The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1873-10-16

'SShNa " bCs w nCIC SHdli VIC SO
irst?' As four were just from pulpit or
college halls and unaccustomed to walk
ng, We wanted to start with an easy day
and then increase our plans as experience
in mountain climbing would warrant,
Prof. s. proposed that we ascend the
hill back of the church," Mount Brewer,
10, 100 feet high, requiring twelve hours
to go and return, where good view of
town and mountains opposite could be
obtained. This hill" however, proved
upon the inquiry to be one of the hardest
days works to be made. We finally set
tied on the Montanvcrt excursion, to
start at eight in the morning. Our way
led up the valley for half an hour. then
to the slope of the mountains and by
winding path for two hours, passing sew
eral restoration stands, one enterprising
house where live cham3is was exhibit
ted for 80 confines, (six eents), we pass
ed several tracts of avalanches ami IN two
hours reached Montanvert. This place
consists Of a rude stone but erected In
I777 for the illustrious Goethe, who fire.
quented this spot to contemplate the
wild magnifcence of the scene. Here,
before, beneath and above US extended
an immense sea of ice, flowing down
from the gorges of Mount Blanc, and ex-
tending some Is miles toward the valley
below, the huge icy pillows looked as if
some mighty hand had suddenly arrested
the waters in the midst of terrific
tempest and they were thus frozen. This
part Of the glacier is called Mer de Glaze
(sea of ice) while the lower is termed
Glacier du Bots. From Montanvert we
descended the steep bank of the morains,
24O feet, and walked out oyer these mo-
tionless pillows. The usual path is rem
dere6 easy by the guides having hewed
steps in the ice and marked the route by
way marks of stone. 1t did not take US
long to put full confidence in our path
less sea, aud as we had no guide to die
tate to US we left the regular path and
walked for nearly an hour up the lake
over crests and across crevices, until we
reached the summit of the highest bill
lows. Quite large streams flowed down
these pillows aud formed beautiful casca-
des where places had been worn or melt
ed to admit the water, some of them were
hundreds feet deep, walled up by ice Of a
beautiful blue. We crossed over this
strange sea and down to the Chapeau
(hat) by the Mauvais Pas dangerous
PATH around the brow of giddy and
hazardous bluff, the only path is small
nitches hewn in the side of the rocks, and
an iron bar to steady the body, where,
should a misstep be taken one would be
precipitated thousand feet before reach
ing the rocks below At the Chapeau
a fine view is obtained of the immeasura-
bic ice pinacles Of the Glacier DIES Bots,
some of them rising a hundred feet, a
smooth shaft of ice polished by the July
sun. We here again left the beaten track
and climbed to the top of the Cha peau
where magnificent view is obtained of
the upper glaciers toward the Jardin.
The valley of Chamouny, and the river OF
ice flowing seemingly at our feet. Two
of the party were not satisfied yet and
commenced the ascent of Aquille du
Bochard. The Chapeau and Glacier
slowl y faded from view, the dimensions
of them grew smaller and smaller. while
mounts Dru and Moine seemed near ut
hand, aud after two hours climbing the
snowy peak of Mount Blanc peered over
the top of Mount Charmoz. Fearing
lest night might overtake US on this
dizzy height, we descended before the
sun had set, which viewed from this
height must be extremely beautiful. On
reaching the Chareau we learned the rest
of the party had gone to the hotel. We
descended the winding path as far as the
woods. then turned off toward the left
and visited the source of the Arveiron,
which issues from huge grotto of ice
at the base of the glacier. By the time
we reached our hotel we were convinced
of the superior wisdom displayed by the
others there, in not attempting to follow
US. This side excursion was about four
hodrs more labor than we should have
attempted, but we had seen what we
never would have the opportunity to see
again, and therefore were satisfied. Yes.
terday we planned an easy days work and
started out to visit the Glacier des Bes-
sons, only about four hours walk there
and back. We went first to the Hotel
DIES Pyramides, then down to the Grotto,
where We were conducted into an ice
cavern for nearly 300 feet, carrying lights
to sSe the way as the bright rays fell
upon the deep blue sides of the cave a
hue was reflected strangely beautiful.
This grotto dug into the side of the gla
cier could be extended for miles, so ex-
tensive are the vast 6elds of ice. We
then crossed over on the ice to the oppo
site side and visited the picturesque Cas-
cade du PelerIn; here a mighty torrent
comes dashing down the side of the
mountain, leaping from crest to crest for
thousands of feet, forming most beauti-
full cascades. Soon after passing this
stream on our way back to Chamouny we
saw path leading upward with direc
ton board. "Chalets de la Pierre Poin
tee." as it was yet early in the day we
thought we would go to this pointed
rock" After climbing for three hours
we learned from party coming down
that we were about half way up. We
decided, having gone so far. that we
would see the end, so we clambered on
and at 3.P NJ reached the Chalets, we
ordered dinner as We were nearly furnished
and after resting continued our ascent
until we passed the Grande Mulets and
were over 10000 feet high. The last Wis
tage of vegetation had long before disap-
peared and we were in the region of per-
p-tual snow. We halted aud pelted each
other with snow balls until tired, then
4 old a ooupoiI to know what RI do Somo