The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1908-07-17
MADE ASCENT OF MT. WILSON.
Former Brattleboro Woman Writes of
Her Mountain Climbing Experiences.

Mrs. c. l.. Smith, formerly New Eng
land woman, but now resident OF 10
Angeles. has achieved a somewhat NOR
than local name and fame as a tlreles
and intrepid climber OF the by no mean
/ inconsiderable peaks of the coast rang
of mountains and of some of the summit
of the Sierra Nevada chain in southern
| California.
Her most recent achievement, as mar
rated in letter to old friends in Brattle
| boro, VT, was the ascent of Mt. Wilson
which she, her husband and son accom-
| plished in a single day.
| Most women who climb that mountain
and not a few men, take two days to dc
| it, remaining over night at one of the
| little cottage huts maintained for the
accommodation of climbers near the sum
nit
Mrs. Smith was a Brattleboro girl and,
as Miss Hattie Williams, sang in one OF
the church choirs in that town. She
also resided in Boston for a time and
while here was soloist at the Emmanuel
Baptist church, Fields Corner; also a
member of the choir of the Center Con
gregational church, Dorchester.
Her husband, too, is singer of re-
nown and a noted climber and motorist.
In describing the Mt. Wilson trip, Mrs.
Smith writes:
= I'VE started early in the morning, Mr..
Smith and myself, on the motor cycle
and tricar, accompanied by my son
Harry and several friends on their ma
chimes, and proceeded to Sierra Madre,
Is miles from Los Angeles, lovely little
village, in under the mountains with a
warm and charming climate and no
thought of snow. There you will find
lilies and beautiful California roses in
bloom all the year round and the most
delicious Strawberries, which, also, are
always in season. Sierra Madre is at the
foot Of the trail which leads to the sum
nit. 1t is nine miles to the top, making
it an lS-mie trip to the summit and
return.
"At the foot of the trail are kept the
employed by climbers in making the as
cent. Most parties going up take a
burro along, for if there are any ladies
they are likely to become fatigued from
the eXertion of climbing and welcome the
to ride If several ladies' are
in the party they take turns in riding.
ut is interesting to note that these
little burros will start up the trail, after
being packed with goods for some one at
the summit, all alone, and go to the top |
without the guidance or supervision and
not losing minutes time on the way. |
Them after being unloaded, they will re-
turn alone to the sheds at the foot.
when a burro has once started for
he top or the base, as the case may
De, on one of these unescorted trips,
nothing can swerve him from his course.
eff any one should meet one and try
md turn him around it requires the
greatest amount of persuasion and gen
rally sound application of the whip to
make him obey. Sometimes even this is
rot eficacious. Mr. Burro has made up
lis mind to complete his trip in the way
lie started, and finish it he does, despite
djurations, Establishments and stripes.
I've did not take burro but made the
ound trip on foot, something very few
romen do in one day. At some points
n the trail the path is scarcely wide
nough for person to walk and there
re many places where one can look over
the edge for 1000 feet or more, clear. 1t