The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-10-01

the mountain for some thee miles where csmped
FOR the nigas la q dee caHon. About sunset the
wind abaiea, and the clouds below disappeared.
The moon rose, (having filed her horns,) and
sAone vi III nrnsual crghtness-and the night was
beautiful, although the weather was quite cold.
Before II O'clock Tire thermometer fell 70 the
freezing point, and in the morning, when We
emerged from our frcstooyered blankets we found
cur tn cups about Cnethud foil Of ice, from the
water ,eft IN them over oight.
At this point we thought colld discover,
thicugh a TELESCOPE, smoke ascending from the ex-
IRENE pinnacle. IL had not previously bsen sup
posed that Mount Hood was a tbis time volcanic.
Oh tie ulorpfg OF The Str the piIiy lett camp in
high spirits, determined 10 reach the summit. The
animals were pushed at double quick time up the
side Of the mcuDain, rs far rs it fas cafe practi
cable 70 take them, where they were quickly stripped
OF thsir blu, dens and pioketed. IL few maases all
rsie OF for the top; each took some provisions,
and were provided with wylsmade craepers, iron
socket mountain stats, with hooks, ropes &C.. &C..
the same kind that used in ascen lug Mount st.
Helens last year. and which we foupd indispensable
for climbing snow-coyered mountains
we commenced the ascent upon the southsa asst side
by fist tyayersng sharp narrow Ridge between the
head waters Of Dog river on our right and a sribu.
taIy Of the De Chutes on the lefs. This ridge WAS
attained by first crossing chasm Of shout Eve hun.
oysd feet IN depth formed by the water OF the last
ramfd stream. After two hours hard Climbing, we
stopped 10 refresh. We then continued the ascent
and in little while naked ridge was lost in the
mantle of snow which now lay spread out bef1re and
ON either side Of us.
After attaining high altitude, we found the snow
.a;pg in waves similar 70 a chopped sea; therefore
Ne had to rise at almost every step from six inches
to two three and sometimes four feet. The sun had
sot;eued the top Of the snow sufficiently to make
slight pdentation by the boot
thus we continued to asct nd for several thous, nd
feet at an angle of almost fifty degrees, when the
rerefed atmosphere began to exhibit it's effects upon
all but more especially upon Judge Olney. Major
Balley and Captain Travillot Soon Major Il. could
go no farther, in consequence OF dizziness in the
| head, which effected him seriously.
AZ. .~kot- ~ AL atn
ing from the surface and was also attacked with
Ike dizziness, when he prudently declined going
father. After few rods further up, tie ascent
where Judge Olrey vas reluctantly compelled to
bait in consequence Of the singular effect Of the air
upon him. From this point, we we're compelled to
make steps by kking the toes of our boots several
times into the snow. By following close to the
edge OF large ledge of rocks lying perpendicular
with the mountain, where the sun reflection from
the ecge bad softeDed the snow, enabled us to get
followed close upon our hcels. Tie Indian. who
had now good pair Of creepers and good noun.
IAN staff seemed determined to 20 as far up as the
Bostcns could; although he could not be induced
to lead the way or even to go between us. For
nearly two hours there was nothing said, except
occasional word Of warning from Us to Mr., Lake to
close manage" and the response Of all right"
-" 20 ahead ~" we'll come it Y
Finally. at q O'Clock P. NJ, NC attained the sum.
nit on The southeast side. We found the top SINH.
lar to that OF Mi. st. Helens-extremey narrow.
laying 10 a crescent shape. MI. st. Helsns facing
Tire northwest by crescent, while Mt. Hood faces
tue southwest. TIE shacp ridgc on top runs from
the southwest to the north, making sharp turn to
the west OF the north end. The main ridge is
formed OF omposea volcanic substances OF light
reddish color, with cones from twenty to fifty feet
high at intervals u few rods. Tnese cones or
rocks are full Of cracks assures, if they had
been rent by soma c5nvasion Of patuie at remote
PERIOD. Between these cones there arc numerous
holes. varying from the size Of Q common water
bucket down TO tgo or three inches in diameter.
Through these breathing holes-as we call them
and through the cIevices in the rock there is con.
stanty escaping hot smoke gas OF a strong sui
pAuric door. La passing over the ridge Tor near
Lalf mile, we discovered large number OF these
breathing hoes; ihrongh some the heat was m re
intense than others.
We did not carry ND therm ,meer; therefore
we could not get the exact degree OF the heat. but
from holding our hand over several Of them, we
shown !" boiling beat in some OF them. AS soon
% the Indian discovered by holding Ills haad over
ore OF these " breathing holes the existence of
gre beneath, he Immediately retreatea as fer as he
dare 60 down the mountain alone. The smoke or
gas was very offensive to the nostIils well irri
tstirg 20 the eyes, We attempted to look into seve
rsl OF them, but were prevented frcm getting more
Il an momsntary glance, for the reason above
nentit ned. We however, rolled stones into them,
ard could hear them descend for q considerable
distance. We remained about one hour trayersing
We could distinctly see Mounts Jefferson, Three
Sisters, Mclaughlin, st. HeIens, Rainier and
Adams, besides two other snow peaks, whoss
ranes' # they have any, We are 9nacauainsed
mountain IN California Tnese last mentioned
peaks must be nearly or quite five hundred miles
from Mount Hood. TIE vast extent Of country over
which the eye could reach, would be received in.
towering mountains on clear day, aud IN an Ore.
gon atmosphere. There appeared to be bank Of
fog hanging over the ocean, which precluded as
cloud or bank Of smoke lying off the northe asst very
low down, which shut out small portion Of the
country in that directon from our view. Aside from
this, the whole country fc- hundreds of miles Was
in plain view before US In the distance on either
side could be traced the different ranges Of the well
known great COAST range on The west, the Sierra
Nevada on The south and southeast, the Siskiyou
on the southwest, and the Blue and Rocky noun
taDs on the east besides the great head Of the Cas-
cades to the north. These together with the thou
sand smaller ranges with their innumerabie crests
and indenfatons present to the eye perect forest
Of mountains. EssIing south Is degrees east, at
distance of perhaps about 80 miles, we dis ;oyered
lake surrounded by a large prairie or open CONN.,
try This lake, 50 Tar as We could learn was entiIe
While On the top o. tie mountain We were startled
by tremendous crushing, Rambling noise below. At
hrst we anticipated il TO be an earthquake or some
thing Of that sort Judge OIncy and those belo1
heard it also, and accounted for it return 1t
was caused by an avalanche OF rock under the i'm
mense bodies OF SNOW which lay in large fields hun
dieds and perhaps thousand feet in depth. We
examined some chasns in the snew OF very near or
quite thousand feet In depth, and two or three
urdred feet across extending horizontally With the
mountain for a great distance
The late hour CT the day together with the visible
increase of cold forced to rctace steps down
nuch soor er than we desired. Our descent was mu IA
more rapid than our ascent, although portion of
tie way apparently more dangerous.
The latitude OF Mount Hood is deg. 80 min. All
the specimens collected ut or near the summit, are
compose 4, of decomposeG granite, some lick aud
some red; second, lava IN large quantities in is pure
state, and birthstone mixed with calcium; third
pumice stone; fourth, black lead mixed vita granite
aud birthstone; fifth, ashes OF light ,elowsh red
color. The erssptions appear TO have been on the
sUnih side, and OF remote date.
TIE most singular OF ali IL sbe appearances of the
ridge We ascended. Upon this ridge there ore ua
hers Of DID, dead, scrrhby trunk Of the mountain