Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1856-08-22
Fremont on the highest Peak
of the Rocky Mountains.

Fremont on the highest Peak
of the Rocky Mountains.
On the 18TH day Of August, 1912,
John G. Fremont and his little band
of eNplorors scaled the highest
peak Of the Rocky Mountains, never
before trodden by human foot, and
unfurled the flag Of our Union from
that bleak pinnacle, 1850 fee, a.
boye the level Of the ocean-,he
highest point at which that flag ever
waved. We are tempted to extract
from his official report of that explo-
ration the following account Of the as
cent Of the summit:
dug. l5-It had been supposed
that we had finished with the noun
laius; and the evening before It had
been arranged tina, Carson should
set out at daylight, and return to
breakfast at the Camp of the Mules,
taking with him all but four or five
men, who were to stay with me and
bring back the mules and instru-
mcnls. Accordingly, at the break OF
day they set out With Mr.. Preuss
and myself remained Basil Lajeunes-
Sc, CleTtnt Lambert, Janisse, and
DescotealK When we had secured
strength 'or the day by hearty
breakfast, we covered what remain
cd, which was enough for one meal,
with rochs, IN order that it might be
safe iron any marauding bird, and
saddllng our mules, turned our faces
once mote toward the peaks. This
time we determined TO proceed qui-
etly and cautiously, deliberately re-
solved 10 accomplish our object if it
were within the comnass of human
means. We were of opinion that a
long de6e which lay to the left q
yesterdays route would lead US tC
the foot of the main peak. Ou
mules hal been refreshed 10y the fine
grass in the little ravine al the lslanC
camp, add We intended to ride uI
the dehlAas far as possible, ia orde
TO husband our strength for the mair
ascent Though this was a fine pas
sage, stil was q deile Of the most
rngsed mountains known, and we
had mama rough and steep SIT ppory
place 90 cross before reaching The
end. il this place the sun rarely
shone now lay along The border OF
the smal stream which flowed through
It, and occasional icy passages made
the fooing of the mules very inse-
cure, ard the rocks and ground were
moist With the trickling waters in
this spng Of mighty rivers We
soon Ind the satisfaction TO find our
selves riding along the huge wall
which forms the central submits oI
the chin. Thoe at last it rose by
our sices, a nearly perpendicular wal
of granite, lermiaallng 1000, to 5000
feet above our heads in a serratec
line Of broken, Jagged cones. W.
rode on until we came almost imme
diately below the main peak, which
denominated the Snow peak, as i
exhibited more snow to the eye thai
any Of the neighboring SUBMITS
Here were three small lakes of
green color, each, perhaps, Of thou
sand yards IN diameter, and appar
emily very deep. These lay in
kind Of chasm and, according I
the barometer, we had attained but
few bundled feet above the Islam
lake. The barometer here stood a
2O-450, attached thermometer 7
deg
We managed TO get our mules u
20 little bench about hundred fee
above the lakes, where there was
patch of good grass, and turned ther
loose to Craze. During our roug
ride to this place, they had exhibei
cd wonderful surelootedness. Part
OF the dehle were filled with angular
sharp fragments of rock, three o
four and eight or ten feet cube AM
among these they had worked theil
way, leaping from one narrow poin
to another, rarely making a falls,
step, and giving us no occasion Il
dismount. Having divesled ourselVe
Of every unnecessary lncumbrance
we commenced the ascent Thi
time, like experienced travellers, w
did not press ourselves, but climbed
leisurely, sitting down as soon as WI
found breath beginning to fail. A
intervals we reached places where
number Of springs gushed from th'
rocks, and about 800 feet abov'
the lakes came TO the snow line
From this point our progress was un
interrupted climbing Hitherto
had worn a pair of thick moccasins
with soes Of pardeche, but here
| put on a light, thin pair, which ha'
brought for the purpose, as now tn
use Of our toes became necessary L
a further advance. ayaIled mysel
Of q sort of comb Of the mountain
which stood against the wall like
buttress, and which the wind and tn
solar radiation, joined TO the steep
ness of the smooth rock, had kep
almost entirely free from snow. u
this | made my way rapidly. Ou
cautious method Of advancing at III
outset had spared my strength anc
! with the exception Of a slight dispc