, 1922-11-30
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had started a rescue party and had toted wood
up from TimberLine and had lighted relay fires
But 1 had found a way TO The Summit. The
next morning we angled to the left as we ap
preached The Notch and finally came out on The
Homestretch of the present trail. All seven OF
US were then soon on The Summit. After the
nrst thrills were over, we searched for signs OF
previous human visitation and found none. We
Dullt a cairn and left a record. Maj. ]. w. Powell
later OF Grand Canyon fame. made a little speech
i climbed Longs the second time eight years ago
over the present traIl-and l had to smile at the
difference"
The late Edna Louise Smith Of Aurora, Ill.
whose life of philanthropic accomplishment was
prematurely cut short last spring In an automobile
crossing accident, was an ardent rnd able noun.
taineer. She assembled Longs Peak many times.
One ascent was made at night in August of 1915
under such unusual conditions that the National
Pnrk Service requested her to write an account
for use In Its booklets. Her story is a Rocky
Mountain National Park classic. She and three
women companions. with Shep Hustled as guide
started from Tahosa Valley (0.OO0) at IL p. m. In
a heavy fog and half-rain. Her story Includes the
following:
After a short climb we were In another world
The fog was a sea Of silvery clouds below us and
from 1t the mountains rose like islands. The
moon and stars we're bright in the heavens. There
was the sparkle in the air that suggests enchanted
lands and fairies. Half why to Timber-Line we
came upon ground white with snow, which made
1t seem all the more likely that Christmas pixies
Just within the shadows of the pines might dance
forth on a moonbeam.
"Above Timber-LIne there was no snow. but the
moonlight was so brilliant that the clouds far be-
low were shining like misty lakes and even the
bare mountainslde about us looked almost as
white as II snow-covered.
AT the western edge OF Boulder Field there was
a new marvel. As we approached KeyhoIe, right
in the center of that curious nick In the rim of
Boulder Field shone the great golden moon. The
vast shadow of the peak, made doubly dark by
the contrast. made US very silent. When we
emerged from Keyhole and looked down into the
Glacier Gorge beyond II was hard to breathe be-
cause of the wonder OF II all. The moon was
shining down Into the great gorge a thousand feet
below and Ii was filled with q slvery glow. The
lakes limmere In the moonlight.
"Cllmbing along the narrow ledge. high above
this tremendous gorge. was like a dream. Not n
breath Of air stirred. and the only sound was the
crunch Of hobnalis on rock. There was a supreme
hush in the air. as II something tremendous were
about to happen.
.suddeniy the sky. which had been the far-on
blue OF a moonlit night. flushed with the softest
amethyst and rose. and the stars doomed large
and Intimately near. burning like lamps with
lavender. emerald. sapphire and topaz lights. The
moon had set and the stars we're supreme.
"As we made our way along The Narrows the
drama of that days dawn proceeded with knIeI.
doscoplc speed. Over the plains. apparently with.
out end. was n sea OF billowy clouds, sh'mmerinp
with golden ana penrly lights. one mountain
range after another was revealed and brought
close by the rosy glow that now filled ali the skv
Every peak. far and near. bore a fresh crown OF
new snow and each stood out distinct and lndI.
vidual. Arnpahoe Peak held the eye long. Torrey,
Peak and Grnys Peak were especially beau.,sul
And far away. a hundred miles to the south.
doomed up the summlto OF Pixies Peak.
"such n scene could last but n short time. An,
II was well for us, for the moments we're too
crowded with sensations to be long borne. soon
the sun burst up from the ocean Of clouds below.
On The Summit nil was bright and wnrm. Ana
in the bright sunlight Of the new day we wondered
whether we had seen a reality or a vision"