Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-01-28
I 2 TNGRAHAM & Co. Publishers. GRAND RAPID
Mont Shasta in Winter.

In an account of his recent ascent
of Mount Shasta, Cal, Mr. Muir the
State Geologist of California, says:
4 watched the sky with great eau
tion, for it was easy to see that storm
was aporoaching. Mount Shasta rises
l0.0C0 feet above the general level, in
blank exposure to the deep gulf streams
Of air. and [ have never been IN a
labyrinth Of peaks and canons whore
the dangers of storm seemed SO for
midable as here. | was therefore, in
constant readiness to retreat into the
timber. However by 1890 o clock |
reached the utmost summit [ spent
a coup! !e Of hour. tracing the out
lines Of its ancient lava streams, ex-
tending far into the surrounding plains,
and the path ways OF its ancient gla-
cierS, but the wind constantly increased
III violence, raising the snow IN mag
"a. iicent drifts. and forming it in long,
waving banners. that glowed in the sun.
A succeosion Of small storm clouds
struck against the summit pinnacles
like icebergs, darkening the air as
they passed, and producing a chill as
definite and sudden as if icewater
were dasEing in ones face. This is
the kind OF cloud in which snow flow
ers grow. and | was compelled to be-
gin retreat, which, after spending a
lew minutes upon the main Shasta
glacier and the sides of the "Crater
Butte" accomplished more than an
hour before dark, so that I had time
to hollow strip Of ground for nest
in the lee of a block of red lava, where
frewood was in abundant.
Next morning breaking suddenly
out OF profound sleep. my eyes open
ed upon one Of the most sublime scenes
[ ever beheld. A boundless wilder
ness Of storm clouds Of different age
and ripenesS were congre gated 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 conc
Of Shasta above and the sky was tran
quill and t'ull Of the sun. 1t seemed
not 81 much an ocean as a land Of clouds,
undulating hill and dale, smooth pur-
pie plains, and silyery mountains of
! cUmull, range over range, nobly dl
versilied with peaks and domes. with
| cool shadows between, and with here
and there a wide trunk canon. smooth
and rounded as if eroded by gltciers
| gazed enchanted, but cold gray MS
ses drifting hither and thither like rack
on a wind swept plain began to shut
out the light, and it was evident they
would be marshaled for storm. gath
cred as much wood as possible, aud
snugged it sheltcr5ngly around my
storm nest. My blankets were arrang
ed, AMI the topmost fastened down
! with STAKES. and my precious bread
sack tucked IL at my head, | was ready
when the first fakes tell All kinds
of clouds began to fuse into one, the
wind swept past in kissing foo Is, and
tie s orm closed down on all thing*,
producing a wild exhilaratlon.
My fire blazed bravcly, | had a
week wood, sack full Of bread. and
nest that the widest wind could not
demoii>h. and l had, moreover, plenty
OF material for making Of snow-shoeS,
if the depth of the snow should rem
der them Necessary. The storm lasted
about a week, and [ had plenty to do
listening to It's tones and watching the
gestures Of the fexilis fine, and in
catching snow crystals and examin
ing them under Il lens, and observing
the methods OF their deposition as
summer fountains,