Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-11-05

Twin Peaks, two of the highest
mountain peaks in the Wasatch Range,
point their lofty tops heavenward at
an altitude of about HOO feet above
sea level. They are located between
the two Cottonwood Canyons, near the
valley. From the Temple Block to the
summit OF the west peak the air lire
distance is about thirteen miles. on
the north side of the peaks, near the
top, can be seen snow all the year
around.
Historical-The first visit made by
white man to the summit of the Twin
Peaks is thus described by Elder John
Brown:
ION Friday. August 90. 1s47, in COM
pRny with Albert Darlington, | went to
the foot Of what we supposed - be the
highest peak in the mountains east OF
the valley. called the Twin Peaks. We
camped at the mouth of Big Cotton
wood Canyon. Next morning (Aug.
21st) at S o'clock four of us Darlington.
Brown, Wilson and Rus) commenced
to ascend the mountain, leaving
guard with our horses. After totling
about eight hours and being very
much fatigued, three of us reached the
summit OF the west peak; one of our
party (Dr. RusD had given out and
laid down near a snowbank to rest.
We had brought along a barometer,
thermometer and compass, with which
we made some observations and
learned that the peak was about 1l,Ig
feet above the sea. The temperature
at five o'clock in the evening was so
degrees above zero, while on the same
day. at noon. 1t stood 1Ol degrees in the
city. At $3.50 p m. We commenced
descending: we came down on the west
side of the peak, passed through q
beautiful grove OF timber, and followed
the course of n small creek. We had
not gone far when darkness came on,
had axp0rfPd To get hack
to camp about the middle of the after
noon, we were unprovided with bed
| ding, coats or any kind of arms, wish
| ing to go as lightly loaded as possible,
| the day being very warm. But now,
when night came on, we found IL quite
| cold in the mountains. While climbing
over the rocks, after feeling our way
| with our hands in order to escape death
| by falling over a precipice. we became
! separated, and only Brother Caring
/ ton and / remained together. At 10
! y. m. we laid down under scrubby
tree. being so tired that further prog
ress was impossible, and we knew not
| where the two other men had gone. At
length we found a place between the
rocks large enough to lay down. our
bed. however was by no means hori-
zontal: It had a slope of something like
a degrees. Instead of feathers we had
pebbles for pillows, and coarse sands
which were yet warm from the heat
! Of the sun, for bedding; we kept
them warm by our bodies during the
remainder Of the night. At Q o'clock the
next morning We arose being gome-
what sore, and we continued our Journey
down the mountain side. Hungry and
faint, having had neither supper nor
breakfast. we scrambled over the rocks
as best we could. After we had gone
about half a mile we heard mans
voice IN the canyons below, and on GO
ing little further wa saw one Of our
men CDr. VIM w, Rust) on our left.
standing on large rock. He called for
help, saying that he was tired out. As
we We're precisely in the same FIX we
could not render him any assistance.
We reached our camp at 7:30 n. m,
where we found our other companion
who had made his wav IN at 10 o'clock
the night previous We then returned
to the city. satisfied with our first at =
tempt at climbing mountains"
only few men have undertaken to
climb to the summit Of the Twin Perks
since lS47 a scientific party who made
the ascent q few years ago. however.
found the altitude TO be greater than
that given by the FIRST vlsiturs.-Jen-
sons Historical Record.