The herald., 1893-12-20
ASCENT OF MOUNT WILLIAMSON,
Views from a Lofty Peak OF
the Sierras.
Glimpses of California's Sublimest
Scenery.
The Adventures OF Party of Explorers
Related In a Graphic Manner.
A Young Lady's Feats at
Mountain Climbing.
[By G. MuLHoLLAND..

[By c. MULHoLLAND.l
To many minds there is strong at
traction in any effort difficult to accom-
plish, and il q spice Of danger attends
the undertaking this but increases the
attraction.
Nothing more clearly illustrates this
than the desire in nearly every per-
son, women as well as men, to ascend
lofty mountains; and the higher and
more rugged the peaks are, 80 much the
stronger is the wish to reach their sum-
mits.
The loftiest and most difficult noun
tains to climb in the United States are
in that part of the Sierra Nevada noun
tains about the headwaters of Kern and
Kings rivers. In that locality is found
Mount Whitney, which has an elevation
OF over $1,000 feet above sea level. be-
ing the highest peak in the United
Statee, excluding Alaska. Not far from
Whitney is Mount Williamson, very
little less in altitude, but far more
difficult to climb. Mounts Tyndsl,
Brewer, Goddard, Kaweah peak,
and many others OF nearly equal
elevation are all in that part OF the
range. It ie q region of cafions deeper
and much more extensive than Yosem-
ite; chasms go profound as to fill every
mind with awe, and peaks SO high and
sheer as to make it apparently impos-
sible to climb them.
OF all those peaks Mt. Williamson is
the most forbidding in aspect; and
looked at from o distance on any side
it would appear not only useless but
even reckless folly to attempt to
climb it.
So far as known the first attempt
ever made to climb Williamson was by
Clarence King, in 1864. Mr.. King was
then chief OF the state geological survey,
and in the summer of that year, accom-
panied by two assistants. he tried to
climb the mountain from the west. All
three were strong men and experienced
in mountain climbing. Several efforts
were made, but al ended in failure.
Chasms so deep were met that in trying
to pass them the party came near losing
their lives, and Mr.. King reluctantly
gave up the attempt, and in his official
report stated that the summit of Will
Hanson is inaccessible.
But to say that something cannot be
done is the surest way of inciting others
to attempt it.
No further effort was made to climb
the mountain till 1881; on August Goth
of that year A. III. Johnson and Julius
Schroeder accomplished what Mr.. King,
IL years before, had said could not bs
done, and these two men were the first
who ever stood upon the summit of
Mount williamson. The next attempt
to ascend the mountain was made in
August. 1885, and on the 30th of that
month William l.. Hunter reached the
summit. The other two members of
this party were the writer and David
Stubblefeld. AT the base of the main
peak this party divided. Mr.. Hunter CO.
ing alone in one direction, while the
other two made an attempt at different
point. The object OF this division was
not difference of opinion, bat in order
to increase the chance of some of the
party reaching the summit. Mr.. Hunter
aloue succeeded, the other two failed.
The third ascent OF Williamson was
made in August. 1891, when a party,
consisting OF J. V. Skinner, two brothers
and his son, and Finley McIvor and
Laughlin Mclean, succeeded in reach
ing the summit The fourth, and laat,
ascent of the mountain was made in
August of this year, and it is here pro-
posed to give an account of the trip.
From the town of Independence, in
OWENS valley, the north face of Mount
Williamson presents q sheer precipice
of granite. From the gorge at the base
to the summit this precipice is about
1000 feet, vertical height. The mountain
appears to be quite near, but i'll reality
ia at least 10 miles distant in an air line,
and much farther by the only way 1t can
be approached.
This party formed under the lead of
William l.. Hunter. The others were J.
v. Skinner, A.W. Carroll, w. l.. Hunter,
jr., and the writer and one other. This
other was Miss Jane Skinner, daughter
of j. V. Skinner. She is tall, vigorous,
full OF courage and frmnees, and did
not hesitate an instant to join the party.
Her age is 10 years.
About IL miles south from Independ-
once stream that has it's origin in the
enowfields ON the south side of Mount
Williamson comes into OWENS valley
from a deep cafion in the mountain.
This stream is called Georges creek.
The party went to the mouth of this
cafion by wagon and there camped for
the night.
At dawn all hands were stirring. A
A-iO Nop 4AASniJ i1ihoO ndu obhCi Pt0pd-
tions for breakfast. While this was
being done Mr.. Skinner went fishing
and in short time came back with a
string OF fine trout.
Slices of steak were fixed on willow
rods and each one held his steak over
the GOALS till cooked, The whole party
appeared exactly like persons fishing in
fire instead of in water.
Breakfast over, each one packed up
for the start. Nothing but what was
absolutely necessary was taken; this
consisted of u single blanket for each,
and as much food as could be carried.
Boiled ham, canned meat, crackers, tea,
coffee and sugar, two tin pots and few
tin cups, were all that was thought
essential. Each rolled up portion of
the supplies in his blanket, tied the
ends together, put his head and left
arm through the loop and had the load
on his back. The share of Miss Skin
ner was divided among the men. A
Btout staff about four feet in length was
provided for each one, and then all were
ready for the start.
Before entering the can on it will be
best to take general view of the east
front OF the Sierra Nevada, as seen from
OWENS valley. From the valley of the
Ban Joaquin the mountains slope up
ward to their highest SUBMITS, go far
away that to reach those submits ap-
pears to be comparatively easy task.
(lx~k kL<< l.