New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-11-13
KYApsAcK AND ALrENsToCK.-H.

THE col DE BAL&E-' Rum SIGHT i Mt
ITT-THE GLACIER OF ABGENTIEEE-THE
ASCENT OF MONT BLANC-THE FIRST
GLIMPSE OF THE VALE OF CHAMONIX.
NALLEE DU TRENT, Aug. 3,-Early as we
upon the road 20 ChamOnix there others before
u.s. aud as VIC walk through the valley We sec some
already up the mountain side The peasants too,
early aetir and meet many II them their way to
their daily labor in the hay harvest fields. Their
dwellings and clothing frequently Indicate extreme Pow
ery, but meet few bcears. All extremely polite,
and the raggedest urcbn by tho roadside lls his
hat with a respectful "BOniOiVP pass. In this
part OF the RLone Valley goltre and crctnsm for
merry earfuly prevalent but the recent great improve
meu in the construction 81 the houses Of the peaSanty
in which great attention is paid the securing Of light
and good ventilation Inns fortunately TO great degree
done away with the latter though tho former stl by
among the women. Passing the village OF
Margny lie BOurg and crossing tho Drause' a small
but mpetuOus stream which demonstrates It's glacial
origin by the ubd character Of It's waters we leave the
road and enter the bride path that aCends tho Col de
FOrcaz the pass between the Valley of tho Rhone aud
tho Valley of the TRENT. And here work begins In
earnest From base summit is steep ascent Of three
aud a half hours We toll slowly upward, now stopping
to rest moment and enjoy the beautiful prospect OF
the RhOne Valley spread out before u.s. now soolms 70
drink from the little streams that clear cryst' and
cold as lee trcke along by the side of the path and now
tarryIng moment TO chat with the children that in wo-
fully taered clothing but with bright. intelligent faces
offer Us the most delicious fruit Along tie path at short
intervals huts where a sign tc's Us that WINE
Beer AID Liquors" be obtained and occasionally we
pass collection OF these nuts almost large enough TO be
dignled with the name Of vlaEe-tEo dwellings Of tic
hcrdsuen who tend tie cattle the mountain pastures
These hut or cnaets are the that have SEEM and
are frequently Of the poorest description They resemble
very strongly Western oghOuse and are IN some cases
60 poorly bEilt that sec tho interior through the
spaces between the logs The roofs are covered with
logs and stones in order that they may not be carried
away by the high winds that prevail m Winter, ana many
OF them have chimney at all, the smoke finding it,
way ont best 1t We fall IN with tourists Of all de-
scrptous from the youth who Ike ourselves, carries his
entire equipment upon lis back 10 the elderly gentleman
who requires mule for himself and two Tor hs bag.
gage. One thing Is quite noticeable. The pedestrians
are nearly al Eughmen Germansf While We are con
tnually meeting Americans. hardly OF them Is on
foot the American people, though Of travellers.
to consider the possibility OF walking though
the distance TO be raversCd be ever so short We en-
counter priest, Who poor fellow. Rs 40 moves slowly
along his seadygoing mnc, cndeavors 10 give ms IN
divided attention his book. though him
caslonay casting furtiyo glauccs al the magnificent
scenery about him. Many ladies too, meet most Of
them on mules butnOw and then We find one HdHiaiD"
trudgiug along foot h. last we reach tho summit,
and gladly seat ourselves for moments rest Below Us
Is spread the beautiful Trcnt Valley, with its scat
tered houses and fertile meadows through which the
Balmc over which we pass to reach the Valley Of
Chamoux, aud either side rise the mountains utho
left too is the Glacier du TRENT tie first that have
seem with its white ice PEAKS stretching far down into
the valley.
The descent into tho Trent VALLEY Il rapidly and easily
made, and we OIL the other side climbing tue
steep zzng path that leads the top Of the Col dc
Balme We first wind back and forth through the
nants OF forest that has been considerably hnued by
the avaauchcs that rush down the mOuuaindes during
the Winter aud Spring months, and then ascend along
the side OF steep, rocky hall Tho blazing MONDAY sun
pOurs down upon a., heated and breahlC5s. We toll
along. our throats parchcd with thirst, yet
during the whole diataa,e do not find
single stream. At length when near the top,
We arrive 40 some miserable Hono Luts which
furnish shelter for the cattle that We see grazing
near by well for the hcTd,mcu IN charge OF them
We and ask for mix, which Is set before us. Aud
milk IL is such as a NcW-York mihman never dream-l
Of Rich and sweet IL rather Ike the best OF cream,
aud drink deeply and are wonderfully refreshed by It.
In few minutes stand upon the top, and as Tho
magnificent scene breaks upon the view We forget 40
once all fatigue aud feel tuat did the ascent cost
double the labor should be well repaid Before "a, j.
the Vale Of Chamoux, with u, green meadows aud
fields OF waving grain among which can Just trace
the windng Of the white watcred Arye on the left the
entire chain Of snOw-oad mountains with Mont Blanc
towering IN majesty high above The rost tie light clouds
that nger about The SUBMITS Of tho others serving
Clrde around his waist while from his head Is reflected
with dazzling briniaucy the rays of the slowly declining
sun Connected with the vast fields o. snow and Ice, the
glaciers here and there descend like mighty frozen rivers
as they are far down into the valley On the opposite
side, in beautiful contrast. arc the green wooded
slopes and gray rocky SUBMITS OF lower
range. Shining in the distance. like silver threads
are innumerable little streams that, rising high up
the mountains, make their way 10 the valley 10
series Of cascades, and all hangs that delicate
blueish mist that adds much to tho beauty OF the
Alpine scenery The tiHEle Of the bells Of the herds
grazing upon the h-des mugles meodously with the
haoo OF the guides that thrown back 70 them from
the rocky peaks, and lie upon the grass and
eagerly drink In the feel that 10 Is which
will live IN the memory forever.
But Switzerland Is place OF fashionable resort
Beside the mutudes who yearly yl, for tho purpose
OF enjoying the graucest OF Natures works. there
many others who hero because II Is the thing,
you know >" and among the many we meet who are Ike
ourselves, resting from the fatigue Of the ascent aud
enjoying the magnificent view, we encounter such
character He Is equipped throughout In the APP
proved style, with his dimnutye travelling sack sung
from shoulder his drinking pouch from the other
and eyc-glass In his right eye to maintain which IN
is position that side Of his face kept upon perpetual
grin. Approaching my companion, who IA leaning upon
his ApenStOCk, entirely absorbed IN tho scene before
sight isn't il 2" Now my friend IL one OF the best
naued fellows IN the world, bat this Is ALMOST too much
for him, and, as he clutches his Apinesuck tightly,
look for an outbreak But he contents himself with
Indignant glance. wheleat our due young man turns
away N high dudgeOu, muttering something about the
manners Of The people one meets la travelling.
From the Col dc Blaine we descend to Argentierr, n
village al the entrance Of the valley AT This point most
81 the tourists take carriages for ChumOuiX plenty Of
which Ind IN waiting But well satisfied with
first days progress, and stop at hotel ia the
village, having Travelled about 20 miles, aud
gained an altitude Of C74 feet We cannot,
however, he content 10 remain indoors among
such magnificent scenery and We speud the evening IN
ysltIug the glacier Of Argenero about mile distant
Leaving the road a. 6ort distance from the hotel We
follow path which leads Us through fields and up