Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-02-24
Mount Blanc.

The following animated description Of an as
cent of the Alps, BY an English travller, is one
of the best we have seen. This sketch is written
from the village of Chamouniy, from which spot
the traveller set out in his perilous ascent:
Ny first and only Alpine excursion was to the
Mar de Glace, one of the great, indeed the grea-
test, glaciers Of the Alps This glacier is not a
broad, smooth, glistcning mass Of ice, as had
supposed; it is river of ice! ten or twelve miles
long. mile wide, and from two hundred to
two thousand feet in thickness. 1t fills, or rather
chokes up great gorge which lies between snow
capped mountains, and moves down one foot
every day, descending at an angle Of thirty de-
grecs As the mass melts at the lower end,
where the droppings form swift river, the ice
from above presses its way down; the motion
cracks it trallsversely, and opens ten thousand
chasms, each of which is blue, bottomless a.
byss. Its surface looks Ike mountain blocks Of
marble split from the quarry, and standing on
edge Irregular Y together. Bowders OF granite,
weighing FIVE hundred tons, lie lightly on the
glaciers, ike pebbles on an icepond, and are borne
down byit to the valley. Imagine a mountain
with motion of one foot per day: Really the
speed seems as srca. rs that of the floods Of Nj
agara.
After looking at this terrible momentum, the
wonder comes how it could be staid; whether it
be not easier to say, even to the ocean, "Hith-
erto shalt thou come, but no further" Walk
ING out upon it YOU see death within step, and
feel yourself an atom. One visit is enough.
The sides Of these high mountains are always
shedding snow. ice and rocks, which altogether
form glacier. There are many Of them among
the Alps. From these MEETINGS of the Arve,
the trvernon, and other streams, take their rise.
There is class Of men, or rather race, who
make it the business fife to understand the Alps.
and to guide parties passing from one point to
another. Without their coolness and experience
to aid. travellers could do nothing in the way
ofexploring, or even visiting thess savage soli-
tudes. They are q sober virtuous class, and win
upon every one by their very noble qualities
From all that hear, doubt not they would die
il necessary to the safety of those who put them
selves under their guidance. These guides are
ready even to ascend Mt. Bl1rc. Jaqucs Bal
met, one of the most daring and experienced.
was the man who who first made the ascent when
he was seventy years old.
He started forth alone to explore some ice gorge
far in among its almost inaccessible and unap-
proachable peaks The old man was never heard
Of more. Whenever YOU read Of any ones ma
king the ascent of Mt. Blanc, You may set it
down that the guides ascended it for him; that
is, guides have been employed, they have gone
before and behind him, told him where to put
his pike. or place his foot, tried for him every
loose dangerous stepping place, cut out steps for
him on the very steep of the summit, and even
carried him along, and lifted him up, and may
be brought him down, and thus secured to him
eclat and glory Of having performed the hardy,
perilous feat of as cending Mt. Blanc. All the
guides get are their not being mentioned, and the
stipulated sum. As twenty OF them are usually
employed, it costs about $500 to asceud the king
of the Alps. All the travellers arc waiting tosee
his hoarv crown, for he seldom reveals his august
head The clouds rise and seem to be moving
right off, and ready to lift their mistery curtain,
but when they are almost gone they let them
selves down again, rs if to screen him at his
bidding. As we all watched anxieusly their
sublime hesitation, | understood what David has
said Of God, "Clouds and darkness are round a.
bout Him."
The sweetest flowers are those which shed their