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

ffauee. ~ 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 Dit. Blanc presented q temp.
tation Which we resisted for time. but
all IN vain long before noon we yielded
10 Its attractions, and disregarding the
counsel OF old residenters who advised us
TO- go into training before attempting 30
N'plcult and dangerous feat, we secured
/ .ue services Of two hardy young noun (.
taineers as guides, procured the necessary
| ontht, consisting of stout steel shod
alpen,sstock, warm leggings, mittens, etc.,
| ana Ike the young man who "bore a
banner With that strange device, Excel.
sior," we started for the top.
The first ascent of Mont Blanc was
made in l7S6 by Bal,nat and DeSaussure
! and since that time ascents have been
occasionally made, attended, not unfre.
| quently, with accident and loss of life.
AT 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 a brisk walk of half an hour brought
us to tho base of the mountain at point
| alongside the great glacier "des Bossons,"
frozen flood from half mile to two
miles in width, and Of unknown depth.
which, fed from the SHOWS Of the summit
valleys of the range, pours down an i'm.
mense gorge in the mountain side with
| an onward motion Of about one foot .
| day. FOR nearly two hours we zigzag up
the side Of the mountain, crossing secs
sionsiiy tie track of recent avaIanches
which have swept down great trees like
ferns from their path, until we reach the
cabin OF "Pierre Pointue," the first sta
tion of the ascent and an elevation of
over 5000 feet. Here we stop for lunch.
and 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 lepght is now
brought into requisition and the mem.
bers OF the party are attached to each
other, aud with our guide en- chef ahead,
oursei. 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, Us 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 Ola.
cier for fifty or seventy. FIVE feet are 30
on
while Others are so wide that ladders are
brought into use, upon which we cross
on hands and feet over the yavnInp
abv' Others are covered or partially
CO.. with snow, and great care is
est it give way and precipitate
lie depths below. All are passed
y, however, and about two and
49, hours after leaving Pierre Poin.
tue q 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 go farther; while many
who start for the summit never pass this
cabin. Refreshments are here supplied
Mt prices which would astonish even the
swell restaurants of Paris or New York.
II is Ia abov the timber i.iie aud 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 q
portion OF it, as at Midnight we were
awakened by the voice of our guide call.
Ing US to breakfast; and at 100 O. IN.
guides and tourist were again lashed 10.
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 ghastly beauty and
weird splendor to the scene which words
cannotdescribe. The silence was unboken,
save by the harsh crunch of the frozen
snow under our feet as we strobe onward,
Or the Guil thunder cf SONS agslaache
hurling 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 detours
to avoid open crevasaes, now working
along steep slopes whose icy surface
necessitated the cutting of steps in order
to obtain foothold, until ut about 1000
feet above the Grand Mulets an obstruc.
tion was found which eeemed to effectual.
ly bar. all further progress. A broad,
deep crevasse had opened across our route
and examination failed to reveal any way
of getting around Il. At length spot
was found where an oyerhanging wall of
ice and snow hung far ortover 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, will. his axe,
cut out in the wall as high ss 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 bad 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
O'Clock we reached the Grand Plateau
aud witnessed most glorious sunrise.
The stars had been fading ono by one
and the light growing stronger, until at
last the "Lcrd of Day" appeared above
the Eastern horizon and the mountains
were lit up with the effulgent rays.
From the Grand Plateau for some dis.
tance the ascent was up steep slopes
which required only patience and epdu"
rance to surtnonnt; but, farther on We
u az. ~. = III. -