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|ike's Peak rises boldly from the plains, go- 

 ing steeply up into the sky a vertical mile 

 and a half. There is no middle distance or fore- 

 ground; no terraced or inclined approach. A 

 spectator may thus stand close to its foot, at 

 an altitude of six thousand feet, and have a 

 commanding view of the eight thousand feet of 

 slopes and terraces which culminate in the sum- 

 mit, 14,110 feet above the sea. Its steep, abrupt 

 ascent makes it imposing and impressive. It 

 fronts the wide plains a vast broken tower. 

 The typical high peak stands with other high 

 peaks in the summit of a mountain-range. Miles 

 of lesser mountains lie between its summit and 

 the lowlands. Foothills rise from the edge of 

 the lowland; above these, broken benches, ter- 

 race beyond terrace, each rising higher until 

 the summit rises supreme. With Pike's Peak 

 this typical arrangement is reversed. 



Pike's Peak probably is the most intimately 



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