The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-11-06

Our progress through the dense forest was neces.
sarily slow and t. di0us. At one point one of our
pack horses rolled down steep precpice for several
rods where 1t would seem impossible for an auimal
in doing So to escape instant death. But upon re
leasing him from his bdoen, and assisting him t. rse
we found that he wts not seriously hurt--our camp
and cooking utensils appeared to suffer more injury
than the horse,
On the second day further progress with horses
was fcund imprac,icabe. Upon looking around we
fortunately found small patch Of grass and clmped.
The next morning at break Of day, Messrs Wilson.
Smith, Drew, and ourself, took three days rations,
together with such things as were deemed necessary
to aid us in the ascent, and lett the camp for the
summit, distant about four miles ia an air line. We
found the route continual steep ascent with the
exception Of an occasional descent over precpitant
ledge OF rocks. About two miles from our camp we
descended high ledge to the bed OF small stream,
which We followed until we struck the lava az the
foot Of the bare mountair, where vegetation ceases
to make its appearance The portion of this stream
which travelled has fall Of ut least one thousand
feet 10 the mile, and much greater one higher up.
The appearance OF the mountain upon near APP
preach IL sublimely grand and impossible to des-
cribe. The blackened piles of lava which were
thrown into ridges hundreds of feet high, in every
imaginary -hape, with an occasional high cliff Of
primitive formation, seeming to lift its head above
and struggle to be released from its compressed pc
stion, impress the mind of the beholder with the
power Of Omnipotence, and the insignifcance Of
human power when compared with natures God.
Above all stands tower of etern Il rock and snow
clouds AID looking down with disdain upon ali be.
meath. The glazing sunbe ans upon the % SHOWS Of
thousand winters serve by contrast to make the
immense piles Of lava appear blacker than they
otherwise would.
We commenced the ascent at once on the south
side, by climbing up the cliffs Of lava towards small
cluster OF spruce trees which stand short distance
from the line Of perpetual snow After several hours
bard toll we reached this point, and fndiDg few
sticks of dry wood, kindled fire, and made our
camp for the night. We here supplied ourselves
with water BY melting snow. We found the night
cold and extremely observation-disclosures party did
not find much reposs, and as the eastern sky
commenced to show the approach of day, We left
the camp and pursued our way upward The high
er we assembled the more difficult became our
progress Suffice it to say, that by constant and
Perseverng effort we we're enablei to reach the
highest pinnacle of the mountaia soon after meri-
oian The atmosphere produced Singular effect
upon all the parry; each face looked pale and SAL.
low, and all complained of strange ringing in the
Ears. 1t appeared As if there hundreds of fine
toned bells juggling sll around Us. Blood started
from our Doses and all OF us found respiration di
cult. With this exception we all felt vel. II would
be futile to ATTEMPT to give our readers correct
idea of the appearance of the vast extent of country
visible from the top Of this mountain. The ocean,
distant over one hundred miles, was plainly seen.
lie whole coast and Cascade ranges of mountains
could be plainly traced with the naked eye The
snow covered peaks of Mounts Hood, Rainier, and
two Others, seemed close by. These form q sort of
amphitheatre on large SCALE diversified with hills
and valleys
The crater hos been represented to be on the south
west si6e of the mountain which is not the case We
took the bearir g from the top with comp ass and
found 1t to be on the northeast side The smoke was
continually issu ny from its mouth, giving unmis-
tskabe evidence that the fire was not exnguished.
There IL much more snow on the north than on the
south side; Oh the latter II is bare in spots, while on
the former it is hundreds of feet deep. We examined
assures in the snow several rods scros. which ex-
tended great length al0.g the side of the mountain;
and on throwing stone down, heard il strike long
distance from us.
Afer spending sufficient time To see what was to
be seen, and building pyramid of loose stone, on
the highest spot Of level earth and ashes, we COM
n eBced our descent, and reached our camp at
o'clock III the afternoon, tired and worn out in body
ard boots. At dark we reached the timber, and en-
camped for the night The next morning we left our
eDcampment on the mountain for home, which we
reached IN four days.
There il bI.. ....o good tillaze land on the route
we traversed We passed two very good prsiries, Of
sufficient extent for several claims EACH but with
bottom lsnd, We saw nothing inviting TO an agrcul
until the mountain WHARF 1t becomes very scrub
line, we found the bark the spruce fully an inch
in thickness while in the low ands it was scarcely
one fourth as thick.
We have only to add that We are fully satisfied with
our trip and are willing hereafter to let others ex-
pl0re mountains, while we will devote our time to
matters requiring less labor, and fraugbs with more
OF the comforts If life than we have experien sod in
this trip to the top of Mount st. Hslens.