National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-08-31

Of the Sea, lcoklrg ct one Of the most extensive,
II not the grandest VieWS In America.
The mountains that We saw nom the plains
(amongss them an isolated peak, upwards Of 900
feet in height,) have apparently dWndled into In
significant hills. The tall, splendid fur and cedar
trees, that challenged our admiration as we
passed through the timber belts, have apparently
dWindled into shrubbsry; rivers and creeks into
tiny silvery threads. We gaze down from our
dizzy perch, over abrupt prscpices, Thousands Z
feet In height, away over the immense fields of
snow to the timber line, and from thence observe
the snow extending great distance into the tim
Der region, Away beyond the mountains, hills
and valleys We notlcs the ocean, now Of Q leaden
hue. To the north and east Of as we see the lava
beds OF Modoe netorlsty the table rock Of Oregon,
the klamath lakes. West Of rs the Sacramento
valley, tsemins with Its golden harvest Of wheat.
We notice, for distance Of hundreds ofmiles, the
Gold Placer mining districts. As far as our vision
permits We see the BnoW-olad SUBMITS Of the
Slerras. The day Is clear, and We feel more than
amply repaid for our trip, and as we sit on the
crazy heights, amidst the regions Of eternal soil
tude and snow, We feel the inIignIhcauos Of man
We found on the summit an American flag
with the name Of Ulysses S. Grant printed thereon
. Masonic rsgalis and . record placed here Au-
gust Is, 1866. Opening Its pages We glance over
Its eightyear record Of twenty-five VislsorA We
ind amongst the visitors two ladies. Miss LIbbis
S. Edison, Of Shaston valley, California, made the
ascent September g. 1855, and Mrs. Amos Merrill
September II, 1872.
A party, consisting Of Mr.. J. H. Sisson, the orr
ginal guide, Major D. o. Smith and Mr.. W. H.
Gain, encamped on the summit July q, 1867. but
couldn sleep for the cold. Another party con-
slsting Of Clarence King, United States engineer
department; S. F. Emmons, gsologist; Fred A
Clark, photographer, and A. B. Clark, phonogra-
n
ton, oamped here over night September Il, 1870,
at p. m, and Oh that day the barometer regis
tered 1851, Thermometer 80 81, air 80; 80 we
close the book and prepare for the descent. Slid
ing and walking alternately we arrive at the top
and head Of one Of the immense eanons, filled
with snow, and sloping for three miles down the
mountain. What do we see7 But the guide de-
liberately unfOlds some pieces Of canvas, hands
US enc, seats himself quietly upon another piece,
and starts down that tremendous slope. But there
is no time for parley; so we follow. Our fears
soon vanish as We descend, finding that We can
regulate our speed with the feet. So down, down
we go for three miles, the longest slide we have
ever experienced, and the only snow slide in the
month OF July.
The snow in the canon, although Of unknown
depth, has been there for ages. The surface only
is softened by the sun 10 the depth Of few inches
SO that It answers admirably for q safe slide Near
bAo onu Vi bue clluo We QesceuQ almost perpeQ-
dleulsT slope into the gulch below. Our blood is
up, and now for race. Gracious, don't the snow
ny3 The speed almost takes our breath; but here
We are at the bottom Of the gulch, bounding over
the surface to the opposite side. We tramp back
over the snow-helds q mile to the camp Of last
night and then ride down the mountain steep
twelve miles farther, to the hotel Of Mr.. J. h |
SiSson, the original guide. Mr.. SlssUn has COM
Portable hotel, and furnishes good board, in q
neigheorhood teeming with game aud fish. He |
has made the mountain trail to the summit, and |
shortened IN almost unlimited tramp to the sum- |
NIT Of Mount Shasta to q two days trip.
The difficulties and dangers Of an ascent OF |
Shasta are more apparent than real, but we would
not advise Q weakly or nervous person to make |
the ascent; but We regard the ascent Of Shasta an
important event in our lifetime. The grand and |
stupendOus proportions OF Mount Shasta and the |
Vows from Its summit shall never be |
edaced from our mind. V.