Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1896-12-04
MOUNTAIN CLIMBING.
Few People Physicaliy Fitted For the At
mosphere of High Attitudes.

In connection with any sport tho
questions which arise are mainly three:
Is it innocent? is il enjoyable? Is II
healthful? To expect n sport qua sport
to yield knowledge or gain is to regard
it from the wrong point of view. Dulce
est desipere in loco; we must all relax
sometimes, and the arguments which
are used against mountaineering would
90 far to condemn all kinds of amuse-
ment.
AS regards the three questions which
we have propounded the answer to the
first is easy. Mountaineering Is without
doubt innocent, and in the Judgment of
its adherents it is inferior to no sport in
point of enjoyment. The third question,
which comes more directly within our
province, admits of more de ate.
Can we regard mountaineering as in
the main and for the mass Of tourists
safe and healthful amusement? This is
question which cannot be answered
without considerable reserve and quail
fcations. Mountaineering-by which
we mean ascents of 10, 900 or 10, 900
feet and upward-involves much strain
and severe fatigue. The strain is first
upon the muscular system, but it affects
even more Importantly the circulatory,
respiratory and nervous mechanisms. In
some persons the heart seems to feel the
tax most, in others the nervous system
is chiefly affected. Palpitation and
mountain sickness the latter in all
probability neurosis-are the two
chief difficulties that beset the average
mountaineer.
1t is clear from these considerations
| that mountaineering Is not for every
body. There must be, first Of all,
sound general physique, considerable
endurance and the capacity for prolong-
ed and continuous effort But IL is not
so generally understood that sound
heart muscle-a we'll developed and
well exercised myocardium-is indis
pensable for any considerable mountain
eering feats. Hence any suspicion of
structural heart disease is an absolute
CONTAMINATION for any such exploits.
Further, the heart must be not only
structurally sound, but well exercised
and in good condition. Hence, sedentary
livers who, for / / months in the year,
have no regular active exercise, should
not employ their holiday month in
mountaineering. Yachting or fishing
would be much safer for such, and per-
haps not less healthful.
Many Alpine accidents have been the
result of neglect of this very obvious
rule. For similar reasons mourtainoer-
ing should be eschcwcd by persons III
middle life who have not acquired the
requisite training i'll youth, and even
those who in the heyday Of their early
prime delighted III the sport and enjoyed
many crowded hour of glorious life
on some Alpine summit would do well
to remember Horace's maxim regarding
the aging speed and bid timely adieu
to exploits no longer suited to their
years. A certain stability of the nervous
system is indispensable for mountaineer-
ing, but it is difficult to say anything
precise on this head. Neurotic individ-
uals not only climb badly as a rule. but
they do not benefit by the air above a
certain moderate level. A certain cool
ness of nerve is necessary qualification
for the many ascentS which involve aC-
tual danger-danger usually avoidable
and seldom extreme, but not to be light
ly encountered by those deficient in
steadiness and self control
Many of the dangers Of mountaineer-
ing which bulk largely in the popular
imagination are either quite rare or
easily avoided Thus snow blindness is
not at all of frequent occurrence, is al
most confined to prolonged exposure to
a blazing sun upon snowfelds and is
usually successfully averted by the use
of colored spectacles. Bleeding from the
nose and ears, which is described by the
early explorers, is practically unknown
at least to any serious eXtent-at the
present day. Frostbite and sunburn,
though not uncommon, are seldom Sc
we're. Perhaps the most frequent ground
OF attack upon mountaineering is its
presumed perilousness. Accidents are
no doubt frequent, but it is certainly
true that for the most part they are
avoidable. London Lancet.