246 BIRDS OF THE ROCKIES 



those who ride, become sick ; others suffer with bleed- 

 ing at the nose, and others are so overcome with ex- 

 haustion and weakness that they cannot enjoy the 

 superb panorama spread out before them. However 

 you may account for it, my youthful comrade and I, 

 in spite of our arduous climb, were in excellent physical 

 condition when we reached our goal, suffering no pain 

 whatever in eyes, head, or lungs. The bracing air, 

 rare as it was, soon exhilarated us, our temporary 

 weariness disappeared, and we were in the best of trim 

 for scouring the summit, pursuing our natural history 

 hobbies, and revelling in the inspiring cyclorama that 

 Nature had reared for our delectation. 



My pen falters when I think of describing the scene 

 that broke upon our vision. I sigh and wish the task 

 were done. The summit itself is a narrow ridge on 

 which you may stand and look down the declivities on 

 both sides, scarcely having to step out of your tracks 

 to do so. It is quite different from the top of Pike's 

 Peak, which is a comparatively level plateau several 

 acres in extent, carpeted, if one may so speak, with 

 immense granite rocks piled upon one another or laid 

 side by side in semi -systematic order ; whereas Gray's, 

 as has been said, is a narrow ridge, composed chiefly 

 of comparatively small stones, with a sprinkling of 

 good-sized boulders. The finer rocks give the impres- 

 sion of having been ground down by crushing and 



