Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-02-22
A Winter visit to Mount Washington

-EllLiAtfE Oh AtIt lJNcLDtt it|ti fttl. Ii
company with two other gentlemen, made a
visit to the scientific party soiourning
for the winter on the summit of Mount
Washington, short time since He left
Boston on the 7th Of Feb, reached the base
Of the mountain on the morning of the sth,
where he met Prof J H. Huntington, who
had come down to escort his guests up 10
his temporary home in the clouds, and the
ascent was at once commenced, a description
Of which we copy from the Journal.
TIE ASCENT.
Prof Huntington informed us that it was
magnificent weather that morning at the
summit, and that we could not have selected
better day. apparently, for the trip. lie
knew better tIan to prOmis us good weather
all the way through, however, for the
changes about tie mountains, and especially
at the summit, arc sometimes very sudden
and unexrectCd. In a few minutes our
preparations for the upward journey were
completed, for they comprised nothing more
than the buckling on Of knausacks, tie put
ting on Of buffalo overehUCs and the grasping
Of Alpcn-stocks. The latter is an almost
indisT eusable assistant IN mountain climbing
in the winter. We had brought snow-shCes
for use through the woods il necessary. but
we found tEey could as well lie left behind
As !Cr OvercOats, We strapIod them upon our
knaTsacks OF disposed OF them a. best We
could, for the tXeTtIon Of the wax was
likely to keep US warm enough until We got
near the top, and 50 il certainly proved
Our party, four in number, left the base Of
the mountain a quarter past ten o clock.
No travellers ever had safer, suTcr, more ex-
perienced OF more intelligent guides than We
two newspaper men could boast Of. We had
received ample directions in regard to the
ascent in case we undertook it alone. but
with two such able guides as Prof Hunting
ton and Mr.. CIOugh, we certainly could not
20 amiss Here let me add that no person
ought attempt the ascent Of Mount Wash
ington in winter unless he is blessed with
more tban common physical strength and
hardihood, for although under favorable
circumstances and with good weather (Which
means tie absence of adverse winds more
than anythng else), the trip may be accom-
plshod safely enough, and, in truth, with
greater case than in summer, yet the sud
den and severe changes liable to occur are in
themselves dangerous, while physical ex-
haustion In any case might lead TO serious
results There have been two instances at
least, the present season, where persons have
become So exhausted in climbing the noun
tain that they could not nave PROCEEDED
without aid from others, while death would
have ensucd had they been abandoned. On
one occasion a young man became 50 fatigued
and so bcnumbed with cold, that his com
panious were compelled to carry him a con-
siderable part of the way. The sad death
Of poor Lizzie Bourne and Benjamin Chand-
Ter, Of one whom perished on the mountain
side in September, 1885, and the other in Au-
gust 1856 and the terrible adventure Of DR..
Benjamin l.. Ball, who narrowly escaped
death from exposure in October, 1865, are
solemn reminders of the dangers Of noun
tain climbing.
As we were sure to occupy several hours
in the ascent we took light lunch to refresh
us on the way, and proper restoratives, the
chief Of which was plentiful supply of the
beverage " that cheers but not Inebriates
cold tea a flask of strong tea is more
efIicacious than flask of brandy in reyiving
and refreshing exhausted nature upon
mountain tramp, although it is well enough
to take along the latter Ter emergencies. For
q little way up the mountain we took wind
ing cart path through which timber is hauled,
but soon struck the railway, alongside or up
on which we kept the remainder of the dis
tance The snow in the woods was from two