The herald., 1893-12-20

zontal line five miles in length were run
west from the main street OF the town OF
Lone Pine the end OF that line would be
under the summit OF Mount Whitney,
which is more than $4,000 feet above sea
level. This will give one an idea OF what
that wall OF granite is. At tall seasons OF
the year great fields of snow lie upon the
mountaine, and are the source OF many
streams that flow out into OWENS valley.
A few hundred yards above the mouth
Georges Greek canon becomes narrow
gorge. Vertical walls of granite, hun
dreds Of feet high, shoot up on each
side. A dense growth of Willows, birch
and aspen file the gorge and crowds
against the rock wall on each side.
The stream lie a torrent. dashing in foam
over great boulders and filling the air
with deep roar. A twilight gloom
prevails at any hour of the day.
Forcing passage through that gorge
is not easy, but by keeping close against
the wall and moving in single file it was
passed. About mile up, the canon gets
wide enough so that great pine trees
grow there. Many OF these have fallen,
and trunks from three to five feet in
diameter and 100 feet in length are
piled upon each other, and upon the
great boulders that fill the bottom of
the gorge, in the widest confusion.
Clambering over these obstacles is not
any easier than forcing q passage
through the jungle below.
About half mile of that kind OF way
must be passed, and then the csiion is
found wide enough that a steep slope OF
looee rocks, gravel and earth extends
down from the walls of granite on each
side of the gap to the stream at the bot
tom. In order to avoid the impenetra-
BILE brush the party kept we'll up on the
steep elope. The stuff ia loose and at
every step slipped from underfoot, max.
ing travel very lsbo-ious. About two
miles of that kind of ground was passed
and then the canon was found so wide
that on the north side OF the stream a
comparatively level plateau was reached.
Here travel might be called easy and
good progress was made.
AT noon the party reached grassy
spot near the stream and stopped to rest
and eat. Wild flowers of brilliant colors
and the sweetest fragrance grew rank
all around. An hour was spent here !;
then packs were again shouldered and
travel resumed.
Not far from this pleasant epot hard
labor began again. The caflon is crossed
by very steep ledges; wide stretches of
huge bouldere must be climbed over and
the toll OF doing this is great.
About sunset the party arrived at the
base OF the highest and steepest OF those
transverse ledges. On the summit of
that ledge small grove OF tamarack
trees was seen, and as this was to be the
camping place for the night all hands
made an effort to reach it as soon as
la Dt-t al. l.
most of the party were excessively tired
was reached at last, Just before darkness
set in.
Mr.. Hunter, who is a first class noun
taineer, had gone on ahead of the party
and had fire made and water boiled for
tes and coffee when the others reached
camp. After eating, all hands rolled up
in their blankets and laid down to spend
the night.
The scene around is stern to extreme.
Vertical walls OF granite shoot up 1000
to 1900 feet ON the sonth side OF the
little fiat where the tamsracks stand
Great snow banks lie at the bottom of
the cliffs and extend down and up the
caflon and far up the eides of the mount
aims. where there is place for it to rest.
Vast masses of granite boulders fill the
bottom OF the gorge, the wreck of peaks
that have baen breaking down for ages.
The whole aspect ie OF ruin and desola-
ton, but with terrible grandeur
The altitude OF that spot is ii 600 feet
above sea level; that and the close prox-
unity of snow made the night cold, but
still the party did not suffer much. The
air was very calm and the men took
turns keeping the fire supplied with
wood, plenty of which was at hand.
1t is only at such nigh altitude and in
a dry atmosphere that the beauty of
the stars can be fully realized. In the
Pleiades seven stars could be seen easily
with the naked eye. Jupiter blazed
with splendor that excited the admi-
ration of the whole party. The other
stars shone with luster never eeen at
low attitudes. At intervals through the
night sounds like the roar of thunder
were heard among the mountains. These
were caused by masses of rock breaking
away from the cliffs and crashing down
the caflons. No other sounda were
heard; aside from this the stiffness OF
death reigned.
again at the first dawn the party were
stirring and breakfast prepared and
eaten. To reach the summit OF Will
hanson and get back to camp before
dark, if it could be done at all by the
whole party, every minute OF daylight
would be needed. Two men had been
employed to carry Photographic appa-
ratus to the camp; these were now sent
back to the valley.
Knowing what was before them, the
party left everything that could be dis
pensed with at the camp, including
coats. blankets and all the food, except
few crackers and little meat for
each. The Photographic machine was
taken along. 90
The night was passed at the base of a
ridge, up which we must climb. A
slope extends on the north side of the
cafion, and from the camp to the top of
the ridge the distance is about 1000 feet.
Every step of that distance was over
loose boulders. gravel and sand. At the
least touch boulders were put in mo-
tion. and went crashing down the slope.
putting great masses OF the loose stuff
sliding and rolling downward. In order
to avoid these, the party kept moving in
oblique lines up the face of the slope.
At every step the detritus clipped from
under the feet. The toll of climbing
was great, but the top of the ridge was
at last reached, and all hands were glad
to rest awhile.
The summit of this range is narrow
plateau, extending west about one mile
from where one reaches it to the base of
the peak of Williamson. That distance,
L.