The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-08-01


snownelds OF the uplands. and the winds
shivern our overcoats as though 1t were January IN
over. ana the stiffness had worked out OF our Snces
some OF us went To the top of a neghDoring biul
loupd there note left between rocks BY some
wanderers. n read:-
..M-h and Ct, June sth. Cold as hell"
THE ASCENT or PREnoSrs PEAK.
into the mountains toward Fremon.'s PEAK than the
outlet OF large stream tributary TO the New FORK Of
the Green River, IL liked there to wait while
small and unencumbered party made the ascent q
''side trip" II Will be remembered bv those who have
read previous letters from these mountains that
party II the primary triangulation division OF DR..
Hayden's corps (the United States Geological Survey)
under the control Of Mr. II D. Wilson, Chief Tono
n the heart OF The Wind River range having
often been sighted from every side except
country was considered one OF The useful goedetc
points Ia wyoming, and II therefore especially
sraoie TO get good observations from H. Accordingly,
Oh the morning ofJuIy 2 water having frozen thicky
IN all the little pools lhe night before, Mr.. Wilson,
Harry Lo1ert and your correspondent started the
side trip 10 the summit taking pack mules-ono
TO carry the theodolite ami other Instruments and
second for the bedding aud grub winch latter rs tho
stone OF .al scientific work in this country We
particularly observed the features OF the landscape
as we went along for peculiar interest attaches this
mountain, by name one OF the most widely known in the
West, and yet perhaps the most utterly unknown OF
any Even It's Position has been confused the latest
map Of this part Of the world that accompanying
Captain Jones' Reconnaissance of Northwestern Wyo
mDg''), made in 1873, with the Dlundering usual 10
the military maps OF this government puts Fremunts
we assembled the other day and which the people
here have called Wind River Peak, possibly Captain
Jones meant another high point still further south,
ascenued The day after the former aud named Atlantic
Peak from the TACT tina; II gives all its waters the
Atlantic Ocean, while che other heights OF the range
contribute 10 the Pacific the west, well
Atlantic on the east. This latter is the southcrnmost
peak OF the range. Al any rate Whichever OF the
snowy tops meant the existing maps are wrong IN
putting the name "Fremontn upon any other noun
tain than this IN tho centre oil the range; aud II
difficult 10 understand how the mistake could have
iqAn hnH "a ma ar kAn fhs ila IN
read General Fremont's own description oil his ex
poratons here thirty-ive years ago, when, IN 1872
he conducted governmental expedition from the Mis-
souri, River to Oregon Fremont says that he marched
IRON the South Pass To the Sandy River and camped,
ana thence 10 lhe New Fork and campcd and thence
TWO days up the New Fork, beyond lake, when he
camped as near 10 the mountain he could get, and
thence climbed II on foot, enduring immense hardshps
and being justly proud Of tho undertaking since
body has told me whether his book says so, am
not surc) that ehsr by accident design, the brass
cover oil his telescope left there ana remained as
monument 'evcn unt0 this day. 1t - doubtful,
however, whether, II really he did leave such an art
there could DO after tho storms aud thun-
dcrbos OF thirty two wintry years had slr,ven TO OBJ
hterateit. AT least we could not nnd It.
Getting above the thickcts Oh the rayne where the
camp was We followed, always upward and northeast
ward In general direction, ridge 0l granite powders
which had been showed out there ana heaped by ga-
ciers, aud was covered with sage brush. From IL
could look suuthward the wide pain tho Green
River Basin, and westward across to the blue wall OF
snow Nortnward the crests OF Mount Lcidy, and ono
or Two moro Of tho higher SUBMITS OF the eros Ventre
Mountains were just visible above the wooded foothills
which IN other directions limited the outlook Right
and lett OF US, wherever we could look down rO a
valley, there In the bottom would be lake-sono-
times round, ike a blue eye; sometimes long and
straight with regular edges; sometimes winding fn
and out between the hills like long, still river. The
waer was deep, and reflected the light In different and
varying shades oil blue; or II 1T was shaded una got
only reflected hight the CLASSY surface seemed like
polished iron, and suggested some Titan's shield,
under which who knows out tho giant may be buried
Once our course-or We followed track--led US
for hail mile along the snuous crest OF high mar
row ridee, connecting TWO hiops, AS ny causeway,
where We could nj once look OUT upon tho world OF
plans below and up 10 the old white heads SO far
above u.s. where the clouds were playing hide and seek
among the crags On one hand our ridgesde dipped
into u deep valley filled with immense quaking ash
groves and ihickets Of birch aud good grass;
on the other 10 lake fed from the snow
banks above through half turbulent torrents
as we could SEQ by CLEANS OF white foam through the
black spruccs.
