Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1904-08-11

precipices fell away to unknown
depths. 1t was jagged and scanned,
with great slabs of rock piled precari-
ously upon one another, some of the
huge masses being on n delicate bal
ance and apparently ready at touch
to start from their places and precipi-
tate an avalanche of tons of rocks
down the steep sides of the mountain
1t looked to many of the climbers as
though the trip in this direction was
ended, but Bunnell, taking the lead,
skipped nimbly across the chasm,
climbed up through flssures in the
rock, picked his way actively across
the unstable rocks and gained the fur.
ther side of the pinnacle QUE of sight,
calling back to his followers to come
on. Five followed close ON his trail !;
G. Hassell, foreman Of the photo.
graphic department of the Sunset mag
azino; Rev. W. I. Wardle of Dallas,
A. L. vocrhies, Fred Mensoh and J.
w. Coulter of Los Angeles. They
proceeded at intervals sufficient to in.
sure safety from falling rocks and
testing every foothold cautiously,
gained the further side Of the pinnacle
in safety. There they supposed their
troubles would be ended. But no,
ahead of them was nothing but an
other rock pinnacle, higher, rougher
and more forbidding than the first.
Again Bunnell scaled the rocks like
monkey, worked his way across a
treacherous mass of sliding rocks,
walked the upper edge of an almost
perpendicular snow bank and gained
tie next breathing place on the fur
ther side of the pinnacle. Again his
followers picked their way across the
rocks, scrambled through the slide and
took the snow path with what nerve
they were able to muster, feryently
blessing their stout alpenstocks and
the long spikes in their shoe so les,
Persons who have never taken trips
like this can hardly realize the solid
comfort and sense of security given by
a few good sharp calks in the shoes,
On hard snow or on rock there is no
slipping. When the foot is planted it
is there to stay until the owner has no
further use for the spot.
The second large pinnacle marked
the intersection of the ridges. Far
down on the snow field to the west,
Pease and Farnsworth could be seen
climbing the steep snow slope and
lookinglike toy men. On the east,
the mountain plunged down everlast.
ingly, the snow reaching nearly to the
crest of the ridge and having decliv-
ity that was frightful, more especial.
ly as it led straight down into the
crevasses of huge glacier.
After a few rods of fairly comfort
able climbing, the party came up
against the real Thumb rock itself
towering high into the air. This was
passed. on the east side, another bit of
tioklish business. Again the climbers
took to the upper feather edge Of an
almost perpendicular snow hank and
made their way across to the upper
side of the huge obstacle. Great riffs
and holes appeared In the snow next
the rocks, while just below were great
crevasses, hungrily gaping for man
meat. Above this point, the climbing
was safe and fairly easy. though II
was yet several miles to the top Of the
mountain. .At one place perpendic-
ular wall of rock barred the way and
made it necessary again TO take to the
snow where it hung on the side Of the
precipice. Here the solid rock came
up from the west with an easy slope
to sharp edge and plunged almost
straight down on the east side. Snow
filled this chasm almost to the brim.
Just few feet away from the edge
there was huge crevasse cutting the
snow vertically so that only mere
shell clung to the mountain side This
shell OF snow was the bridge by which
the party passed the rock wall and
this was probably the most precariou,
portion Of the ascent.
At this point Bunnell and his fol.
lnuiuU aan,a a nor, Da.ea uuJ Hnrus
worth who had found far easier way
Of ascent and had stopped TO wait foi
the others This increased the party
to eight As the last OF these wen
about 10 resume their upward ma-cl
they saw one more black clad lgnr,
tolling on the trail. This proved tC
be A. Il. Doyle Of Portland vino wal
climbing automatically. He wa
nearing state Of exhaustion aud de-
ciared with feIyor that climbing Mt
Hood was child's play compared Will
Shasta. The remainder Of the party
with the exception Of Bunnell, werD
also badly winded and were feelinl
the effects Of the high altitude.
1t was long distance from thi
! point to the summit Of the mountain
but the slope was easy and the walk
J ing was good, long stretches Of soil,
and nearly smooth rock alternating
with big snow fields. The summit /
point Of rock that raises straight Ul
> out Of the snow about 100 feet high
throwing ont a sharp rock crest
short distance TO the east The part,
gained the summit Of this crest. SOM
80 feet below the highest point Of th
mountain. These last few feet locke
too perilous aud none would attemp
IL except Bunnell who carried the Ma
zama box up and deposited II on th
extreme top.
OF the nine men who gained the sum