Page:Canadian Alpine Journal I, 1.djvu/176

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Ascent of Crow's Nest Mt.
113

which the climbing again became fairly difficult, but for only a short time, as we had reached the final dome, and at 12:15 o'clock we stood upon the summit, a most jubilant party. Here we found the cairn of rock left by Mr. Wilson's party, but being very amateurish, we failed to examine the glass jar in its centre, which Mr. Wilson subsequently informed me was there, and which contained the names of the former party. The remnants of an old flag we captured as our lawful booty, and carried off as a souvenir, leaving in its stead a new one, floating upon the cairn of rock which we erected beside the other.

We then sat down to enjoy the magnificence of the panorama stretching before us in all directions. Standing isolated in the midst of a beautiful valley, many miles from any other mountain, the view from Crow's Nest mountain is truly grand. At our feet lay the town of Coleman, whose houses seemed mere packing-boxes, while the emerald hues of Crow's Nest lake sparkled resplendently in the sunlight. To the east was the stately Livingstone range, and through its gaps the prairie, vast and illimitable, stretched away as far as the eye could see. To the south, the "Big Chief," a bold peak standing near the International Boundary line, could be seen, while westward rose majestically th triple peaks near Fernie, known as the Sphynxes, but more commonly called the Three Sisters. The snow-capped peaks and glaciers to the north looked most resplendent, and seemed to continue on and on until finally they merged with sky and beautiful cumulus clouds into one glorious and indescribable blending of beauty. The sun shone brightly and the day was calm and still, with no sound whatever to bespeak the presence of any living thing, and as we sat there silently enjoying the grandeur of it all, even a whisper seemed a sacrilegious disturbance of the utter silence that was everywhere about us. At last