The Ohio union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1849-1854, 1854-05-03
ASCENT OF MOUNT pOpoCATApEL.

The following is an extract Of a letter
published in an English paper, from Hon.
Gerard Noel, NJ r., dated Mexico, Jan. 2,
1854 and describing his successful attempt
10 ascend, Popocatapel, in the depth Of
winter;
Ireturned yesterday from an expedition
to popocatapelal, the highest mountain in
North America, II ,060 feet above the level
of the sea. | believe there is no record of
an ascent before at this season of the year,
although it has been frequently done in
May and June. The first night of our as.
cent we slept alta hut at the line where
vegetation ceases, and perpetual snow
commences; and al a quarter past FIVE the
next morning, we started for the summit,
one OF the guides leading. AT eight O'clock
| found IN myself 100 yards ahead of tie
rest of the party, Consisting Of four, at
nine out of sight Of The party altogether,
and at eleven O'clock | reached The crater.
The crater is vast basin, three miles in
circumference, and 900 feet deep; in some
parts perpendicular, in others great masses
of projecting rock form bold and slupen-
dnus outlines, with enormous iciclcs hang.
ing from every point. The volcano itself
has long since ceased to show any signs
of eruption. began to feel very much
be numbed with cold, and my eyes suffered
good deal from the glare Of the snow. |
should have been very glad Of something to
cal, having had nothing but cup of coffee
and biscuit before leaving ihe huii but the
guide who carried the breakfast had re.
mained with the others who had not come
up. Having examined the crater for about
quarter Of an hour, told the guide who
h,d persever with me 10 lead The away up
to the top. The fellow declared il was
impossible: but not intending, as you may
imagine, 10 give ii up (having come lpr)
without any push, started for The top
alone. was now only able to take three
Ieps a, time without stopping, as my
legs began to give way, and had oppress
ion of the head and chest. A little after
| p. NJ, | reached the top, and enjoyed
one Of the finest views conceivable OF lhe
great valley OF Mexico, and looking down
on the twin volcano { | forget the Mexican
name bu, in English it means the White
Lady, from its topresembIing a woman ly.
ing at full length.) seemingly miles below
me, but actually only about 1000 feet
The cold was loo intense for TO remain
more than ten mindleS to the top, and
commenced The descent 10 the crater. By
this time the mountain was enveloped IN
clouds and | could see nothing distinctly
so CONNER ced further descent, and in 4;
lew minutes came in sight Of The pole OF
Mr.. Sc lone of my COmpagnOnS de 10Y
age.) and soon after of himself lying dowr
black in the face, and wishing to Be let alon,
10 die. A liule lower down ! saw Mr.
Cd, rolling about like drunken maj
but still, with undOubted pluck, srugglin.
10 reach the summit, al the rate Of about
yard IN three minutes. However, after
little rest and encouragement, they boil
raiIeied, and returned with them as far al
the crater, but M human effort could &c
them any higher ] allbule my being ahl,
! to reach tIe !op 10 my wind: | never lel
want Of breath at any time, while the
others blew like porpojses. In our des
9 cent from the crater we encountered III,
only real danger. Al first the snow wa
good walking, but as we come lower, wher
the sun makesa sheet Of ice of the surlac,
OF the snow. it became SO slippery that W,
frequently lost our footing, as il, after
slip, you ge, TO much impetus that 20,
cant stop yourself, The certainty is tha
t you arrive AT the bottom in much the sam
, condition as the man who jumped from
the monument. At one time | almos
gave myself up. However, no acciden
did happen though i, makts ne creep I,
think of the slips took. At five p. NJ.
, with my hands Gu, to pieces, nails worn II
the quick with holding on, reached tn
hut, and there got my breakfast glad L
think it was over, hurgry as forty hour;
abstinence and battling with $1,000 feet o
mountain snow and ice could make me-
! One of my eyes is completely "bunge,
up" the other just enables me to writ
this. My face is mass of raw flesh AM
blisiers; but ! have the satisfaction of hav
ing perched upon higher mountain lha
o exists in Europe, and climbed $500 fee
i nearer 10 heaven than Albert Smith.