Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-08-16

From observations made during our three days
sooun this place, its elevation above the Gulf OF Mexico
10000 feet During the day, we had seen no sign OF anma
life but among the rocks here, heard what was suppose
be the bleat of young goat which searched Tor wit
hungry activity and found TO proceed from small animal
gray color with short and tai-probably the Sbe
ran squirrel We considerable number of them, and
with the exception of small bird like sparrow, il is the on
nhabitant Of this elevated part OF the mountains On
Eturn we below this lake large hocks OF the mountain
goat We had nothing TO eat tonight Laeunesse, witt
Others took their guns and sailed out in search of
goat but returned unsuccessful AT sunset the baromete
stood 20 522 the attached thermometer 500. Here
had the misfortune to break thermometer, having
that attached to the barometer was taken i'll shortly ate
had encamped and continued until late in the night
with violent headache and vomiting This was probably
ed by the excessive fatigue had undergone and of food
and perhaps ALSO in some measure, by the rarity OF the air
The night cold, violent gale from the north hat
sprung up sunset which entirely blew away the heat of thu
fires The cod and granite BEDS had not been avora
BILE to Sleep and glad to the face Of the IL
the morning Not being delayed by any preparation fo
breakfast, we set out Immediately.
son every side advanced was heard the OF wa
ters and of torrent which followed up short distance
until it expanded into lake about mile in length On
the northern side Of the lake bank Of ice, or rather Of
covered with crust of ice Carson had been our guide
into the mountains and agreeaby to his advice we lett this
little valley, and took TO the ridges again; which we found
extremely broken and where again involved among
pecipces. Here ice fields; among which we were all
dispersed seeking each the best path to ascend the peak Mr.
Preuss attempted walk along the upper edge of one OF these
fields, which sloped away at angle OF about twenty de-
grees but his feet slipped from under him, and he went
pungng down the plane few hundred feet below at the
bottom, fragments Of sharp rock on which he land
ed and though he turned couple OF somesets fortunately
received injury beyond few bruises Two OF the men,
Clement Lambert and Descoieaux had been taken ILL., and
lay down the rocks short distance below and at this
point attacked with headache and gddness accompa
MED by vomiting the day before Finding myself un-
able proceed the barometer Mr. Preuss who
in gap three hundred yards distant desiring him
toeach the peak, possible, and take observation there
He found himself unable proceed further in that direction
and took observation where the barometer stood at
attached thermometer 500 in the gap Carson who had gone
him. succeeded in reaching of the snowy SUBMITS
Of the main ridge whence he the peak towards which all
efforts had been directed towering eight ten hundred
feet into the air above him. In the mean tme finding my
self grow rather than BETTER and doubtful how far
strength would carry me, Basil aeunesse with four
men, back the place where the mules had been le
august l5.-It had been supposed that we had finished
with the mountains and the evening BEFORE it had been
ranged that Carson should set out daylight and return to
breakfast the Camp the Mules taking with him all but
four five men, who to stay with and bring back
the mules and instruments Accordingly at the break of day
they set out With Mr. Preuss and myself remained Basil
laeunesse, Clement Lambert Janisse, and Descoteaux.
When had secured strength for the day by hearty break
fast covered what remained, which enough for
meal with rocks in order that il might be safe from any
raudng bird and saddng mules turned faces
towards the peaks This time determined proceed
object if it within the compass of human We
of opinion that long dee which lay to the left Of yes
tedays would lead the foot of the main peak
Our mules had been refreshed by the fine grass the little
at the Island Camp, and intended to ride the dee
far possible in order to husband strength for the
main ascent. Though this fine passage, still
dce of the most rugged mountains KNOWN and had many
rough and steep slippery place to before reaching the
end In this place the rarely shone lay along the
border Of the small stream which flowed through it. and
ona icy passages made the footing of the mules very
cure, and the rocks and ground moist with the tcklng
waters this spring of mighty rivers We had the sat
saciion find ourselves riding along the huge which
forms the central SUBMITS Of the cham There at last il
by Sides nearly perpendicular wall of granite terminal
ing 1000 TO 900 feet above heads in serraied line
broken Jagged We rode until almost inn
mediaey below the main peak, which denominaied the
Snow Peak it exhibited TO the eye than any
the neghborng SUBMITS Here three small lakes Of
color each of perhaps thousand yards in diameter
and apparently very deep. These lay in kind OF chasm
and according to the barometer had attained but a few
hundred feet above the Island Lake. The barometer here
stood at 90. $50, attached thermometer 700.
"We managed to get mules up TO little bench about
hundred feet above the lakes where there patch
good grass and turned them loose Craze During
rough ride to this place. they had exhibited wonderful
fooedness Parts of the dec filed with angular sharp
fragments of rock three four and eight ten feet cube
and these they had worked their eapng
point another rarely making false STEP and Civ
ing occasion to dismount Having Invested ourselves
Of every unnecessary ncumbance commenced the assent
This time like experienced travellers did not press
selves climbed leisurely sitting down found
breath beginning fail At intervals reached places where
number Of springs gushed from the rocks and about 800
above the lakes the line. From this point
our progress uninterrupted climbing. Hitherto had
pair of thick moccasns, with soles Of parece but
here put on light thin pair which had bought for the pur-
pose the of became necessary further
advance avaed myself Of sort Of comb of the mountains
which stood against the wall like bures and which the
wind and the solar radiation joined to the steepness of the
smooth rock, had kept almost entirely free from Up
this made my way rapidly Our cautious method Of advan-
cling the had spared my strength and, with the
cepon of slight disposition to headache, felt remains OF
Yesterdays illness In few minutes reached point
where the buess ovsrhanging, and there Other
Of sumountng the difficulty than by passing around
side of which the face of vertical precpice OF
hundred feet.
Putting hands and feet in the crevce between the blocks
succeeded in getting it. and, when reached the top
found my companions in small valley below Descending
to them, continued climbing, and in short time reached
the sprang upon the summit and another step wou,
have precpitated immense field five hundred
feet below To the edge Of this field sheer icy preci
pice and then, with gradual fall, the field sloped off TO
about me until struck the foot Of another lower ridge.
stood on narrow crest about three feet in width with an in
clnaon Of about 200 N $40 E. As soon as had graie,
the first feelings of curiosity, descended, and each
cended in his for would only allow time
the unstable and precarous slab which seemed
breath would hur into the abyss below We mounted thu
barometer in the Of the summit and fixing ramrod il
crevice, unfued the national flag the becz
where never flag waved before During our mornings ascent
had sign Of animal life except the small sparrow
like bird already mentioned stiffness the most profount
and terrible solitude forced themselves constantly on thu
mind the great features Of the place. Here the summit
where the stiffness absolute, unroken by any sound
the solitude complete thought ourselves beyond the regoI
Of animated life but while sitting the rock,
solitary bee rofs the humble Jee) came wngng its aigh
from the eastern valley, and lit the knee Of one of the