The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1854-04-07
Ascent of Mount Popocatapel.

The following is extract of letter from the
Hon. Gerard Noel, NJ p, dared Mexico, January
I'd, 1854, and describing his successful attempt
to ascend Popocatapetl. in the depth OF wrnrer:
{" ! returned yesterday from an expedition to
PoPocalapetl, The highest mountain iE North
America, 1900 feet above the level of the sea.
| believe there is no record before of an ascent
at this season of the year, although il has been
frequently done N May and June. The first night
of ascent we slept at hot at the line where
vegetation ceases, and perpetual snow commen-
ces; and quarter past five next morning. we
started for the summit, one o! the guides leading.
AT eight O'Clock | found myself 100 yards ahead
of the rest of the party, CONSISTING of four) at 9
out Of sight of the party altogether, and at eleven
O'Clock reached the crater. The craer is a vast
basin, three miles in circumference, and 900 feet
deep; in some paris perpendicular, in others
great masses Of projecting rock form bold and
sIupendOus outlines, with enormous iccles hang
ing from every point. The volcano itself has
long ceased 10 show any signs Of eruption. | be-
gan 10 feel very much numbed with cold, and my
eyes suffered good deal from the glare Of the
| should have been very glad of some
Thing to eat, having had nothing but cup of cof-
lee and biscuit before leaving the hut, but the
guide who carried the breakfast had remained
Che rulian y with The others who had not come
up. Having examined The cra'cr for about
quarter OF hour. told The guide who had per-
severed with TO lead the way up TO the top
Th" fellow declared it was impossible, but not in
lending as ynn may imagine, 10 give ii up, (hav-
ing come 80 far) without any push. | started for
the top alone" WAS now able to lake only three
s,eIs at Time without stopping, my legs be-
goH to give away, and ! had oppr' s>on of the
head and chest. A little after j. Nj. | reached
the top, and "mJoye one of the finest views con-
c"ivahle of the great valley of Mexico. and look
Il, ,o .bo
lcan name, hut in English it means the White
Lady, from lis top resembling woman lying al
iu'I length seemingly miles bfOw me. but actu.
ally only about 1000 icet. The cold was too in.
tense for me TO remain more than ten minutes al
the top, and | commenced the descent TO the era
ter. BY this time the mountain was enveIoped
an Clouds and could sre nothing distinctly, so |
con- nIenced further descent, ard in few
meats came in sight of the pole of Mr.. S.,
{ ono oi my COWl29"0nS de UOT0cc) and soon
dtrer himself, lying down, black in the face. nnd
wishing TO be irt alone to die. little lower
down saw Mr.. Cd, rolling about like
drunken man, but still, with unGoubted pluck,
towards HE summit the rate of about
Il yard In three mInufes. However, after d little
rest and encouragement, they both rallied, and !
re turned with tn m TO the cratcr, but no human
eff"rt could get them any higher. attribute my
being able TO reach the top 10 my wind | never
felt want of breath at any time, while the others
blew like porPoises. In cur descent from the
crater we encountered the only real danger.
At frst the snow was good walking, but we
came lower, where the sun makes a sheet of ice
of the surface Of The snow, 1t becam" slippery
that we frequently lost our footing, and ii after
Il slip you get SO much impetus that you can't
stop yourself, the certainty is that you arrive at
the bottom in much the same condition the man
" no Jumped off The monument. At one time al.
most gave myself up. However, no accident dG
happen, though it makes me creep TO think Of the
slide | took. AT p. ~, with my hands cut TO
'lts my nails worn to the quick with holding on,
reached the hut, and there got my breakfast,
glad to think it was over, as hungry fourteen
hours abstinence and battling with II 600 feet
If mountain snow and ice could make me- One |
II my eyes Is completely bunged up the other |
ust enables me to write this. NY face is a mass |
# raw flesh and blsters but have he satisfac-
ion of having perched upon higher mountain |
han exists in Europe. and climbed $500 feet
"arer to heaven than Albert Smith,