Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-06

stein as of its sister
mountains, the Gross-Glockter and the
Ortler-many have been the lives untimely
sacrificed in attempting its ascent. It's
anne translated into English means Roof
stone. ard this has been 4 most appropri-
ate selection, for after leaving the Simoni
and hut and crossing that great field of
ice-the Karlseisfeld-and being confront
ed by the huge mass of gray rock aris-
ing abruptly from the surrounding glacier,
there is nothing in the world that the peak
is so suggestive of as the roofstones which
ore is wont to see upon the sh:ngled and
thatched roofs of the Swiss and TyrOlese
chalets.
Haltstadt. on the lake of the same name.
is at it's foot and it Is from here that
the ascent is usually made, although it is
at times assembled from Schladmimg, on
the opposite side of the mountain. and &C.
casionafly from the terminus of that most
beautiful lake at Gossauschm.ed. This lit
tie village Haltstadt is TYPICAL of the Salz-
kammergut, a section of country rich in
deposits of salt. as well as in bold scenery
and magnificent lakes. Every year one
hears more and more of This region, and,
although not as well known to the aver
age tourist as Switzerland and the Tyrol,
1t is nevertheless becoming a dangerous
rival, it's lakes being infinitely more beau
tiful, and its scenery ever so grand. lscnl
and Salzburg within its confines are GER
tainly two of the lovelest little towns in
Europe, and their enormous popularity and
increase of patronage from year to year
is making thsm world-reHowned.
Such quaint village as Haitstadt, par
tally situated on the side of a steep noun
tain and partially upon piles driven into
the lake and appearing from distance, as
though it were getting ready 10 sEde WIN
in its depths. I have seen nowhere, and ar
lists also like myself, must regard the
hamlet situated at the foot OF that treach-
erous mountain as picturesque and unique,
for all over Europe one may behold the
picture in oil ard In print. When my wife
and myself in company with two English
spirsters, assembled the Hohc-DachStein we
started from Haltstadt, taking with us four
guides We had made preparations the
night before for an early start and at
half-past five in the morning We're in front
Of the little hotel See Auer, ready to make
the ascent, but there was, as there is al
WAYS upon these mountain trips, delay
of an hour or more before we got started.
for there are SO many things to be looked
after-the lunch. the wine. the prandy, the
ropes the ice shoes. the Alpine sticks, the
ice picks, and finally the guides them
selves
It was extremely cold while we were
waiting ard there was no sun IN the lore
neon. Owing to its peculiar situation in the
mountain at Haltstadt. the sun does
not become visible until 1t has made cir
cult around the hills and reached the OPP
posite side of the lake. Not until then is
there sunshine, and this fea ,ure during the
ductive charms, while in winter, when
there is an excessive fall of snow, 1t is a
barrier to all travel the days on its ac-
count being very short and the nights,
when measured by darkness, exceedingly
long.
Z! A Glorious Sensation.
The assent of the Dachsten commences
very gradually and there is no climbing
until an hour and a half has been con-
NJ
ley, on both sides Of which there are in
Vulnerable spashing waterfalls, which
empty themselves with great noise into
mountain torrent crossed and recrossed
by bridges and logs, but after that time
has elapsed an exceedingly steep grade is
reached in which there Is turn for sew
eral thousand feet and which for that
reason robs one of his breath before the
first winding is reached but when this turn
is passed and after that putting spell has
left and one ceases to hold his hand over
his palpitating heart and the lungs breathe
deeper and the heart beats slower and that
superinC umbent weight OF atmosphere has
been removed, how glorious it does feel
climbing higher and higher and how one
forgets the guides and the ladies, and,
walking faster and faster, finds himself
alone upon some lofty eminence.
Hating until the whole party has come
together we stop to gaze upon the valley
1000 feet below. We behold the chcckered
1IeluS u gram ana grass, note the SilVery
lakes upon whose surface boa.men are ply
ing to and fro with their Tyrolean skifs
and RATS of tiDlber-trace the meandering
roads and observe the rapid flight of the
manyhued and shaded clouds. wiiich, watt
ing themselves against the sunmits of the
highest mountains, are broken ito frag-
ments only to be gathered and to DE again
absorbed in turn by others of larger size.
While enchanted by the magnificent view
spread before us We are startled by sud
den rustlng in the bushes and in a flash
of q second two frightened deer rush across
the path and in a moment become lost in
the depth of the forest. We resume walk
ing and the time comes when the huge
way to the scrubby and conterted oak,
and still continuing climbing an elevation
is soon reached where there are nothing
but rocks and bolders interspersed with
grass and shrubs.
At the SimOni Hut.
The ladies wander from the road to
gather the shapely thistles, the six diff
ferent kinds of gentian, the large, the
medium, the small, the dark blue, the light
blue, the Alpine roses, the buttercups. in
short, the ten and twenty flowers indg-
erous to the Alps, and 1 look back and
behold the guides moving slowly along,
weighted down and resting heavily upon
themselves ~ the side of a huge ledge
and partake of the refreshing water flow
Ing from moSs-covered crevice. They
attract my attention and pointing to
small black speck upon the highest crest
1rfer rightly that 1t is the Simoni hut,
where We will spend the night and from