Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 January 1877 — The Highest Peak in Colorado. [ARTICLE]

The Highest Peak in Colorado.

The report of Prof. Hayden’s survey in Colorado last summer settles an important geographical fact. It says about six miles north of Fort Garland is situated one of the highest and most rugged mountain peaks in the West, called Blanca Peak, the principal summit of the Sierra Blanca group. On the morning of Aug. 20 the party, with a pack mule to transport the large theodolite, followed up a long spur which juts out to the south. They found no difflAilty in riding to the timber line, which is here about 12,000 feet above sea level. At this point they were.compelled to leave the animals, ana, distributing the instruments among the different members of the party, proceeded on foot up the loose rock slope to the first outstanding point from w-hich a view could be obtained of the main peak of the range. Although the first point is only 600 feet lower than tlie main summit, yet tlie most arduous portion of the task was to come. The main summit is about two miles north of the first point in a straight line, and connected with it by a sharp-toothed zig-zag range, up which it is most difficult to travel on account of very loose rocks and constant fear of being’ precipitated down on either side several hundred feet into the amphitheater below. After some two hours of this most difficult climbing they came to the base of the main point, which, though very steep, was soon ascended, and at eleven o’clock a. m. they found themselves on the very summit. From this point one of the most magnificent views in all Colorado was spread out before them The greater portion of Colorairo and New Mexico was embraced in this field of vision. This point is the highest in tlie Sierra Blanca group, and, as far as is known at the present time, is the highest in Colorado. A comparison with some of the first-class peaks of Colorado will show the relative height; Blanca Peak, 14,464 feet above sea level; Mount Harvard, 14,384; Gray’s Peak, 14,351; Mount Lincoln, 14,206; Mount Nelson, 14.280; Long’s Peak, 14,271; Uncompahgre Peak, 14,185; and Pike’s Peak, 14,146. — Botton Transcript.