Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1915-07-07
Up Pixies PEAK AND
OVER THE ROCKIES
Former Editor Writes Enter
tainingIy of Western Trip.
3. j. and Mrs. Lowrey Climb the
Colorado Mountains.-Enrout
to San Francisco.

Herald:
1 think recall promising you that
would write you one or more letters
from the west relating such things
as might be considered of interest to
you. 1t is hard to settle down to
writing letters while passing through
and viewing the wonderful scenic
features of the Rocky Mountain coun-
try.
We have been passing through the
Royal Gorge of the Arkansas river
this afternoon and it is certainly an
awe-inspiring sight. For eight
miles, while climbing through the
mountains west from Canon City,
Colorado, the train passes between
almost precipitous rocks on either
side, which tower in places more than
$500 feet above the level of the
railroad track. The river rushes
alongside the railroad much of the
way until we pass Salida, and looks
muddy and turbulent. Here and
there the gorge broadens out into
narrow valleys stretching out from
the foothills, and in such places are
found cultivated fields and an oc-
casional orchard, but much of the
country is barren and covered with
sage brush, rocks and scrubby trees.
For the past two weeks myself and
wife have been stopping with rela-
tives, Mr.. and Mrs. j. H. Wagner,
formerly of Hudson, Indiana, in
Colorado Springs, which is thrifty
and beautiful city of something
more than thirty thousand popula-
ton. The old town was Colorado
City, which now has a population of
only about fifteen hundred, and just
beyond it up the canon is Manitou,
a city of about three thousand. All
are connected by electric railway
and maintain separate municipal
governments, but to the stranger
appear more to be one city, as the
residences along the avenue are
continuous for several miles.
Colorado avenue, upon which is
located the place where we were
guests, is the connecting link be-
tween the three cities, and is the
principal line traversed by tourists
in the Pixies Peak region.
From our front porch we can see
all of the principal mountain peaks
of this section, Pixies Peak, (which
was discovered by Major Zebulon
Pike a daring soldier and adventurer,
100 years ago, while guiding small
exploring party of U. S. soldiers),
is the highest and most famous of
these, and at the time of It's dis
covery was pronounced by Major Pike
TO impossible for any climber to
reach. But time has changed this
and thousands of tourists now climb
to the summit every year, dis
lance of about nine miles. The cog
railway, built from Manitou to the
summit, conveys hundreds of sight
seers to this .'top of the world, -
every day during the tourist season,
at a charge of five dollars each for
the trip, and it is we'll worth it..
An auto road to the top will be COM
pleted next month.
The summit, which is ID, 100 feet
above the sea level, is covered with
snow nearly the whole year through,
and we could not go up the first week
we were at Colorado Springs because
the snow was so deep on the top that
the cars could not make the last half
mile of the climb to the summit,
where the observatory tower has
been built. Most people are more or
less affected by the high altitude
there, become dizzy and find their
hearing and their breathing affected.
We did not experience much of this
and were able to enjoy a luncheon
and hot cup of coffee while standing
near a booming coal fire in the
restaurant, for the snow was from
six to ten feet deep alongside the
train outside, from which paths had
been dug from the tracks TO the
waiting room. Straw hats and
lemonade suits were very comfortable
in the city, but overcoats were very
acceptable at the summit, an eleva-
ton about as near to heaven as we
had yet reached. The range of
mountains here, all a part of the
Rockies, encircle Colorado Springs
upon three sides, and there are many
canons which each present splendid
views to all who drive or climb to
the elevations up their sides, each
one showing a different view than
any of the others, and all well
worth the effort and expense.
1 have always found that the
mountains possess great fascination