Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1918-10-11
IN AUTO TRIP
THRU THE ROCKIES
Baxter Man Writes Interesting
Story Of Drive from Baxter
Springs to Colorado


trip. Would have written you sooner
but have been SO busy seeing the
sights of the Rockies that ! could
hardly take time TO do any thing else.
In writing you | will begin when /
left Baxter Springs. As II rained the
night before we left, the road was
good to Columbus, from Columbus to
Oswego we found about the muddiest
road | have ever driven over. After
we left 0swego We found fair 70 good
roads and camped at Ccdarvale, our
first night out, and all enjoyed 1t very
much. That was Thursday night,
Sept. 10. Friday we drove to King
man, where We found fine auto camp
ing park maintained by the city with
city water and everything convenient
for the auto tourists. Saturday We
drove to Dodge City and camped in
another city park like the above. Sun
day we drove 10 Las Animas, Colo,
distance of 204 miles from Dodge
City. We did not pitch our tent Sun
day night as the weather was fine and
warm. Monday we arrived in Main
tou, about D o'clock, via Pueblo and
Colorado Springs, distance of $50
miles from Baxter Springs by my
speedometcr. We were just FIVE days
making the trip. We had good roads
and ideal weather all the way. We
expected to find cold weather here but
instead the weather is ideal. Can
drive most OF the time without my
coat.
Our first drive after arriving here
was through the wonderful Garden OF
the Gods, where We saw many inter-
csting things, entering the Garden OF
the Gods through the Natural Gate
way, first by the Balanced Rock and
Steamboat Rock. then on to the Sia-
mese Twins and the Hidden Suns,
Etc. which is q wonderful production
of Nature. q very interesting drive.
Thursday We drove to the Cave of
the Winds. The drive is wonderful
going up through the narrow canon
ana winding up a narrow road way
called the narrows. where walls re-
semble ancient castles towering hun
drcds of feet above the roadway in
The amphithcatre. The road turns and
begins the ascen; Of the canon wall
and it is known as Temple Drive.
Wonderful views OF the canon below
unfold a. the steady climb continues.
The Cave of the WindS.--on Of Colo
radios Geological MiraclcS--.with its
wonderful delicate and beautiful form
ations. the cave is Il series Of chamb-
crs, connected by Il narrow passage
way and is lighted throughout by
DISQUALIFICATION chambers alto
gcther at an elevation of 7475 feet.
Coming down the road accomplishes
the descent on the face of Agate noun
tain by series of serpentine curves
and hair pin loops, there being within
q half mile eight elevations of road.
way, one above the other The most
can say it is wonderful and anyone
coming here should not miss this.
Our next drive was through the
south Cheyenne Canon to the seven
falls. Entering between the pillars of
Hercules, where perpendicular walls
rise hundreds Of feet above the road
way and on then what is called the
narrows, the canon walls being only
forty feet apart. This, too. is q Won
derful drive.
Our next drive was circling Pixies
Peak via Cripple Greek, Phantom
Greek and Canon City, perhaps the
most fascinating drive in Colorado,
completely cncilcling Pixies Peak. OPP
pning up scenery OF indiScribab|r
beauty. A fine road through tie
Pass and glorious ride. Cripple
Creek is also very interesting hut the
thrilling part of this wonderful drive
is through Phantom Canon with its
high rocky walls and narrow winding
road and then along the shelf of the
canon, until finally the road energies
into a wooded Mesa. You can look
down hundreds of feet, go through
tunnels, over high bridges, etc. It's
simply wonderful. but takes good
steady nerves to make the drive. This
drive is l25 miles the round trip, and
every mile new and interesting seem
cry. coasted twelve miles going
down the Phantom Canon--this was
cheap drive.
But the most nerve racking drive
of all is from Canon City 10 the top
of Royal Gorge. And the sky line
drive takes a cool head and n. good
driver to make this. This is a very
interesting spectacular and pictur-
es1ue road in excellent condition as
are all the roads herr. Some very
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