Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-04-05
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ten o'clock yesterday morning, and after a
pleasant ride of less than three hours, reached
this place. The day was very warm. and the
valley of the Rhone in this vicinity is said to
be the hottest place in Switzerland. Yer
nayaz consists of a fine, large, genteel and
we'll kept hotel, with its stables, out build
ings and bathing houses, and few restau-
rants and toy-shops, and that is about all.
The railway station, for some reason. is about
a mile and half distant. The immediate
surroundings are fiat and level, and consist
Of cultivated fields but on one side rises
ridge of crags and rocks of considerable
height. In the face of the slope, are several
excavations. where mining is carried on, and
we could see diminutive looking cars run
ming in and out of the mines on railways
built for the purpose.
GORGE OF TRENT.
The most remarkable sight to be seen here,
is the Gorge du TRENT. 1t is an extraordi-
nary assure or rent in the solid rock Of tall
cliff, extending a great distance into the
heart of the mountain. The outside Of the
cliff on the right hand side is nearly
perpendicular, and is said to be four or FIVE
hundred feet high. In this rock is a assure
from top to bottom, of irregular width, say
from twenty to thirty feet. out of which
flows rushing torrent of water, produced
doubtless by the melting of a glacier in some
valley in the mountains. The sides of this
assure or cleft in the rock, at some points are
nearly perpendicular, at others recede little
as they ascend. and at others project and
overhang as though they were ready to fall
upon you. The sunbeams with difficulty find
their way through the narrow opening
over head. The passage is tortaous
and winding, twisted and crook
ii e. l. =
constructed of plank and joists hung on iron
rods, and passing along the wall of the
gorge. In several instances, the bridge
crosses the torrent, and continues on by the
opposite cliff, and then crosses again, as the
shape of the fissure renders most cOnven-
lent In some places the passage is very
narrow, then broadens out, and soon narrOws
again. judged that the bridge extends into
the gorge from quarter to half mile. All
the way there is rushing torrent of water,
of unknown depth, but of great force and
volume, underneath your feet. from IS to 100
feet down. 1t required some nerve and cour-
age to traverse this frail bridge, under these
frowning cliffs and over this tumultuous rush
of water. But any one who lacks nerve and
courage, may as well stay away from Swift
land. This is the most singular and extra
ordinary cleft in a rocky cliff ever explored.
PIssEvAcHE CASCADE.
We next walked about two miles to see
cataract called by this name, issuing out of
the side Of cliff, apparently about half
way up the summit. The water fall is
220 feet high and the sheet of water at
least 40 feet wide. Steps have been con-
structed at one side of the cataract ascend
ing probably more than 100 feet number
of our party climbed up these steps. At the
point where the steps terminate, the whole
torrent falls over projecting rock in the
cliff, leaving an open passage underneath the
waterfall. This ascending party reported
that the depth of the volume of water and
spray, from its outer to its interior surface,
was about 40 feet. The only danger in pass
ing under it at this point, is that of getting
slightly wet with spray. Several of our la
dies climbed the steps, and passed under
the water fall, and back to the
the heat of the day, and the effect of
their previous mountain experiences. The
cascade descending in such volume of wa
ter and spray from such height, presents a
magnificent appearance. 1t doubtless origi-
mates in a glacier back in the mountains.
This morning we are to take carriages, and
start fer the vale of Chamoun at the foot of
Mont Blanc. From Vernayaz, there are
foot paths, mule tracks and carriage road
leading through different passes to and from
Chamouni, and travellers are continually
passing in each of these modes.
II. X. Il.