Iron County register., 1892-10-27

hired one mule for several and took
turns. ALI told, there were eleven
mules. 1 determined to walk every
step or die in the attempt. Several OF
us started On ahead, but before long We
could see eleven mules and six guides.
They looked like circus. At first l
walked along quick pace, the air was
so good and everything so inspiring,
but before I had climbed long my speed
diminished As l climbed higher l
could feel my heart beat, and my throat
choked up, but after awhile felt bet
ter. Tne path was steep and rocky
and the rain had made it little
muddy. When we started it was cloudy
and we climbed right up into the clouds.
We looked down on a sea of mist.
just before we reached the top the
clouds broke, and we could look away
down into the green valley of the Arve.
It is most beautiful, SO green, with
patches of ye1low-ripened grain. We
stopped at the top of the mountain to
rest minute, and those who hadn't
brought Alpen stocks and stockings
from Chamounix bouhgt them there.
Then we started over the glacier.
From the top of the mountain we had
fine view of it. We had to climb
down some ways, then we put on our
stockings and began to cross. 1t isn't
very dangerous. The ice is rough and
in most places steps have been cut in
it. The ice in some places was quite
clear and looked blue, and was cut up
into sharp peaks and crevices, but most
of it had some earth and stones mixed
with it. 1t seemed to be in streaks and
reminded me of figured marble. Little
streams of water ran over the surface
of the ice. In some places there were
huge cracks, very deep, with water
running at the bottom. Some one told
the story of a newly married couple
who came to Chamouniz, and when
they were crossing the Mer de Glace
the man fell in one of those chasms and
disappeared. They told the bride that
in time his body would float out below,
so every year she came to watch for
his body. When she was an old wom-
an his body was found, frozen, perfect
ly preserved. The sight of her hus-
band. as he was so many years before.
was such shock to her that she died.
In other places there were round holes
in the ice, foot in diameter, perhaps,
filed with water, and couldn't reach
the other side of the glacier the ice
was filled with gravel and stones.
took off my socks when l got there,
so could save them. I am going to
bring them home as souvenirs. Most
of the girls are taking home their
Alpen stocks, but. after a long mental
debate. I decided that it would be too
HULL eEo0OIO uua pue lSCiAuSS
| in the background.
On the other side of the glacier, be-
yound the gravel and ice, was the de-
scent called Mauvai's Pas. A staircase
is cut into the almost perpendicular
rock and an iron railing is put up to
help people down. The mules were
brought round and the people rode
down. I had several offers to ride,
but refused them all. I didn't get
nearly as tired as I did walking the
sixteen miles on the Spluegen Pass.
That was nearly four and half hour
| walk and this nearly six. just as we
started down We got a glorious view OF
Mont Blanc and the adjoining noun
tains. Their peaks arose from n mass
of clouds. Mont Blanc seemedto take
half the space between the zenith and
horizon. Coming down, too. we got a
more extended view of the beautiful