The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1901-10-25
CLIMBED MOUNT HOOD ALONE,


ferlious Peat Accomplished By ?. n.
Wells of rortianu.
r NJ Wells. OF Portland. Ore. Who
made a stop with friends "a F'ry-sec-
ond street, remarked that his efforts
10 save his own life while climbing
Mount Hood without guide several
years ago gave him the local sobrIquet
or ue Pathfinder" says the New
'ork Tribune. "a party OF Portland
ere Including myself said Mr. Wells.
'uegan the ascent. but the guide.
smelling movstorm. declined to
'a"e us up had climbed q dozen
mountains, and was Jealous expo
hent OF the sport Receiving instruc-
uons from the guide as to the most
practical route. ! set out on my long
Journey lie warned me that ! should
probably never see my friends again.
! reached the snow line without ac-
ciieut the storm not matoriallzlng. II
was a ten hours tramp to the summit
from that point was equipped with
safety shoes which were spiked with
Six rows OF iron cleats. an inch long.
and also carried a well-seasoned alp
cnstock
All went morrlly for several hours"
he continued. when I encountered a
wall OF ice and packed snow that In
cllned NJ what thought to be an angle
Of 70 degrees. had assembled this
dangerous BIT TO a position where l
FOUND my advance completely blocked.
When happened to look back over my
tracks / saw TO my establishment that
the Incline was much greater; 80 much
80 that II appeared to be almost per-
pendlcular II was so steep that |
could not possibly return In that direc-
ton. To add to the difficulty OF re-
treat, the sun was at work cutting up
the suriccc. and shining so power
fully that did not dare face the bril-
liancy. ! looAod overhead. could
not stir in that direction. Great over
hanging cliffs threatened me from
either side, Then II was that thor
oughly realized that had lost my way
and was standing upon a virgin spot
OF extreme danger. was absolutely
al loss TO know what TO do. There
stood, breathing heavily and persplr-
Ing, though the fangs OF the wind bi,
like vices. Above me was fiat topped
ledge OF rock, which believed would
crumble at the touch, and above that
was the oomfortless sky line.
Realizing that my life depended
upon my acting at once. tested this
ledge TO ascertain II II would hold me
] fully believed. as / pulled at the
stone. that / should start a landslide
which would engulf me. However. II
held dropped my alpenstock. raised
my arms to their full length, and
hung In mid air. A thousand feet d.
rectly below was n gorge waiting
hungrlly for my bones. FRS and tall
silver green pines. 200 feet In height
and 10000 feet below. seemed like toy
Christmas trees with which children
play, Aud Just beyond my dangling
legs ran the mighty Columbia river
silver OF blue. lifted myself stead
iiy. and. much TO my Joy. gained tn
surface OF the ledge. To my surprise
/ had not gained the mountain top.
found, instead. another black wal
flung across my path. With the ut
most care | tracked my way to the bas'
Of this barrlcade, made a detour 4
the right and gained the summit in
very few moments. II is needless I,
add that the guide believed my ghost
and not myself, appeared at his doc
the following morning. My finger
were worn to the bone from cllnginI
TO cliffs. but otherwise suffered nj
injury / told my friends to stick Il
the conventional track when they es
sayed the climb. I hope no one will
ever repeat my foolhardiness."