The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1922-12-08

had started rescue party and had toted wood
up from Timber-Line and had lighted relay fires
"But had found 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
first thrills were over, we searched for signs of
previous human visitation and found none. We
Quilt cairn and left record. Maj ]. w. Powell,
later or Grand Canyon fame, made little speech.
Il climbed Longs the second time eight years ago
over the present trail-and ! had to smile at the
difference"
The late Edna Louise Smith of Aurora Ill.,.
whose life of phlanthropic accomplishment was
prematurely cut short last spring in an automobile
crossing accident, was an ardent end 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
Park Service requested her to rite an account
Tor 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 10000 at II D. m in
heavy fog and haf-rain Her story includes the
following:
After a short climb were In another world
The fog was sea of svery clouds below us and
from it the mountains rose like islands The
moon and stars were bright in the heavens. There
was the sparkle In the air that suggests enchanted
lands and fairies. Half way 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 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 mountainside about US looked almost as
white as II snow-covered.
"At the western edge Of Boulder Field there was
new marvel. AS we approached Keyhole 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 douby dark by
the contrast. made us very silent When we
emerged from Keyhole and looked down into the
Glacier Gorge beyond 1t was hard to breathe he
cause Of the wonder of 1t all. The moon was
shining down into the great gorge a thousand feet
below and 1t was filled with silvery glow The
lakes glmmered In the moonlight
climbing along the narrow ledge high above
this tremendous gorge. was like dream Not n
breath of air stirred, and the only sound was tba
crunch OF. hobnails on rock. There was supreme
hush in the air. as II something tremendous were
about to happen.
Suddenly the sky which had been the far-ofr
blue of 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 were supreme
AS we made our way along The Narrows tbe
drama of that days dawn proceeded with ka,e,
doscopic speed. Over the plains. apparently with.
out end, was a sea of billowy clouds. sh,mmerinp
with golden and pearly lights. One mountain
range after another was revealed and broupht
close by the rosy glow that now filed all the skv.
Every peak, far and near bore fresh crown of
new snow and each stood out distinct and ;nd,
viduai. Arapahoe Peak held the eye long Torreys
Peak and Grays Peak were especially beautiful.
And Tar away, hundred miles to the south.
loomed up the summit of Pixies Peak
Such scene could last but a short time. And
IT was we'll for US, for the moments were too
crowded with sensations to be long borne. Soon
.ne sun ourst up from the ocean of clouds below
On The Summit all was bright and u,or -
IN the bright sunlight of the new day we wondered
whether We had seen reality OF vision.