Arizona republican., 1915-07-28
By w. L. Lonuan


 No one who spends even short time in Flagstaff feels that he has done justice to himself unless he has at some time or other climbed the Frisco Peaks. These peaks are some
 twelve or fifteen miles to the north of Flagstaff. They are between 5000
 and I4O0O feet above sea level. or in
 more expressive words. are over two5 miles in altitude Flagstaff itself Is a mile above the level of the sea. and above it towers this mile thigh
 mountain In winter the peaks are
 ever white with snoW-fTom their
 summit to the base is one deep. white blanket. In summer most of the
 snow melts. except on the higher
 noints. which are high enough to be
 in the region of perpetual snow Climbing this mountain in winter k almost impossible but in summer many who are able to endure the ions. climb succeed in reaching the snow capped summits.
 Ever since the first week of the l Flagstaff Normal schools summer | term many of the students have been | talking of climbing the peaks. Al first it was decided that the climb
 would he impracticable because of the snow that still remained. but. | gradually as the July days grew warmer and warmer and the snow ! began to disappear. it was decided to attempt the ascent.
 Friday afternoon. one ;week past. was the time set for the starting ! day of the trip. two days being re- l qu.red to make the climb ana re- | turn to Flagstaff. As soon as school l was dismissed on the appointed day, everyone hurried into his mountain | clothes rolled his bedding and made ! ready for the outing. All told. in cluding MT. and Mrs. Thorpe, the of
 ficial cnaperons. twenty-two jolly,
 pleasure bent people loaded them
 selves into two big specially prepared
 mountain wagons and bade farewell to the dormitories and school in gen II cal. Down town, two big commits | sar,. boxes. filled with everything re ' duired for a two days outing, were
 loaded on the wagons and the party
 vas at last off for the peaks. The
 drive to Campbelfs ranch, where
 camp was pitched, at the foot of the
 mountains, was enjoyed by all Some
 times the road became so steep and
 rough that 1t was necessary for ali
 to walk: this was even better than
 riding for no end of sport was o3-
 tained by fighting pine-Cone battles by various bands of the pedestrians.
 When camp was reached. the moon
 was just rising above the high trees of the forest, and by its light camps v ere pitched. The first thing to do was to prepare supper. Not one of the twenty was idle; some roasted wianers, others sliced bread. made coffee or gathered pine knots for the big camp fire. When supper was over. it was 10 o'clock. and, as the next day was to be a strenuous one no time vas lost in making ready for a good nights sleep. Fern brakes were everywhere. so all got busy gathering ferns fer mattresses. On top of these primitive, but sof; rpringy beds were spread tarpaulins; then came comforters and blankets When all was complete. no better beds could be desired by the most I fastidious.
 Sleep was impossible before mid night. for the boys had drunk deeply of the cold. sparkling waters of q nearby mountain spring and hat | become over animated with the spiri of Fun. Each and every one Of this particular sex took it upon himself to sing some noble song, relating tc his past brave deeds. Not satisfied with this. they joined in a chorus anc | serenaded the ladies' Several touch. ing and sentimental ballads wer, \ sung. Then came a pause that migh have been filled with applause-s, e the young gallants thought-bu silence reigned supreme in the camI B of the ladies. Nothing was heard E save slight. smothered groans. Tn. 9 wouldbe singers then turned theil | attention toward blanket borrowing | This sport proved very exciting an, t extremely interesting, especially fo those who had been relieved of thei blankets during the earlier part of tn | game.
 Before the sun was up, camp wa \ astir. Breakfast was cooked ant ! eaten, and then the party started ol it's long hike. Several horses wer
 taken along for the ladies to ride hut those walking made better tim . thon those riding. Halfway up tn . mountain snow was found among tn .. pines; snow flowers were everywhere ! and it was indeed a strange sight t ! see big clusters of bright red am ! blue blossoms growing from the edge ! of deep snowbanks. Above the tim { berline snow was everywhere Jus at high-noon the first members Q the party reached the summit of MI ] Agassiz, those tagging behind com } ing up half an hour later. Lunc 2 was eaten, then came a siege of pic } ture- taking. The day was remark I .f rf1I >t glasses if was possible to see i >l all directions for at least a hundre and fifty miles to the north. Wit { ha palrad ova tha Grand Copyop ca