Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1885-10-21
Alpine Climbers

1t costs from $40 to 500 to make the
ascent OF Mont Blanc. Each person
must have guide and a porter to carry
luggage. provisions, etc. The luggage
/ is limited to fourteen pounds for each
person On the afternoon 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 a portion
OF the night, for the party Is reused By
the guides as early as l O'Clock in the
morning for the start. An American gen.
tleman, who made the ascent some
twenty years ago, gave a thrilling
account of the night spent on the Grand
Mulets.
after the snn went down" ne said,
I'VE sat 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 still
ness 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 below. Looking up, there
were The three peaks cleaving the star
lit sky above US, the Dome du Coulter,
Mont Blanc, and the Aiguille du Midi.
We shuddered as We thought of what
lay between us and those silent SUBMITS
| from which We were. God willing, to
see the sun rise over the heights OF Italy.
Silently we smoked our cigars, watch
ing the stars thicken and cluster in the
darkening sky. The guides gathered
about the fire on which our supper had
been prepared, and sat ike weird
company smoking their pipes and sing
ing wild mountain songs in their strange
Swiss pathos.
Zone by one We disappeared in the
little hut, rolled ourselves in our blank
cts, and lay down to rest. The songs
ceased, the fires went out, and it drew
on to midnight. We could not sleep.
Sleepl With the sound Of the falling
avalanches in the distance laundering
and booming in our ears, and feeling as
We did that into that wild chaos and
fury we were to go out in a few hours?
Ones courage sinks low, and like the
sad, still picture of lost happiness, all
hat IS left behind of love and life comes
before US. 'Messieurs? il faut leverr
The voice Of the guide rings in our ears.
In an instant all is action and inspiTa-
ton. Ropes, axes, packages, every
thing for safety and strength, is arran-
ged by the guides IN the most business
like manner. The passages of the broad
plateau Of snow, the introduction of
what can never cease to be hazardous
undertaking is begun. Hours of breath
less strain and nerve trying work follow.
Deep crevaSses, where treacherOus
chasms are often covered by fall Of
SNOW, whose lightness is only recOgni-
zed by the eye of the practiced guide,
yawn before the careless step.
''In some portions of the route unbrO-
ken silence is preserved. lest the slight
est vibration, even from the voices in
that rare atmosphere, might detach an
avalauhce of snow and stones trembling
in the balance. And then the last des-
peTate climb a solid wall of Ice, which
must be met with all the defiant,
resOlute courage of a mans nature
One by one, guide and traveller alteTna-
ting, clinging and bracing ourselves
while the leader cuts the steps in the
cold blue ice, we go surely. firmly up"
The view, even at Its best, is said to
e unsatisfactory; only the outlines of
the Jura and the Apprentices loom dimly
up on account of the great distance.
But then it is the highest point IN Ed
rope. Nothing Of earth stands between
one and the everlasting armament. 1t
1t would seem that one might look into
the face of God through the pure ether
Of that stainless, eaTth-rId height.
Climbers are affected by various
emotions, it is said, when this climax of
climaxes is attained. Some give way
to the most violent demonstrations of
Joy, singing and dancing like an Indian
brave, while others are dazed and
stunned at the realization of such high
hopes. One lady, whose spirit was
stronger than her body. was so enthusi-
astlc that 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 lIfeiess
body to the summit
We know of several American gentle
mdn who have made the ascent Of Mont
Blanc, and in each case they went to
ChamOix as ordinary visitors, and were
Inspired to undertake the trip by hear
ing of the exploits of their predecessors.
With members of the Alpine club. who
nave yearly meeting in London, this
climbing grows into passion. Any
one who can, during the summer, reach
,Ome height wheTeOn the foot OF man
has never before rested, has an account
TO give which he considers IN some de-
gree worthy the consideration of his
corps.
The word practicable" Is literally
construed by these Alpine climbers.
Nothing is ''impracticabie" which is in
the power Of man te accomplish, and
nothing is dangerous that can be safely
done. The air at the height OF 10 600
or II, 600 feet is so refreshing to them
that to 1--we IN the valley produces the
effect OF suffocation, and on the brink
Of a precipice thousands Of feet high
they are as free from dizziness as in
their beds. And 50, we find in their
club journal accounts that take away
the breath of iee-bouRd 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
irmly 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. 1t is but the question
Of moment whether lie IS to be drawn
back into place, or whether he is to
drag the whole company to the bottom
of the precipice hundreds of feet below.
Going to Housekeeping.
Prince WaldeTnar, of Denmark, will