The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-09-14
Mountain Clim bling.

The exploration OF mountain ranges and
Of isolated peaks Is carried on chiefly by tho
Alpine Club OF England and similar clubs on
the Continent, whose members have scaled
nearly every height In tho Alps and nre now
extending their operations to the Andes, tho
Atlas, tho Hmalayas, and the Southern Alps
Of New Zealand. They arc finding In the
Now Zealand Alps glaciers larger than any
in the Alps Of Europe. They are taking
from one peak after another tho distinction
OF being the highest In the world; and they
have found that the ascent OF Mont Blanc is
child's play compared with tho tolls and
dangers involved In climbing many Him
alayan mountains.
Last year Mr.. w. W. GRAHAM and Mr..
EMIL Boss reached the highest point above
the sea yet attained by mountain climbers.
1t took them three days to gain tho summit
OF Mount Kabru, in the Himalayas, 300
feet above the sea, and 2.7OO feet above tho
summit OF Chimborazo, where Mr.. WHYMpER
four years ago won the highest honors at
tanned up to that time In mountaineering.
The last 1900 feet were nothing but leo,
covered several inches deep with frozen
snow, up which they made their way by cut
ting steps. They suffered no inconvenience
from rarcfled air, which Is only another
proof OF the fact that the best mountain
climbers now, through their training and
superior physical qualifications, escape most
OF the suflcrings OF which We used to read
In all the carly accounts Of the ascent OF
Mont Blanc.
Seventy miles away rose Mount Everest,
which for some years has been supposed to
ovcrtop all other mountains in the world
But looking over Its summit they saw two
unnamed peaks that enthusiastically rose above
1t. II they are right, Mount Everest, like
Chmborazo and half dozen other peaks of
the Andes and Himalayas, must give up the
undeserved distinction Of holding Its head
higher than all other SUBMITS.
Science derives great advantage from tho
study OF these lofty regions. Those who
have read the charming works In which
TYNDALL, AaAssIz, and others have described
the glacier world OF Switzerland, can under
stand that their stores Of information might
have been much greater had they explored
attitudes 10000 to $4,000 feet above the sum
nit OF Mont Blanc. Tho undisturbed pro-
auctions OF some mountain sides and sum-
mits arc OF the highest scientific interest In
relation to unsolved problems Of geographic
cal distribution. 1t was this fact alone that
induced the Royal Society and the British
Association last spring to despatch II. II.
JOHNSTON, the naturalist, to explore Mount
kilimanjaro one OF the snOw-capped peaks
OF East Africa. The purpose OF the expedi-
ton, which will cost about g. 200, Is to obtain
knowledge OF the fauna and flora of the
mountain.
The Royal Geographical Society has I'm
dertaken to bear large part OF the expense
OF Mr.. I'M THURN's expedition to tho won.
derful table-topped mountain, Roraima, In
British Guiana, South America, which, after
slipping ascent OF 1000 feet. rises precpi-
tously 800 feet. mass OF solid rock eight
miles long and several miles wide. 1t has
been thought impossible to reach its summit
except by balloon, but the scientific traveller
who Is about to lead an expedition to 1t, will
endeavor in some way to reach its top.
besides making study OF its geological
formation.
1t was on Mount Cook, tho highest summit
OF Now Zealand. to whose exploration the
Alpine Club assigned the Rev. w. S. GREEN
In 1889. that glacier larger than any In the
Alps was discovered. TO EMIL Boss, the
skilled mouatalncer who made the difficult