The Sun.
London, England, 1859-08-01 00:00:00

Peaks, Passes, and Glaciers : a Series of _Excur-
sions by Members of the Alpine Club. Edited
by John Ball, M.R.1.A., F.L.S., President of
the Alpine Club. Second Edition. Longman.
This work is of a superior class to the ordinary
volumes of travels that abound at the present time.
It would be difficult to decide whether the perusal
is most interesting or instructive, as we are pre-
sented in these pages with most valuable infor-
mation, and at the same time the attention is ex-
cited by the details of some arduous undertaking,
and the dangers of some hazardous enterprise. As .
the several chapters are written by different
travellers, there will be found more variety, fresh-
ness, and life infused into the book than if all the
events were cited by the same person. In the
preface there is an explanation given of the reasons
that have occasioned its appearance. In the year
1858 an Alpine Club was formed, it being found
that " the community of taste and feeling amongst
those who in the life of the High Alps shared the
same enjoyments, the same labours, and the same
changes, constitutes a bond of sympathy stronger
than many of those by which men are drawn into
association." It was deemed desirable that the
members of the club should combine their materials
in one volume, in order to secure a degree of ex-
cellence which could not be attained in separate
productions. That the effort has proved eminently
successful, no one who attentively regards this
work can entertain a doubt, and it is not to be
wondered at that it should already have reached 0. .
second edition. The editor, Mr. Ball, has performe'
his task with great care, and in many instances has
affixed notes of his own experiences to the chap-
ters, which contain valuable information on many
points. The work has been beautifully illustrated,
and combines the advantages of an ornamental
volume, with the more solid merits of a book of
reference; and a record of travels. There are nine
maps, which furnish clear information regarding
the places mentioned, and the chromo-lithographs
are very effective. There is a most useful chapter
by the editor, called " Suggestions for Alpine
Travellers," which contains much desirable matter
on the subject. Among other things, he has
divided the dangers to be apprehended into real
and imaginary ; reducing the latter to three.
" First, the yielding of the snow bridges that cover
glacier crevasses; second, the risk of slipping upon. -
steep slopes of hard ice ; third, the fall of ice or
rocks from above." Mr. Hinchcliff, in an excellent
description of the Trift Pass, thus describes what
he terms an interrupted feast, the enjoyment of
which was suddenly suspended by falling rocks :
" A glance through the telescope showed that a fall of
rocks had commenced, and the fragments were leaping
down from ledge to ledge in a series of cascades. Each
block dashed off others at every point of contact, and the
uproar became tremendous ; thousands of fragments mak-
ing every variety of noise according to their size, and pro-
ducing the effect of a fire of musketry and artillery com-
bined, thundered downwards from so great a height that
we waited anxiously for some considerable time to see them
reach the snow-field below. As nearly as we could estimate
the distance, we were 500 yards from the base of the rocks,
so we thought that, come what might, we were in a tole-
rably secure position. At last we saw many of the blocks
plunge into the snow after taking their last fearful leap;
presently much larger fragments followed, taking propor-
tionably larger bounds ; the noise grew fiercer and fiercer,
and huge blocks began to fall so near to us that we jumped
to our feet, preparing to dodge them to the best of our abi-
lity. " Look out," cried some one, and we opened out
right and left at the approach of a monster, evidently
weighing many hundred-weight, which was coming right
at us like a huge shell fired from a mortar. It fell with e
heavy thud not more than 20 feet from us, scattering
lumps of snow into the circle where we had just been
dining ; but scarcely had we begun to recover from our
astonishment when a still larger rock flew exactly over
our heads to a distance of 200 yards beyond us."
