, 1881-10-02

CLIMBING SCHECKHORN.

4 Graphic Description OF a Dangerous
Ascent OF II Swiss Mountain.
We determined to try next the Schrecl-
horn, the peak Of terror. Tie great mount
ain was at first moody and would have notll-
ing to do with us. We had a steep climb to
the Sehwarzegg hut by the rocks on the left
side Of the upper glacier (for the ice was in
such bad order that we could not use it,,
past the place where twenty years ago
a chamois-hunter was killed in all avalanche
md where bit Of his waistcoat still remains
between two great stones-one Of which was
Lying On him six months after when he was
found; past little hooks white with edelwels,
for, as our guide Almer said, "Here come
not many people," Then for hours there
was steady patter Of rain on the roof,
which later in the night turned to snow,
and in the morning it lay thick before
the door, and there was nothing for
journey by the rocks troublesome; it was only
here and there that the blue Of late gentians
could be seen; but the cGelweiss with its
larger stem showed gray on the white cover
ing. Aud then for nearly fortnight we
could do nothing: the snow came lower aud
lower, whitening the Scheidecks, and Mt last
weighing down the branches, of the frs
restless, at the pleasant ~ Bear" tormenting
the lives Of the numerous Mr. Bosses BY
question about tile weather, and finding con-
ISOLATION only in the conduct ami sweet be-
hayior Of their admirable monkey. 1t seemed
rs IT the winter was really coming OH, and
that the Schreckhorn would be unapproacil-
able for another year; for furious winds rs
well as snow were at work On the nights,
and sometimes the Wettcrhorll was wrapped
in one great sheet OF white with no rock
visible.
We stayed on however hoping, till we who
had arrived when nearly Il hundred people
sat down to dinner, were left almost alone
at the Bear r"-alm0st alone, in fact, i'll
Grindelwald, and things began 10 look very
succession Of tine days, sandwiched III be-
tween two wet ONES, the weather got better,
and-just before October-we started again.
The SHOW couioirs which lead up to the
final arGte Of the. Schreckhorn are. exceed-
inG steep. We had examined them with much
interest from the Finsteraarllorn with goott
glass, and from thai point they appear per
pen,licular, though they are not quite 50 pad
rs that. Tile mountain ls-eSpeclalfy after
in the habit Of sending down showers Of
stones. For some immense perlod-in fact
ever since its fOrnatiOn-a mass of llard red
rack has existed near the summit. The
suns Of thousands Of summers, the frost. and
snow, aud rain OF thousands Of winters, have
to little n,rnose. But they have done tlieir
work. and it las one day to leave its resting
pIace and make its first and last lourney-a
wild one it will bc-down to the glacier be-
tcrrblc impetils. It Strikes rock, and long
hrfort tile sound Of tic smash reaches the
ear the eye sees the solid block part into
Thousands OF pieces while they as they hurry
On picK ~ and carry with them ali loose
fragments which they NAV happen to touch;
So Sc n tbat little the disturbance wliicI, began in the
fai l Of one m great mass at the top spreads ont
into a great fan Of flying devastation, and
ends 5000 or 1000 feet below on the glacier.
The snail bits sink Into the snow, at once;
appear m M later; and soon there is no sign
left, unless it b. the bruised mountain-side,
Of tic exercise of power capable Of sweep
ing away a regiment. Such a fall is best seen