Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1864-10-18
MORAL.
The California Mountains.

The following is an extract from late
article in the San Francisco Aka:
From Lassen's Peak, about 1900 feet
high, in latitude Al deg. 80 mina there is
a distinct view of Mount Pitt, in latitude
~ deg. 30 min. to the north, Mount Ham
ilton 81 deg. 90 min. to the south, of Star
Peak, ut the bend of Humboldt, to the
east, and the western point of the Slskiyou
mountains to the west, which points in
clude a distance OF $50 miles along the
meridian, and 800 miles the other way.
Mount Shasta is still higher than Lassen
and gives a still more extensive view in
several directions.
These mountains and their scenery have
long been familiar, by description at least,
to the people of this State, but it was LETT
for the Geological Survey to make known
the most wonderful mountain region OF
California, Shasta, which towers, in soli-
tary grandeur, 1000 feet tabove everything
in its vicinity and shows its mantle of
eternal snow to wide area in three States,
is no longer our highest peak. Another
mountain, which is surrounded by SO
many other peaks of nearly equal hight as
to attract no special attention from dis
tance, rises still higher. This new peak,
not yet named, rises TO about $4,000 feet,
while Shasta is only IA, ,440.
Not only is Shasta dethroned, but also
Switzerland. The Helvetian Republic
has, for hundreds Of years, had the fame
of possessing the largest body OF elevated
land, and the largest number Of great
peaks within the limit of high civilization,
but the newly discovered mountain region
surpasses Switzerland. That country has
only four peaks above $4,000 feet, andn
more than l50 square miles about 5000
feet, while we have 100 peaks above $4,000
feet and 800 or more square miles above
5000 feet. +.
This Alpine region of California occu-
pies the upper part of the Sierra Nevada
from Castle Peak to Kern river, distance
of 200 miles; and throughout that dis
tance all the main peaks rise to $4,000 or
more. The highest mountain, or the one
which is regarded as the highest is about
latitude So deg. 80 min. It's exact hight
is not known. The surveying party made
two trials in July last to get to the sum-
nit, but failed. c. r. King reached an
elevation of l4,73O feet, and was there ar
rested by precipice. He thought there
were 800 or 400 feet of elevation above
him. The main fork and the North fork
of Kern river rise on the southern and
western slopes of this mountain, and
Kings river on its northwestern slope.
The main fork of Kern river runs south
ward for thirty miles through tremen-
dous canon, in the upper part of which
the river falls 10000 feet within six miles.
There is another canon Of great size on
the North fork of Kings river. A party
of prospectors tried for several weeks to
get down into it with pack animals, but
could not find place wherethe descent
was gradual enough. -.
No name has been given to the highest
peak, and many other points were left
without names. Professor Brewer, who
was at the head of the surveying party
who discovered them, thought that he
would leave them nameless until some In
dian titles could be discovered. A noun
tain whose summit is six miles east OF
Mono Lake, and 1000 feet above it-a
pretty steep ascent = is called Mount
Dana. A peak further south, with an
elevation of 1900 feet, is called Mount
Grant; another of l4,500 feet is called
Mount Tyndall; third is styled Mount
Brewer.
From Castle Peak, in latitude SS degs.,
for distance of two hundred miles along
the summit of the Sierra, there is no pass
known feasible for wagon, or less than
II, 900 feet in altitude. 1t would not be
safe to assert, however, that no lower pass
will be discovered. Much Of the range
has not yet been examined. ...,
Throughout all this Alpine region the
views are very extensive, and the scenery
grand beyond that of Switzerland, though
not so picturesque; that is, not so beautl'
full in little places. At some future time
it will become a place of great resort fol
tourists and travellers.
n