Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-12-22
A CALIFORNIA HILL.
Mount shasta in winter.


In an account of his recent ascent OF
Mount Shasta, Cal, Mr.. John Muir, the
State Geologist OF California, says;
| watched the sky with great caution,
for it was easy to see that storm was
approaching. Mount Shasta rises ten
thousand feet above the general level in
blank exposure to the deep gulf.streams
of air, and | have never been in laby-
rinth OF peaks and canons where the
dangers of storm seemed so formidable
as here. | was, therefore, in constant
readiness to retreat into the timber.
However, by half-past ten o'clock |
reached the utmost summit. / spent a
couple of hours tracing the outlines Of
its ancient lava-streams, extending far
into the surrounding plains and path
ways of its ancient glaciers, but the wind
constantly increased ia violence, raising
the snow in magnificent drifts, and form
ing it into long. waving banners that
plowe6 in the sun. A succession of
storm-clouds struck against the summit
pinnacles like icebergs, darkening the
air as they passed, and produced chill
as definite and sudden as if ice-water
were dashed in ones face. This is a
kind of cloud in which snow flowers
grow, aud was compelled to begin a
retreat, which, after spending a few
minutes upon the main Shasta glacier
and the side of the "Crater Butte" /
accomplished more than au hour before
dark, so that had time to hollow a strip
OF ground for nest in the lee of a
block of red lava, where frewood was
ABUNDANT.
Next morning, breaking suddenly out
of profound sleep, my eyes opened upon
one of the most sublime scenes | ever
beheld. A boundless wilderness Of storm
clouds of different age and ripeness
were congregated over all the landscape
for thousands Of square miles, colored,
gray and purple, and pearl and glowing
white, among which | seemed to be
floating, while the cone of Shasta above
and the sky was tranquil and full of the
sun. 1t seemed not so much an ocean
as a land OF clouds, undulating hill and
dale smooth purple plains and silver
mountains Of cumuli, range over range
nobly diversified with peaks and domes,
with cool shadows between, and with
here and there wide trunk canon,
smooth and rounded, as if eroded by
glaciers. l gazed enchanted, but cold
gray masses drifting hither and thither
like rack on a wind swept plain began to
shut out the light, and it was evident
that they would soon be marshalled for
storm. gathered as much wood as pos
sible and snugged it shelteringly around
my storm nest. My blankets we're ar
ranged, and the topmost fastened down
with stakes, and my precious bread sack
tucked in at my head, was ready when
the first flakes fell. All kinds of clouds
began TO fuse into one, the wind swept
past in hissing hoods, and the storm
closed down on all things, producing
wild exhilaration.
My fire blazed bravely, had weeks
wood, sack full of bread, and nest
that the widest wind could net demol-
ish, and had, moreover, plenty Of ma.
terial for the making of snow shoes if
the depth Of the snow should render
them necessary. The storm lasted about
a week, and | had plenty to do listening
to its tones and watching the gesture Of
the hexilis fine, and in catching snow
crystals and examining them under a
lens aud observing the methods of their
deposition as summer fountains.