Evening journal., 1890-01-21
LOST In THE MOUNTAINS.

Some six years ago. while connected with
a botanical establishment in North Carolina,
had business for the firm, that carried me
into the neighborhood of the far famed Black
Mountain range My errand accomplished,
/ fingered in the vicinity for a day or two, in
order to do a little prospecting on my own
account.
/ had long been DESTROYS of making the
ascent Of Mount hiitchell that heavenward
soaring Monarch of the Blacks, rendered
doubly interesting because OF it's superior alti-
tude and Of its pinnacles enshrining the dust
Of its intrepid discoverer-the story of whose
tragic death has so often been repeated.
Having spoken Of this intention TO the
mountaineer with whom was stopping, he
advised my going round to the Buncombe
county side, aud there procuring a guide to
make the ascent with me, as there were bril-
die paths cut from that direction However,
he went on to say, il did not care to take
all this trouble he could procure a guide for
me on this SIDE although, he cautioned me
that / would find the route exceedingly rough
and not a little dangerous
Now, this idea Of taking a guide with me
was one | did not relish much Indeed It
was the very last thing / wanted to do. /
was young, self reliant, and full OF the spirit
Of adventure. Besides, wanted something
TO brag about among my youthful friends on
my return. and what better could / have
than that had made an ascent alone Of the
gloomy Blacksl Perhaps also, / might dis
cover new peak, perhaps even one OF su-
perior altitude TO the towering Mount Mitch
ell, and thus hand my name down to poster
ity along with those of DR.. Mitchell, Gen.
Clingman, and other famous explorers.
Filled with these thoughts and aspirations,
-.
my mountaineer, and under pretense OF going
70 spend the day and night with an old trap
per, who lived five miles away on the Caney
river, set of at daybreak the next morning
on my adventurous journey
had made close inquiries in regard to the
various foot paths up the mountain sides,
and had, as l thought, the correct bearings
Of the route | ought TO pursue pretty well
fixed IN my mind. Indeed the peak / de-
sired 10 reach was in full view Of my friends
front door, and was Of the opinion that by
keeping an eye to tho direction would have
but little trouble in reaching it.
had been repeatedly told Of the almost
impenetrable forests OF balsam that covered
the upper portion OF these Alpine like peaks,
but in my ignorance supposed it would be
quite easy, in spite Of the dense growths, to
trace out the foOtways
/ NY htHt hau hAlpIuleu me tDaL IL was kOou
ten miles from his door to the summit Of
Mount Mitchell Being blessed with capi-
tai pair Of legs and well accustomed to using
them. had calculated that by starting at
daylight / could easily make the trip to the
summit and back to one Of the nearer huts
OF the mountaineers by early nightfall, any
how. But that / might be the better pre-
pared in case had to camp out / provided
| myself with blanket and box Of matches
The former wore in a roll strapped across
my shoulders.
Even in the light chestnut forests that COW
cred the lower slopes had much difficulty in
finding my way. In many places the trail
was barely traceable. More than once got
completely turned around, and found myself
doubling back upon my own footsteps
/ had never before been in the balsam
thickets Had ] been, am candid enough
70 admit that l would never, with all my love
OF fame and adventure have set out alone on
what very soon / came 70 realize was a most
foolhardy undertaking. The dense gloom Of
the balsams bad but little more than en-
veloped me, when began to wish had taken
the old mountaineeris advice and have gone
round on the Buncombe county side, and as
cended by the bride paths, like any other
civilized mortal Not only did the almost
impenetrable forests reach away on every side
but underfoot in every direction stretched
great beds Of sponge like moss, into which my
foot sank, often above the ankle, and yet left
no impression.
In vain / looked for the least sign Of path
Not one was anywhere visible, not even the
trace Of human being. 1t was with ex-
treme difficulty that / could now make my
way through some places at ALL for the bal
sam is a tree Of many branches, and these
growing low to the ground, form almost inn
penetrable barriers.
had not gone very faT when discovered
that it would be simply madness to continue
on my way unless 1 could come across path
Of some sort. On trying to retrace my steps,
! found, to my utter dismay, that l had lost
all knowledge rs to n = bearings. was 20 com
pletely turned around that hadn't the least
idea Of the direction whence l had entered
the forest.
sat down for a moment to think over the
situation. ! was assuredly lost and what
was worse, hadn't the least knowledge Of
my whereabouts II could get a look at the
sun thought ! might have some idea of the
course / ought to pursue. But the dense,
dark foliage Of the balsams excluded even a
ray, and although my watch showed me that
it was fast nearing noon, the light about me
was little clearer than that Of twilight
After resting a half hour or SO l started of
again, with the determination to keep in as
straight a course as / could possibly judge
Added to the difficulty had previously ex-
perienced Of making my way through the
dense, overhanging boughs Of the balsams, ]
now encountered another, and, in many in
stances, far greater. This YVES from the
numerous dead balsams that had fallen
against the others and in some places com
pletely barred my way. l had repeatedly to
crawl upon my hands and knees, and often to
throw my body Eat upon the ground and
work my way through. / had proceeded a
mile or more in this manner, as near as could
judge, when / came suddenly upon kind Of
clearing, apparently made by the uprooting
Of several large trees in a storm. Here was
enabled to get my first glimpse of the sun
since entering the balsam forests. l glanced
at my watch 1t was now past ? O'Clock, and
the sun was already inciining towards the
west.
Directly in front Of me could see the bold,
somewhat bare outlines Of . peak which
recognized at once from its peculiar shape a.
''Tbe Potato Top an ouslying spur OF ths