Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1875-12-08

ntNlnS tllat ucep Infinite blue that one sc
rarely sees. But the view-TIow shall
describe it? 1t will not be giving it light
praise to say that it was the richest of all
our experience, ,--bettc:. grander, more
impressive than anything l had before
seen in the great book of nature. We
Stood rs it We're in the center and COM
pletely cncircled by snow-cappcd mount
aims. The Matterhorn was easily king OF
all-not in height but in beauty. lis tall
summit rose distinctly on the vision like a
vast tower or minaret The Monte Rosa.
the highest of all this group, and the one
of whose grandeur we had often heard,
was disappointment. Its dimensions
were not so vast as we had expected to
see. We need Il, doubtless, only to scale
its lofty sides, in order to realize its great
ness, and crown it monarch of all. Twen-
ty-iivc peaks. partially or wholly covered
with snow anI ice. and from l0,O00 to lj.-
600 feet in height surrounded uS, and
formed this unequalled panorama; and.
= y
they seemed Just ut hand SO brie hit WAS
the morning. and 50 clear the sky. Below
us WAS the Corner Graf Glacier. stretching
many miles away. its polished surtacr
dimplcd here and there with bright. green
pools Of water; and throughout lis whole
length ran 4 bank of IctrtuS which the
floods had piled upon its surface, and which
nj a distance closely resembles Il we'll con-
Strnc:c.l road. After studying carefully.
with the aid of our excellent guide book
the positions and names of til" various
peaks. We left the rocky summit, where
already the burning rays of the sun made
it intentionally warm. and crossing again
during the night, we begun the descent.
1t is by no means an easy task 10 20 down
these prccipttouS mountain sides. even
when the path is good. vet the force of
gravity aids on" to annihlate space t. i
certain extent. SO that, though four hours
We're required for the ascent, it needed
only two to bring us down again to the
valley whence we had set ont in the cool Of
the nornino.
In tn" Churchvarl At Zermatt we saw
the Grave. of the EnrIi-h n3rtv Of ,hr,r
who, together with their guide, lost their
lives while attempting to ;,scen the Mat
tcrhorn. 1 sacccS>fu, ascent, however,
was soon after made. and To. lav there i,
prol,,b,y no peak in MI the Anime rluro>
that has not been arain ana ar,in scaled
| confess f3r myself a lack Of desire to
cain notorirtv in this way. At the bet it
is toiSome and dangerous. and only now
and then. by rare rood fortune. i, any a,lc-
quatc reward attained. Tied torcthcr. and
provided with alpcn-,tocks, and Good shoes.
and preceded hv two Trustworthy Guides.
u party of five or six can make the ascent
of the most lofty peak with comparative
safety. but it oftcner than otherwise hap
pens, that the summit is envrlopcd in
clouds. and rs only 4 few hours, at the
most. can be spent there, the result is too
often grcvious disappointment.
| have named above the alpcn-~tock
which in all parts of Switzcrlan,! seemed
to be Il great ftvorilr with tourists. lt>
use, as it appeared to nS. WIS not 50 much
to "Ivc help up tn" mount1in>. ~ 10 afford
some visible amt approprlat" instrument
upon which the names OF th" mountains
san Ct scaled could be inscribed, This
stock i about i've feet long. perfectly
straight, and furnished with Il sharp iron
point and round, black head. l. is with
out question. 4 necessity when one ESSAYS
10 scale lh" icy SUBMITS OF the AIp>. hut
"'Hci"l lN'' l"l i':i h'lP Ah' support Il
,i,u" ,.'i ' -. ,'''c'', - .,'''
'''' ''i'' "''''i' ''''i noon "'i''e "> l''
our return down the valley through Whjch
we ha.! PASSED on the prcyiouS lay. II