The Dolores star., 1924-08-29

feet to Chasm Lake in n gorge that marks the
path of glacier. This East Face has never been
climbed but twIce-in 1922 and Blaurock led the
second party. The regular trail zszags from East
Face to West Face and thus gives the climber
views In all directions. 1t is at once easy anu
hard. None but the able-bodled can make the
ascent yet thousand visitors year get TO the
top including women and even twelve-year-oid
boys and girls The view shows Longs Peak from
the back-the West Face.
night ascent of Longs Peak has become
Rocky Mountain National park classic. 1t was
made In August of 1915 by the late Edna Louise
Smith of Aurora. ILL.,, whose life of phlanthroplc
Accomplishment prematurely cut short in an
automobile accident. She was member of the
Colorado Mountain club and an ardent noun
taineer She and three women companions with
Shep Hustled as guide. started from Iahosa VAL
ley $1,000 feeD at the foot of Longs Peak at IL
D. M in a heavy fog and haf-rain. The ascent
was so unusual that the National Park Service re-
ouested Miss Smith to write the story for use In
Its booklets. The story of this unique experience
in mountain climbing follows, in part:
AFTER a short climb were in another world.
The fog was n sea of silvery clouds below us ana
from 1t the mountains rose like Islands Inc
moon and stars were bright in the heavens. There
w,s the sparkle in the mir that suggests enchanted
lands and fairies. Half way to Tlmber-Line we
came upon ground white with snow which made
1t seem all the likely that Christmas pixies
lust within the shadows of the pines might dance
forth on moonDeam.
"Aboye Tlmber-Line there was snow but the
moonlight was so brilliant that the clouds far be-
low were shining like misty lakes and even the
hare mountainsde about us looked almost as white
us II snowcovered.
AT the western edge of Boulder Field there was
n 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 doubly dark by
emerged from Keyhole and looked down into the
Glacier Gorge beyond 1t was hard to breathe be
cause of the wonder of it all. The moon was
shining down into the great gorge a thousand feet
below and 1t filled with silvery glow. Ihe
lakes glimmered in the moonlight
"Cllmbing along the narrow ledge, high above
this tremendous gorge was like dream. Not
breath of air stirred and the only sound was the
crunch of hobnalls on rock. There was supreme
hush in the air. as If something tremendous were
about TO happen
"suddenly the sky, which had been the far-off
b,ue of moonlIt night. flushed with the softest
,metbyst and rose. and the stars loomed large
and intimately near, burning like lamps with
lavender, emerald. sapphire and topaz lights Ihe
moon had set and the stars were supreme
"As we made our way along The Narrows the
drama of that days dawn proceeded with kaie
doscopic speed Over the plains. apparently with
ont end was n sea of bllowy clouds, shimmering
with golden and pearly lights One mountain
range after another was revealed and brought
close by the rosy glow that now filed all the Sky.
EVERY peak far and near. bore fresh crown Of
new snow and each stood out distinct and ind
yiduai Arapahoe Peak held the eye long. Tor
reys Peak and Grays Peak were especially beau
tifu And far away, n hundred miles to the south.
loomed up the summit Of Pixies Peak.
"Such a scene could last but short time. And
II was well for us. for the moments too
crowded with sensations to be long borne Soon
the sun burst up from the ocean Of clouds below
On The Summit all was bright and warm. And
in the bright sunlight Of the new day we wondered
whether we had seen reality or VISION