32 CANADIAN NIGHTS 



cipitous hill-sides, we got to our destination very 

 late at night with only one serious accident — the 

 fracture of a bottle containing medical comforts. 



The road from Longmont to the Park traverses 

 the level plain for about fifteen miles, and then 

 enters a canon flanked on either side by strange- 

 shaped masses of bright red sandstone, outcropping 

 from the surface, and in some places tilted nearly 

 on end. It then follows along the bank of the 

 St. Vrain River — teeming with trout — crosses 

 that stream, and works its way with many curves 

 and twists up through the foot-hills, along grassy 

 slopes, through pine forests, past fantastic masses 

 of rock, crosses a little creek hiding deep among 

 aspens and poplars, and, after plunging dovm two 

 violent descents and mounting up again, enters 

 a long valley rejoicing in the euphonious title of 

 " Muggins's Gulch." I do not know who Muggins 

 was — no doubt an honest citizen ; but he should 

 have changed his name before bestowing it upon 

 such a pretty spot. You ascend this valley at an 

 easy gradient till you reach the summit, when 

 suddenly a lovely view bursts upon you, and the 

 Park lies spread out at your feet. On the left the 

 hill-side rises steeply, crowned with a buttress 

 of frowning rock. On the right a mountain of 



