Litchfield enquirer., 1870-06-02
VIII.
" LAssEN's PEAK.

LASSEN PEAK.
 This Peak is in Shasta County, Califor- mia, and distant from my rendezvous some sixty miles. It is named after Peter Las sen, an early explorer and pioneer of Cali fornia. He had some troubles with the Indians, and is reported to have killed some, whose death they avenged by killing him. This peak seems to be a spur of the Sierra Nevadas, extending northwest, and tending towards the coast range. In com pany with two others, started. just as the sun was gliding the ragged, snow-covered crest of the Peak. The air was so clear, it seemed only distant few minutes ride. We toiled all day, and lay down, seemingly farther off than in the morning. The next. day found us up early and on the move, and by noon, we were at it's base. We here left our horses, took mules, "packed blankets, snow-shoes and grub. " and com menced the ascent. The first mile or two was made with comparative ease The sides of the mountain were covered with coniferous timber and live oaks; the soil of red earth, with scarcely any rocks Those we found, were masses of cesta- ceous formation and basaltic lava. As we ascended, we found the atmosphere grow ing colder and lighter. We endeavored to get as high as possible, so as to reach the summit early the next day, and camped some two miles from it's top. We tied our mules, and they made their suppers from m manzaleito leaves and small shrubs. This kind of diet was not quite satisfactory, and they made night hideous with their un earthly yells, which echoed and re-echoed from the adjacent hills, and were answered with the yells of coyotes, wolves, Sc.
 Our camp was now in an open square formed by towering pines. We selected some five, pitchy, moss.covered ones, and partly for fun and partly for warmth, fired them. It may be surprising to some, but they are easily set on fire by match, ,and burn as readily as though covered with powder. They sometimes burn entirely down, which takes from three to five days. The next morning found us both hoarse and head achy, but the sights that presented them petty ills. We left our mules in this 'cor- rall, and undertook the journey on foot. We reached the summit about ten A. M.. only using snow-shoes a distance of some three-quarters of mile. These shoes are about seven feet long by four inches wide, grooved and made very light. and are easi- ly fastened on the shoe or boot by strap. In making the ascent, we had them muf- fled; also the descent is made with muffled shoes and balancing pole. On reaching the summit, the cold was intense. On the south side, where we went up, the snow was some five feet deep, and like ice; on the north side, the snow extended nearly to the valley below.
 THE PEAK.
 This Peak is ten thousand five hundred and seventy.fve feet high. It has five dis tinct summits, rising from two hundred and fifty to three hundred and fifty feet above the general level of the mountain. These summits are the remaining portions of what was once the rim of the crater formed when this was an active volcano. The scenery was grand; the glitter of the dome on which we stood, obliged us to wear green glasses, which obstructed our sight somewhat Nevertheless, it was feast that can hardly be equalled. Away to the northwest lay Shasta and the coastrange,