approach forms q splendid setting fol 1 this interesting bit of surface forma ation. But few steps from the
 life giving canal. and civilization and ] primitive nature merge in q most ! startling fashion.
 At this line of meeting. one sud | GenlY recalls the charming homes | passed on the by-Ways nestling hap Illy amid the VeTdure of semi tro- plcal flora. Then too, loom up the
 vast fields of green, the golden stacks or hay, the sleek contented cattle 1 browsing lazily amid fields of opu- 1 lence the braWny sons of the soil 1 wrestling from Mother Earth her l ueasurers of production, the various 1 types of men, peculiar to a compo- ] site country, employing every mode 1 of conveyance from the overland wa l Gon to the motorcycle and automobile
 IL is by and through contrast that ! We appreciate. over the borderIand 1 of civilization lies the desert A vast stretch of unbroken quiet. A wind | ing trail flanked on either side by ] enormous stretches of waste leads to l the foot of old Camel Back. The
 
 l barren plains. form comfortable rock cries for the teathered denizens of 1 the desert.
 To one accustomed to rolling plains of the middle west or the thicI1Iv wooded elevations of the east. these mountains of the desert are a reveIa- ton They can be clearly seen from great distance The rare Arizona mOSDheTp ba distance an intricate task What is apparently within reach is still many miles off.
 And so the great. shaggy Camel looms up early in the range Of vision There he lies in the brilliant hot sun. massive Speciman Of his kind splendid in all the grandeur of his native haunts. And truly. this mag hlflcent Camel improves upon closer acquaintance with his mammoth humps and varied coIorings.
 Perched high on the mountain side Is the life like figure of an ancient man. He crouches under the weight Of great burden. A stern weird figure. he thrills the souI with tbe spirit of untold ages
 At the foot of the mountain We 'ether our horse and rest comfortab- " In the protecting shade of an ov erhanging cliff
 And then to the north side of the mountain. It is easy climbing n,.o, well trod trail. and subst.,,ti.I b"ulders offer q secure footboId
 Silent. apparently sIumbering Wei full of subdued life is this region with it's quick lizard. the sure footed fox stealing to his lair. the call Of unseen birds. And it's growing life feSents the intrusion of the stranger NIth force almost uncannv in ifs huiHdhness. Even it's most fnnoc4nt green conceal barb that stings with tie venom "f a S-rprut'S tonq,Ie
 Al last, We find that for which Wr dre seeking. We manfuny sIIb- u"e the feeling If awe that surgee up within us. We have entered Q mammoth. natural excavation-one of ""d S hrst temples. At this pr,nis- l"rir shrine, We bow in reverence the Divine Intelligence that has made these things possible. Myriads of unseen presences come crovdire thlckiY up about Us and We tonch | hands across the bridge of time and ! space in the presence of the Cr,.,,- 1 tor.
 We give vent to our emotions by ' i' ''NiIiS lHlp the infinite SpaceS about us. and our words are sent back to us ringing. clarified, ennobI- | ed Oi'iio"I-
 Reluctantly We leave our prabis- t"rle shrine, and seek our carnn Vi, route opposite in direction tu inc 'f1II by which we descended
 We are ready for our noon a,, meal Far from the maddeninp crowd and the artificialitie5 of ciyili- @"tI"n' We feast like primitive lords
 Iheh over to the opposite elevation We cHmb Here We find two cxc;,- N"tl"ns beautifully nodded as if hv mana These natural tepecs form :, 'e"BhtluIIy cool retreat and an excel ITht shelter for the night
 Below in the valley stretches inc ieSeft- great, slumbering citv lhickIN dotted with it's characterfstir Iora- Stubborn. unvanquished. fuII 'i hidden cruelties yet with 2 lura ana Fascination Irresistible. this arid stretch basks in the brilliant eun surrounded by mountains. about winch play all the colors of the sr.,- "il with their infinitive shades and IihtS' reVel and glory of color i'm possible to describe or reprnjuca
 And we gaze and gaze in awe ono wonder 'i''