Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1848-12-09

and up slight elevation on the other side,
we at length stood at the base of the tower
ing snow-topped submits far above US.
Our party now scattered some, leaving
their horses here, commenced the ascent of
the hill, at whose base we then stood, while
others continued on towards the peaks be-
You'd the lakes. My horse being completely
exhausted, | left him and commenced the
first ascent ut hand. After climbing short
distance ! stopped and gazed with wonder
upon the scene before me. My further as
cent was to be over perfect mass of piled
up rocks, black, rent into prismatc blocks,
and through whose crevices the eve would
occasionally penetrate into many a dark re-
cess.
The ascent was so difficult and tiresome,
from the rarilied state of the air, that hat
few upward steps could be- taken at a time,
and then the heart would throb with yio-
lence, and the air in the lungs seem exhaus-
ted. The head would swim, and not until
one had inhaled copious draught Of air
could he continue on. After climbing up
for more than an hour,c exhausted,
| seated myself upon projecting rock aud
gaZed around in bitter disappointment
dense mist and clouds hid everything from
my view. But while sitting here the gods
seemed 10 take compassion ON me and, in
reward for my perseverance, with one blast
swept the mist and clouds from before me,
revealing to my longing eyes, in the far east,
the snow-topped submits of Popocatepetl
and lztacihuatl.
Below me lay the fertile valley of Toluca,
which, though bounded on the east by lofty
ridge, now seemed to be shut in by the mer-
est hills. Over their tops could be seen the
far famed valley of Anahuac, aud still far
Their on TO my right rose that mariners guide,
high alolt amid the clouds, the snow-topped
peak of Orizaba. This scene was disclosed
but for moment, aud again the envious
mist enshrouded all in obscurity.
Continuing the ascent, at last stood on
the highest pinnacle of this range, and there
now only remained above me on the oppo-
site side of the lake, whose deep blue waters
lay calm below, the high, unapproachable
peaks of the western ridge.
Again the mist for an instant broke away,
and looked with longing eyes TO the west,
if possible 10 see the bright waters of the
Pacific but this was denied me-the mir
was too dense, too thick. Aud even hter in
the day, when the sun had broke out and in
some measure dispeled the gloom, could
still catch 10 the west no glimpse of its wa
tiers.
remained here gazing around for some
time, aud then determined to let myself
down towards the lake by the almost per-
pcndcular side which descends towards rs
ever-slent waters. Having proceeded
short distance | found the undertaking much
more difficult than ! had imagined it could
be. At times, as my foot occasionally fell
upon some huge rock, it would shake, totter,
leave its bed, and with noise like thunder,
leap down from crag to crag, aud bound in
to the gaping mouth of the crater below.
After some danger aud much exertion, |
reached the base, and. on looking up again,
scarcely could realize thai had descended
from point so high.
Our party was now scattered over every
part Of the mountain. On every snow-top-
ped crag could be seen moving figures, ma
king the mountain echo and rc-echo with
their shouts, and the reports Of maskets.
stood on the shore Of a little lake aud ga
4ed down into its waters, and tha thought
arose, with feelings of awe, that these tow
ering submits, these huge MISSES, these
piles of rocks, had all been cast up liJ;n ifs
now calm aud tranquil depths.
The day continued cloudy. and having
seen all that the mist would permit Us 20
see, having been fifteen thousand feet above
the level of the sea-aboye all vegetation,
in the region of perpetual snow--lhe terra
caiiente lying below Us on either hand,
clothed in perpetual summer, we now turn
ed away, know not why, with feeling of
sadness, and retraced our footsteps to our
little camp. Many of these mounted on good
horses returned to Touca that night | re-
manned and came IN the next morning, salts
fed that in the Nevada de Toluca ] had
seen one of Natures grandest works. S. L. Q.