The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-09-27
A CALIFORNIA MOUNTAIN.
Ascending and Descending the CuIminat
Ing Peak of the Sierra Ranges.

Now that we were within a few
miles of Shasta, it did not look so
wholly white. Its SHOWS were ploughed
by many rocky ridge, not percepIi-
Bile at great distance, 1t did not,
however, lose its supernatural appear
ance thereby, but rather gained an eff
feet more startling by the sharp con-
trast of lava rock and sweeps of snow.
Shasta was named by Russian travel
ers, the proper derivation of the word
being Tcheste, meaning chaste, pure,
says writer in the Overland Monthly.
1t is the eliminating peak of the coast
and Sierra ranges, and has an altitude
of IA, 444 feet. Its glaciers extend for
more than two miles down its slopes.
We sat for an hour on the hotel porch
trying to familiarize ourselves with
this strange mountain, but its unearth-
ly aspect did not change for US.
1T is terrible to be up there!" said
Hal, with almost Il shudder. lone is
in no danger of forgetting the exper-
fence. As 1 was following that lava
ridge this side of the DEVILS Thumb, l
saw far off on the snow black object
about the size of my finger, wriggling
and staggering about. falling fiat oc-
casionally, and then resuming its fam
tastic gyrations. l observed it careful
ly, and discovered that the object was
forked; and then it flashed through me
that it was a man climbing the glacier.
When our party reached the cleft peak
that forms the summit, we were met
by perfect avalanche of clouds that
tossed and tumbled about, giving a
ghostly indistinctness to everything.
We appeared to be in a world of un-
realities, peopled by shadowy crea-
lures that heightened and contracted,
and flung about their vast, white wings
above the sickeuing fumes that steamed
up from the Kissing, squirting hot
springs at our feet. A momentary
parting of the clouds showed the sky
blue as indigo, closing down in awful
nearnes,. Through a revolving glare
the blood-red sun swung in the fright
ful purple of the heavens. Fronting
these unaccustomed elements a solemn
dignity possessed the soul aud gave
conscious feeling of infinitude The
loss of all familiar landmarks lent an
indescribable terror to the scene. This
dead volcanoes. throat is choked with
snow. On its icy rim one of the ladies
slipped and fell headlong over the fear
full chasm. The guide caught her by
one of her feet. Her escape from
horrible death was almost miraculous
We were nearly frozen with the cold,
and yet our mouths were parched and
hot as a desert. Our hearts throbbed
painfully, and we drew our breath in
gasps.
Before we commenced the descent
q fierce blast tore the mists asunder,
revealing the grandest picture we shall
ever behold on earth. From the ma
jestic temple we could see hundreds of
miles of Kaleidoscope landscape
Mountains, rivers, and valleys, with
spurs of rocky ridges cutting through
tawny farm fields far away; green
meadows starred with lakes, and bill
lowy ranges running toward the sea,
while fifty miles of dense pine forest
spanned the McClOud and Pitt to touch
the snowy heads of the Sierras. Aud
Oregon's rich prairieS, linked to ours
by chain of silver-surfaced lakes; to
the south, beyond the mighty Lassen
Buttes, we catch a glimpse of dusky
plains, with isles of clustering peaks.
Three times l have seen all this, and
yet l feel an irresistible desire to go
again. In spite of the labor and ex-
haustion attending the ascent, the
vision from the top is worth greater
sacrifice"
We slowly descended the mountain,
gazing silently toward Mount Shasta
until the intervening silver frs shut
OFF our view.
The train was two hours late that
night, and as l turned from bidding
Hal good-by we saw radiant mantle
fall on Shasta's head from the depart
ing sun
''And the glory of the Lord was like
devouring fire on the top of the mount!'
he quoted solemuly, and with its re-
aected light we parted hands.