An instance of another danger in Alpine tra-
velling is given in the chapter on the PO'
sage of the Fenetre de Salena, by Mr. Wills,
which is one of the best in the volume,
and furnishes the reader with a graphic account of
a passage that has not been frequently visited by
explorers. The adventure is thus related—
" Balmat and I were the first, and we thought we mightventure to slide from one rock to the next, and so avoid
the labour of step-cutting, and the tedious precaution of
using ropes. We reached the lower station in safety ; but
R., who came next, lost his direction, and was going over,
to the left, down a fearful slope of ice three or four hundred
feet high, too steep for us to see in what it ended, but sepa-
rated, in all probability, by a bergschrund from the Glacier
de Trient ; for we found one at the foot of the gentler
slope on the right. It was a terrible moment, as there was
only one chance. It was utterly impossible for him to stop
himself, or for either of the men to help him. Balmat
already some distance below, cut ing steps. and Cachet vol
engaged with W. 20 or 30 paces higher up. R. shoed
irreat presence of mind. He did not utter a word, but
threw himself on his right side, so as to pass as near to the
edge as possible, and stretched out his arm for me to grasP•
Fortunately he passed just within my reach, and I vis.°,
able to catch his hand and arrest his progress, otherwise
might have been a very sad day for all of us. I think both
our hearts beat quicker than usual for a few moments ; but
It., with great prudence and forbearance, said nothing that
could shake our nerves, and sat down quietly against the
stone, while I set to work and cut a set of steps, by which
W. and Cachat descended without the risk of a similar
mishap."

A curious fact is mentioned in one of the chapters,
which is illustrative of the extremes to which men
will go in whatever undertaking they engage, or
on whatever subject they converse upon. The
writer relates a stormy conversation he overheard
between two travellers who were in the same non
as himself, and the conclusion to which they arrived
was that they must part, as after what had passed
it was impossible to hold any further communica-
tion with satisfaction. It appeared that they Were
old friends who had differed thus seriously, not
the usual disputed points of politics or religion, bll
on the theory of the glaciers. The narrator of tlll5
scene wisely joined in the conversation, and c:
trived to give a more pleasing turn to the subjec"
and by proposing a joint excursion the next dal'
he diverted their attention from the fatal fracas'
After some days passed in delightful discoveries
parted from his companions, leaving them again the
best of friends. The third risk which is run by
these daring explorers is thus recorded—
" We had scarcely done so when an avalanche of fre‘9,,,11
snow descended from the slope on the opposite side. LuT':.
it was for us that we had not crossed 1 The larger portli°7
of the avalanche fell into the crevasse whilst the remaire,
poured steadily over us like water. 'lt came down with
sound like the prolonged dwelling with the voice on to
word " hush." Directly I felt it coming I struck th
handle of my ice axe into the snow and held on, crouch'
on on my knees as low as possible. I was blinded by the rut,
of snow, and thought at the moment were all going to rut,
covered up. By the time it ceased I was pretty nearly' 11
that predicament ; I was obliged to pull my head out 0,
my hat, leaving the latter in the snow, with large lump;
which, like hods full of mortar, my back and shoulde'
were covered. The snow also filled my pockets, and clung
in lumps to every part of my flannel clothing. 80101
and Almer were in a similar plight. We had just finish 0.1
clearing off the snow when a smaller avalanche fell, an:
we again went through the clinging process. This wis to,„"
much, and the moment it ceased, we hastily cleared off !Al
snow, and ran down our ladder as fast as our legs aft'
carry us."
In the ascent of the Finsteraar Horn Mr. Hard,c,
l
gives an animated description of Moonlight On tl"'
glacier, and even more exciting is the picture draTia.,
of the sunrise from the Grunhorn Lucke. While
gazing at the snowy heights there comes creepilt
over the topmast pinnacles that exquisite roseate
tinge which all mountaineers know and love so viel"
but which pen and pencil must alike fail to delinr
ate. Those who never expect to behold for theft;
selves those wonders which abound in the fa':
scenes here brought before their notice, can elite:
in thought, if not in action, into the spirit of thy
place, while those who may have taken but a Or
sort'. glance, will derive satisfaction from here fro,
newing their acquaintance with remembered seened,
The scenery of the Alps has ever attracted the a.
iniration, and aroused the enthusiasm of the pile
Brims of nature, who are the worshippers of
'l3
beautiful in its sublimest shrines, and the crowli..„l'
testimony has been offered in those glorious lines
" Mont Blanc is the monarch of mountains,
They crowned him long ago
On a throne of rocks, with a robe of clouds,
Ana a diadem of snow."
1
This work cannot fail to be appreciated, and It
wir
most probable that it will achieve the success "';6l
its merits certainly deserve, and that its Per?..,-it
will now afford satisfaction, while subsequentuj
may be considered a standard work for guide °-
reference.