The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-06
MISS PECK CLIMBS SORATA.
The Highest Peak In the Bolivian Andes
Conquered by Woman.


About ten weeks ago Miss Annie Peck
of New York left this city to attempt the
ascent of the most famous mountain OF
the Bolivian Andes. The news has just
been received that this lady, who had
already achieved fame as mountain
climber, has successfully made the ascent
Of Mount Sorata.
Miss Peck was accompanied by Presl-
dent W. G. Tight of the University Of New
Mexico and two Swiss guides. The noun
tain is)very difficult of ascent; and though
repeated attempts have been made. its
three snowy peaks have never been scaled
before.
1t is to be hoped hat Miss Peck succeeded,
with the scientific Instruments in her equip
ment, in ascertaining the height of the
overlapping peak of Sorata which it was
her mission to ascend. No satisfactory
computation Of it's height has yet been
made. though according to the lowest
estimate, the peak shoots up to u 300 feet
above the sea. The mountain is most
wonderfully impressive sight, though as
it stands, on the very lofty caste plain
of Bolivia it's actual height is of course
dwarfed from any point Of view where
it may be seen to advantage.
The range in which Sorata is situated
and forms a mighty bulwark along the
west ern frontier Of that republic, separating
it from the Andes chains belonging to
Chile, which lie west of it, North Of Lake
Titicaca, the great Carabaya range Of
Peru extends its mighty crest to the south
east and Joins the Bolivian system, whose
mountains are among the highest in South
America.
These Bolivian mountains, penetrating
above the snow line, are known as the Cor
dillera Real and stand at the enormous
altitude on the Bolivian plain of 1880
feet above the sea. Toward the middle Of
the chain the three-crested Sorata. named
from the town at it's foot and also known
as Illampu from an Indian word meaning
Snow" rises malestically above the other
SUBMITS of the chain
Reaching the top Of the highest crest Of
the mountain, wonderful view must have
been spread before the eyes Of this enter
the mighty range she saw the tops OF Cha
chacomani. Huaina Potosi, Cacacs, Mesada,
Illimani and other snowy peaks, all over
topped by Sorata, but still imposing in
their great dimensions and variety of
outline. Gazing to the west it is likely
that she saw the shores OF the Pacific Ocean
in southern Peru and northern Chile.
Looking to the east it is probable that
the broad high plain Of Bolivia was in view.
almost, if not quite. to the eastern border
of the republic We do not yet know
what scenes were presented to her gaze
as she looked down the slope Of the noun
tain; but it is known that the mountain
climber who reaches the top Of Illimani,
the second ighest o. the Boil ian peaks,
can see from that Arctic summit Il e troTi al
plantations encircling it's base, higher up
on the slopes the forests and crops of the
temperate zone, and the snow-covered
sides beneath his feet glistening in the
clear atmosphere of the upper attitudes
All these mountains are extinct volcanoes.
Miss Peck was doubtless greatly assisted
in her splendid achievement by her two
Swiss guides, who have been considered
necessary in all the recent attempts to scale
the loftiest OF the South American SUBMITS.
Even such experienced Alpinists as Sir
William Conway and Mr. FITZGERALD
thought it essential to their success to
take with them the best Swiss guides they
could find. These trained men. whose
profession is mountain climbing, are now
in great demand in many other parts Of
the world besides the Swiss Alps, where
they learned the art OF snow ascents. In
recent years they have been associated
with the best feats of mountaineering in
the Caucasus. the Himalavas, ~. New
Zealand Aims and the Canadian Rockies