Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-10-22
Mlisffllarre0ns.
Alpine Climbers.
HOPEFUL TOURISTS WHO REACH THE
HIGHEST POINT IN EUROPE.

HIGHEST POINT IN EUROPE.
1t costs from $40 to $50 to make the as
cent of Mont Blanc. Each person must
have guide and porter to carry luggage,
provisions. etc. The luggage is limited
to IA pounds for each person. On the at
ternoon of the first day the party ascends
generally by the Pavilion of the Pierre
Pointue. a series of huge pointed rocks.
where the first rest is taken, to the Grand
Mulets, where the night is passed in two
stone huts or cabanes. as they are called.
We say the night; properly only portion
of the night. for the party is reused by the
guides as early as o'clock in the morn
ing for the start. An American gentle
man, who made the ascent some 20 years
ago. gave a thrilling account of the night
spent on the Grand Mulets.
AFTER the sun went down. he said,
1--WE sat a long time on the narrow ledge
of rock on which the huts are built. to
watch the daylight die along the length of
the valley. All was peace and stiffness
about us in our isolation. We could hear
the tinkle of bells and see the glimmer of
lights in the hotels of the village far be-
low Looking up. there were the three
DcdhS ClCdN tuC Sldl-llt On uoObC U.s.
the Dome du Coulter. Mont Blanc. and the
thought of what lay between US and those
silent SUBMITS from which we were, God
willing, to see the sun rise over the nights
of Italy. Silently we pulled our cigars.
watching the stars thicken and cluster in
the darkening sky. The guides gathered
about the fire on which our supper had
been prepared. and sat like weird COM
pany smoking their pipes and singing
wild mountain songs in their strange
Swiss patois.
lone by one we disappeared in the lit
tie hut, rolled ourselves in our blankets,
and Law down to rest. The songs ceased.
the fires went out, and it drew on to mid
night We could not sleep. Sleep! With
the sound of the falling avalanches in the
distance laundering and booming in our
ears, and feeling as we did into that wild
chaos and fury we were to 90 out IN few
hours? Ones courage sinks low, and
like the sad. still picture of lost happi
ness, all that is LETT behind of love and
life comes before US. 'Messieurs? il fault
lever!' The voice of the guide rings in
our ears. In an instant all is action and
inspiration. Ropes, axes, packages, eve
rything for safety and strength, is ar
ranged by the guides in the most business
like manner. The passage of the broad
plateau OF snow. the introduction of what
can never cease to be hasardous under
taking is begun. Hours of breathless
strain and nerve-trving work follow.
Deep crevasses. where treacherous chasms
are often covered by fall of snow, whose
lightness is only recognized by the eye of
the practical guide, yawn before the care
less step.
sin some portions of the route unbroken
vibration, even from the voices in that
rare atmosphere. might detach an avail
anche of snow and stones trembling in the
balance. And then the last desperate
cline! A solid wall of ice, which must
be met with all the defiant. resoute cour-
age of mans nature. One by one, guide
and traveller alternating, clinglng and
bracing ourselves, while the leader cuts
the steps in the cold blue ice. we 90 sure
ly. firmly up"
The view, even at its best, is said to be
unsatisfactory; only the outlines of the
Jura and the Apennines loom dimly up
on account of the great distance. But then
it is the highest point in Europe. Moth
ing of earth stands between one and the
everlasting armament. 1t would seem
that one might look into the very face of
God through the pure ether of that stain
less. earth-rid height.
Climbers are affected bv various emo
tons. it is said, when this climax of eli
makes is attained. Some give way to the
most violent demonstrations Of iov, sing
ing and dancing like an Indian brave.
while others are dazed and stunned at the
realization of such high hopes. One lady,
whose Spiri, was stronger than her body,
was so enthusiastic thai when there was
danger of her giving out on the way up,
she made the guide promise that. should
she die from exhaustion. he would carry
her lifeless body to the summit.
We know of two American gentlemen
who have made the ascent of Mont Blanc.
and in each case they went to Chamox
as ordinary visitors. and were inspired to
undertake the trip by hearing of the ex-
PLOTS of their predecessors. With men,
bers of the Alpine club. who have a YEAR
ly meeting in London, this climbing grows
into passion. Any one VINO can, during
the summer reach some height wherein
the foot of man has never before rested,
has an account to give which he
considers in some degree worthy
the consideration of his corps.
The word practicable" is literally con-
strued by these Alpine climbers Moth
ing is ''impracticable" which is in the
power of man to accomplish. and nothing
is dangerous that can be safely done The
air at the height of 10000 or u, 900 feet
is so refreshing to them that to live in the
valley produces the effect of sutfocation.
and on the brink of precipice thousands
of feet high they are as free from dizziness
as in their beds. And so, we find in their
club journal accounts that take away the
breath of ice-bound cliffs. mounted step
by step, as we have said. by the intrepid
guide who clears the way for the party
| following attached to each other, and to
him by ropes tied around the body. Each
man plants his pick firmly in the solid ice
and rests upon it while the steps are cut.
| Sometimes one OF the party may make
false step, lose his hold. and then it IS
on the strength of the rope and the nerve
of his companions that the safety of all
depends. Ii is but the question of a mo-
ment whether he is to be drawn back into
place. or whether he is to drag the whole
company to the bottom of the preclpice
hundroAs Of 70 ha{n