The morning call., 1893-09-17

IL we never. never would get out of that
snow. Thumb Rock loomed up in the
gray OF night very near but the snow
banks we had 10 cross were awful stretches.
Higher than we had camped there is a
second horse camp, for which we were
heading. The boys kept asking the pro-
lessor how far 1t was to this spot, and he
did not discourage them by being too pre-
else in his replies, but always said it was
some distance yet. We took rests occa-
siOnallv, and at one of The places, modeT-
ately level, where we fortified ourselves
with more food-it is amazing how much
you can eat. whetted by the keen noun
tain air-the professor relieved our minds
by announcing that it was Second-horse
Camp. This typographical discernment in
The dark cheered us so vigorously that we
set out for Thumb Rock with DuoyanJ
courage and light spirits.
Just below Thumb Rock is bare spot
called The Mitten. One would not think
it more than few yards long, as seen
from below. When we asked how far off
The Mtten was the professor said it
would take two hours TO get there-s cal
culaion dependent upon our gait, but not
an oyer-calculaton. We were amazed
and thought him guilty of joke when be
said the Glove was half mile long. 1t
looked as if the hand-nOt that of lady,
OF course-might cover IL.
The ascent was now exceedingly steep
1t suggested going up sharply pitched
roof, and l thought the angle must be
about sixty degrees, but one is easily mis-
led by physical trials. Every now and
then one would say that IL it got more pre-
cipitous it would be impossible TO finish
the ascent. The snow was extremely slip
perry and we often lost our footing, but the
alpenstocks saved US. Usually you bad
to plant your foot in one of the holes and
stay where you were or you would go
down The Rtpan a | hafora
had such Chamber. The boys did not
understand how l could get along without
spikes, as with these props 20 their shoes
they seemed to have as much difficulty as
had.
cit grew very, very cold. The wind
chilled you to the marrow. The boys all
comrlained of cold feet. Mine were not
so badly affected. but my hands became so
numb that / could scarcely grasp the
aipenstoek. The cold grew so desperate
that several times we played peas pur-
ridge hot'' to set the blood in circulation.
We were also somewhat affected by the
rarefied air.
just before topping Thumb Rock we
reached the steepest bit of all the climb.
Several times we had unanimously voted
ourselves a pack of fools To take so much
toll Tor pleasure. but that was when our
limbs, ached and we were puffed nut of
breath. A boy would say. well, what are
we doing it for?" And the professor
would cheer him with, II do not know
what we are doing it for unless It is to
slide down and say we have been to the
top" / would say, II will never 90
again." TO which the bows would echo,
1--WE will never come again." and the pro-
fessor would sOlioquizs, II was up last
year, but whew J this is my last trip" We
were wretched lot, tagged ont and
dispirited. Every now and then we took
consolation from tea. 1t was a big flask.
but there was so much TO do with it that
we only took gulp each. Luckily we
came to a place where water was oozing
out OF the snow, and we filed the eanteen
full, dilutlng the brew OF tea. but leaving
1t strong enough as fortlfier. 1t was
strong tea-a drop or two enough for a cup.
"The sun had long risen when we reached
Ihump Rock, which juts out from lava
ridge. To the left is a ridge not quite so
prominent with a level SPOT on one side
The sunbeams were beating against the