Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-10-07

termination Of part Of the RIDGE and in front and
either hand looked down precPice Of forty fifty feet The
storm still blew around with much violence that could
distinguish nothing beyond position, and could tell
what point Of the mountain stood and, being unable
advance any further along this ridge, determined
trace steps camp and the attempt the
following day. In going down the mountain followed the
path had pursued in the ascent supporting ourselves with
alpine poles until the deciyy became comparatively
smooth and gentle, when the soft snow, spread the
face Of the sand enabled us to descend with rapdty
We had reached the upper edge of the forest
the camp when the Clouds having apparently poured
their entire contents upon devoted heads during the whole
day. cleared away and exposed to view what had
much desired in the morning, magnificent view Of the
tain, together with the direction had pursued in the
We then discovered that the highest point we had
reached not far below the Pco del Frae and little more
than two thousand feet from the summit Of the mountain
Amidst the obscury in which had been involved had
wandered from the direction and followed was
possible, an impractcabe way.
Having returned to camp several Of the party made
the necessary preparations to The attempt early
hour the following morning but, when the time appoint
ed for starting arrived eyes seriously affected by
the exposure the preceding day the extreme cold Of this
elevated region render totally blind We oblg
ei therefore. to enquish the undertaking, and thought it
advisable to return to the equabe temperature Of the
plains What rendered this retreat more vexatious the
fact sad that the day beautiful and highly pro-
pitous to designs having been however, perfect
blank me- vouch for the truth of the assertion.
1t was not without much difficulty that succeeded in
reaching, the evening of the sh the villages Of Ozumba
and Amecameca, and in concentrating at the latter place,
the morning Of the 9h the scattered members Of party
We here found ourselves much recovered from the effects
AZ
ermined return and, awaiting favorable day. make
another attempt to reach the summit Having, by the
ing the l0h made the necessary preparations reaced
with this view the path had reluctantly descended and
threading way along the deep baracas and
through the dark shadows Of the mountain Forest pitched
camp about mile above its mer position, the crest of
ravne which afforded supply Of the coolest wafer Dur
ing absence in the valley the weather had been emaka
bly, ne and had served to dissolve much Of the which
had fallen during first visit to the mountain but the air
Of chilly codness, and required tie cheering warmth Of
the bazing pine knots which found oou abundance
to dispel the gloom which it engenderd. The night
beautiful one, and the sufficiently old cast her
mild light in magical ns, the Wiley below and around
the white summit which rose like spc,re above
AT fifteen minutes before three occk on the morning Of
the Ih April the party again motion. After pro-
ceedng about half mile, emergd from the forest which
terminates abruptly account of tb sandy SOIL which here
suddenly Ascending eihaps thousand feet
above our camp, found neces because Of the steep
of the ACTIVITY TO leave hoes, which had ridden
thus far in order diminish possible the fagues
Of the ascent Proceeding then onfoot, reached, after
considerable ascent the lower termaon OF the ridge had
encountered the day of the frs attempt and leaving it
left entered upon very step and sandy plain, nclud
ed between this ridge and anotherhch angle
of abo Viii Tho al
Faie. The ascent had now b;ome very difficult aud was
entirely free from danger; the steep plain valley
partially covered with fields Of sow which, after having been
soened by the heat of the pyious day, hard fro
zen and afforded very ene hold. Supporting ourselves
the by or pointed poles, and assisting
footing other places by ne sharp stones which frozen
the sand and prouded pemscves above its surface,
continued ascend gradual but constantly towards the
tex of the ridges whc have been alluded As the
lines which bounded the regular plain ascending
converged point, the ntnaion became greater and the
increasing rerefacon Of thtmosphee added much our
difficulty and fatigue.
Before reaching the upper fminaon Of this plain the dis
mountain chains and dealeys indisncy visible
in the west clothed in the charms Of the early dawn
But il when ltbeng the steep ACTIVITY
which terminates this valley, ke below the Pco del Frse
that the full glow Of morning st upon view in its bright
est eulgence. The sum- ss unclouded in the east
lighted up in all the splendor morning in spring. the
ryng which spret around US. Nothing could
be beautiful impressthaD the changing tnts which
came successfully the brbenng landscape the tall
mountain casts its conica sha the valley and the
distant hills and for long obscured the country and vii
lagos its base in the unceaoo Of early morning, while
all beyond The clearly defined Of shadow glscnng in
the bright beams Of the sun.
Passing the rugged pinston Of the sandy valley
along which had ascended, Pco del Frale, porphy-
rite shooting up like mile to the height Of perhaps
eighty feet, in plain view but short distance above
US. We reached this snguaock at twenty minutes past
seven o'clock A. NJ II is situtd about fifteen hundred feet
from the peak Of the mounanpn bold and rocky ridge,
which extends in southweste direction from the summit
and divides into the ridges tween which had ascend
ed, and a clear morning N be distinctly from the
city Of Mexico, the westet ofe Of the volcano. NY
tention, upon reaching this @ directed by Of the
party the appearance br intervals Of light clouds Of
smoke which rising ale the snow considerably to the
right Of the summit Thierved indicate the position Of
the crater and sufcenyFpaned the Of the strong
suphurous odor had cnteed far down the mountain
On the southeastern side the ridge which the Pico del
Frale situated exend from the tho
about the base of the MOURN, deep valley the bottom Of
which is covered by sand ice. In order reach the point
indicated by the smoke first necessary Of the
many precpces which a upon the unity Of the RIDGE 10
descend into this valley, WITH forms practicable way through