Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-07-26
ASCENDING MOUNT EARNSLAW.
ReacLing the Highest Point Ever Yet At
taiued by siaa.
lotago tNcw 4, alondj Time,

iOthKu tNtW Z aljulJ lluit-'l
We publish particular. OF Il recent very
successful ascent 0f the celebrated Mount
EaITslaW glacier, New Zealand, made by a
Dunedin tourist, who reached = greater
height than that attained by the Rev. Mr.
Green aud hi, SWISS guides. OF the at
fer uart Of the climb the tourist SAYS: 4
thousand feet on an incline II about on
IN two /, no Joke. and were It not
Tor the fern with which the mountain
side j. covered doubt whether We would
have been able 10 yet up talI. The noun
tain vegetation stood us in good stead, and
clulching the >ilNery tus>ock- known ~
snow. grl>-, We made odr way up. For
about $40 feet we passed through hclt of
large hirch-iTccS. Beneath our feet lay the
leaves OF centuries, the uppermost stratua
Being composed of leave, recently blown
from tree, and no. vet Withrred, the
whole forming 4 beautiful ,priney carpet.
quite treat 10 walk ou af,er about a
couplr of hours toiling over rough
surface, through fern and -noW-grI--.
such q path Was. however, too good 10
last long. aud our shady belt Of birch-trccs
came 10 an abrupt termination rlsht under
bieh ledge II rock, which appeared more
difficult to climb than the one we had pre-
\iousHy encountered. We travelled dried
upWatcr-lcd for some SEQ fcct, avoiding the
urjckly speargrass proved great
source Of lnnoyancc-as much u pOs7 BILE.
Her, We got our first view Of The beaut!-
iul mountain lily with is saucer-shaped
leaves, which made very suitable drinking
vessels. The mountain at this part was
ihickly covered with the lilies. a glance
at the barometer showed us to bs $500 fest
aioye The leyel II tie lake.
Climbing around a s.ccp edge oi rock,
We reached comparatively easy slope,
thickly covered with the eycr-pre,rnt
snowgra,s; then over two gullies, tbs sides
II which were pltnifuiy bestrewn with
slaty rock, which, rolling l0vn the decliV-
I,ies at every step, made it partially lively
for the mIn below. Then wc sealed
erassy saddle, and iondy hoped We were
Lcar cur destination. Such, however, wa
uot the case though glimpse OF the snow
500 or 600 feet above VI urged u
10 redoub!ed efforts up an almost
perpendicular incline. After half an
hours really hard climbing SO reach
ID The snow. Ii waS plentfully
covered with The red hcuen, which,
at the distance. made it itaapcar ls 5esme1red
with blood. R-ii ,h al lowered the
white, daZZliug yctk 81 Ltrn>lW. No
mans foot bad ever tipdl-n iis snDw-cap-
Icd summit. aG, %. I.i appearances, no
mans loot +, ever G. dJ so unless h-
reaches itin balloon. But we had not
much time to mu-r ou the beauties oi the
scene, so We piolIct along. and length
reached the saddle right under le huge
glacier Itself Aud WAta signt! Mills and
miles Of solid ice towering hundreds Hnl
Hundred, OF fc,t 3Doye us, while every
few minute misses " s.tg'ltd ice.
mary tons in weight, wen. lYuud'rinS sni
crashing down lhr mountain ,'op's mo the
y,Iey below. IL Va. lnd, i grand anf !
swiul scene. and % impressive nen">S t.Aa
hcmr 10 our mind. with full force. We
bad reached po,ut GOO feel high. and The !
cold was intense, 80 We began 10 have -e-
Tious thoughts of starting for lower aui |
n ore cOngcnial chimes. Two thousandf feet !
below US the guide pointed TO the spot |
where the Rev. Mr.. Green, the swiss guides.
and himself were oyertl6en Ia snow |
storm last year and forced 10 retire. Then.
content with having reached the highest
point sealed by any tourist, we commenced
the descent.