The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-09-25

at the very foot of Mt. Blanc, which is
notin Switzerland, as is usually supposed,
but a few miles over the border, in
France. It was late in the evening when
we arrived here but the next morning
dawned bright and clear and the views of
the mountain ranges on either side of the
valley were most inspiring. The lofty
summit of Mt. Blanc presented a temp.
tation which we resisted for time, but
all in vain long before noon we yielded
to its attractions, and disregarding the
counsel of old residenters who advised US
to 20 into training before attempting 30
difficult and dangerous feat, we secured
the services of two hardy young noun
taineers as guides, procured the necessary
outfit, consisting of q stout steel shod
alpenstock, warm leggings, nittens, etc.,
and like the young man who " bore q
banner with that strange device, Excel
sior," we started for the top.
The first ascent of Mont Blanc was
made in 1886 by Balmat and DeSaussure
and since that time ascents have been
occasionally made, attended, not unfre.
uuently, with accident and loss of life.
1t times even in the Summer, heavy
snow storms on the summit, or dense fogs
which envelope the mountain for weeks,
render the ascent absolutely impossible
and under the most favorable circum.
stances there is enough of difficulty and
danger to give spice and excitement to
the trip.
We left Chamouni shortly before noon
and brisk walk of half an hour brought
US to the base of the mountain at a point
alongside the great glacier "des Blossoms" -"
frozen food from half mile to two
miles in width, and of unknown depth,
which, fed from the SHOWS of the summit
valleys ofsthe range, pours down an i'm.
mense gorge in the mountain side with
an onward motion of about one foot O
day. For nearly two hours we zigzag up
the side of the mountain, crossing occa-
sionally the track of recent avalanches
which have swept down great trees like
ferns from their path, until we reach the
cabin of "Pierre Pointue," the FIRST sta
ton of the ascent and an elevation of
over 5000 feet. Here ne stop for lunch,
aod to enjoy the fine view of the valley
of Chamouni and the mountains beyond
which is here obtained. Shortly after
leaving Pierre Pointue, we reach the
"snow line" and go out upon the treach.
erous surface of the glacier. For greater
protection against possible slip or fall,
a rope of perhaps 40 feet in lenght is now
brought into requisition and the mem.
bers of the party are attached to each
other, and with our guide en- chef ahead,
ourself in the middle and our second
guide or porter behind we 60 on, avoid
ing as best we can the threatening ava.
lanches which overhang from the cliffs
above, as we'll as the deep crevasses
which open far down into the glacier in
every direction. Some of the crevasses
while extending downward into the gla-
cier for fifty or seventy.ive feet are so
narrow that one can leap across the top,
while others are 80 wide that ladders are
brought into use, upon which we cross
on hands and feet over the yawning
abyss. Others are covered or partially
covered with snow, and great care is
needed lest it give way and precipitate
us into the depths below. All are passed
in safety, however, and about two and
ne.half hours after leaving Pierre Poin
tue we reach the second station, the little
cabin of "Grand Mulets," over 10000
feet above tide water. 1t is built on a
rock that rises in the centre of the glacier
and around which the broken stream of
snow and ice presses its way. This point
is frequently visited by parties who do
not purpose to 60 farther; while many
who start for the summit never pass this
cabin. Refreshments are here supplied
at prices which would astonish even the
swell restaurants of Paris or New York.
1t is far above the timber line and every
thing used here must be brought over
the glacier on the backs of men. Even
the wood used for cooking is estimated to
cost half franc, or about ten cents in
our money per pound.
Here we passed the night, or rather
portion OF it, as at midnight we were
awakened by the voice of our guide call.
ing US to breakfast; and at LOO a. m.
guides and tourist were again lashed to.
gether and went out into the night, hop
ing to reach the top before the heat of
the sun should soften the snow. The
moon had just appeared above the hori.
zon and its cold rays lighting up the vast
snow fields around US, with the silvered
summit far above, and the dark valley
far below, gave ghastiy beauty and
weird splendor to the scene which words
notdescribe. Thesilence was unboken,
save by the harsh crunch of the frozen
snow under our feet as we strobe onward,
or the dull thunder of some avalanche
hurting itself from the dizzy heights of
the glacier into the depths below. We
made our way onward and upward as
best we might, now making long de.ours
to avoid open crevasses, now working
along steep slopes whose icy surface
necessitated the cutting of steps in order
to obtain foothold, until at about 1000
feet above the Grand Mulets an obstruc.
tion was found which seemed to effectual-
ly bar. all further progress. A broad,
deep creyasse had opened across our route
and examination failed to reveal any way
of getting around it. At length spot
was found where an overhanging wall of
ice and snow hung far out over the oppo-
site side of the crevasse, but rose high
above our heads, and at one point mar.
row neck of frozen snow jutted out nearly
to this wall. Here our guide stopped,
and in few moments had, with his axe,
cut out in the wall as high as he could
reach space large enough to hold his
body. Then calling up the porter, with
the injunction to US to "stand very
strong," he went up over the porter's
back into the opening he had made and
from thence cut steps into the ice and
finally reached the top. We then fol-
lowed in the same manner and by our
united strength drew up the porter and
again pressed onward. At about 400