This lake overtowed INTO that next below II and
on through narrow stream liled with Beaver dams:
and the dams were 30 close together that the river
terraced AS IL WERE INTO series OF circular ponds,
framed in vivid lreen and touching another like
cham OF gems. The beaver Is still abundant nere and
trappers are beginning TO lind OUT and that the
Indians no longer troublesome every of these
lakes VIII float ,heir canoes and echo TO the crack
OF their rifles. Beaver will not be their Only game
Most OF the other urbearing animals are to be found
in good numbers, and there Is any quantity OF oks
deer, bears, and possibly an occasional buffalo and
moose, with duck and trout for the kitchen near
already OF hunters who intend 10 make their camps
this western slope during the coming winter.
But TIE mules have been jogging on, and catching u
last glimpse Of an inky AXE, past eagle whose
broad back is scarcely blacNer than lhe water
sails smoothly below Us, We enter the forest Al nrst
we can ride al u canter between the trees firm
pavement Of pine needles, but alter mile or all
gether aud blocks OF granite obstruct the
way, with DOGGY hollows between so that we
must go slowly ana wind. about And this
increases until the wet spots become ponds with
mounds OF soft snow about their edges, while the
bowldcrs grew into cliffs 70 be climbed, and the dohes
between them were choked with Iaen timber. Alter
n.
gled through bogs and foundcred snow and scra m
blcd up piles Of broken rocks until we we're
ready 10 give up again and again. But, wrigging on.
alter while we came 10 what seemed almost the last
gorge, and, getting down to this with great deal OF
lnbor through tho deep rotten and fallen timber,
skircd the border OF lake, stepping gingerlv on
the hall-Irozen ground and found nno camping place
grass for the pucky mules We were eIgnt hours on
the road wcrc perhaps dozen miles from tho main
camp in straight line. but had probably ,ramped
twice that distance IN getting TO our present point
A DINNER on THE MOUNTAIN.
The sky was lowering, ana tho chilly wind blew as
though II presnged storm. We built our fire quickly
between great pines whose thick tops joined over
head and hurried dinner which consisted of two
loaves oil very nice crisp bread mouoed IN asnai milk
pan, then hardened little by being held over the ire
IN The iryipgpan, and finally baked equally boln
sides by being propped up IN front Of The ire bit
oil stick Then wc had Two elk steaks apiece and
piece OF breakfast bacon for relish, toge her with
coffee (no milk and siewed piums from California.
After dinner We had some water heated ~ tho frying
pan, washed our dishes hobbeu the mules. put some
more fruit II slewing Tor breakfast, baked some new
Bread SMOKED our pipes anu went to bed between
snow banks, 10. 5JO feet above The sea
The gray OF the morning found our camp awake
and the smoke OF our ire warmed the wings OF the
earliest birds--and there were plenty to be warmed
aroand this frozen lake, with tuneiui throats, too
Before sunrise, therefore, in order TO get the clear
morning light on the landscape and tako advantag
the unuelied crust OF the snow the long CLIMB was
beg
First there was a tedious tramp OF three miles over
the toughest OF rocks, where living timber grew timex
and dead logs lay thicker, with snow and bogs be-
tween This was enough 10 tire a strong man cut. yet
II only the preface. Above the last treo stretched
2, 500 feet tnaif me) oil snow, lying at as steep an
angle as gravitation would allow ana relieved only by
black ridges oil rough rock Still The climb was not
perIious one, requiring ouy steady muscle sraniny
Notwithstanding work, and three hours OF tins
uid It,
THE SUMMIT.
The summit proved 10 be ridge two or three hun.
drcd feet long, on which lay deep bank of snow On
what seemed the most advantage part Of this ridge
the Instrument was planted, anu. the weather being
favorable, although naturaliy cold and winoy good
set OF observations were secured speed No traces
of General Frcmonps visit were to be found but had
there been any, which Is Uncertain, the deep
would have hidden them All material being buried
the building OF "a monumont was out OF me qucs-