New-York tribune., 1909-09-05
SEEK UNSCALED PEAKS.
Eramples of Climbing Which Are
Hard to Emulate.

Mountain climbers are restlessly securing the
earth for virgin heights that yet remain to be
scaled 1t is feared that the best peaks nave
been conquered. Every climber wants to be
frst-the Columbus of a new summit NOBODY
cares for a second prize that doesn't exist There
may he lust as much hardship and danger for
the followers, but the bloom is gone. The
strenuous labors Of the last few decades have
stalled for the mountain climbers host of mag
nificent peaks which the poets and the populace
still regard with respect. a professional alpinist
turns up his at Mont Blanc and says there
are no elevations worth mentioning in the United
States. Europe North and South America, Asia,
and Africa have been mostly done from the
climbing standpoint. In the tropics and the
nolar regions the cloudy laurels have been
snatched from the loftest peaks
The climbers feel despondent not Only because
so few high spots remain unvanquished, but be-
cause they apprehend that the ones which are
left. including the Hinalayan world champion.
Mount Everest (.9,002 feeO. may be ascended
by mere exercise of lung and leg power Where
there are no technical difficulties in the Ian
guage of Professor Charles l.. Fay. an authority,
who contributes article on the worlds climb
ic~ records to THE National Geographic Maga-
zine any common Ierson may get to the top.
1t is manifest there can be no glory in getting
up by the simple use of lungs and legs, and of
course it is out of the question for the police to
forbid the rising of The hOi pOllo above or TO
their bcttcrS. The police too scarce in Cen
trPl Africa and amid the Hindoo- Koosh ranges
self-r'SpcctinG Professional climber will tackle
only peak where he las 20 use an axe and
rope and both hands. He must have chance
TO emulate the wild goat on dizzy lodges and to
c like q hy to a sheer wall of granite Posi-
tions that would b. quick suicide to others con-
ST Ite his lingering joy 1t is his virtue like
that Of reVoluti"nist I, totter on the brink Of
obstruction. yet never fall into the abyss. The
professionals take plenty of deadly chances but
few Of them sucoumb. 1t is the amateurs who
fill the creyasses and newspaper columns IN
summer
The trouble with the Rockies in the United
States from the professional standpoint is their
accessibility. Some Of them are scaled by rail
roads aud the rest by the aforesaid vulgar usa
Of lungs and legs. However, there are some
real peaks in the Canadian Rockies which for
elgn aplnists have condescendcd to visit win
4 suitable outfit and to vanquiah These noun
tains are no higher than Uncle Sans cloud ,
splitt'rS. but their architecture is far more in
vitmg'y suicidal The most davout clirnb.r
would not say his prayers once going up Mount
whitney 14.499 fceD, the highest point in the
United states. While irreligous man wouId
be 'nc"n'd to rccite a iitany several times on /
the way to the top Of IIungabcc 0I447) in the !
Canadian range. Mr.. Abbott. member of the
Appalachian Mountain Club. lost his life in 1903 /
Fhle attempting to make the summit of Mount /
LEROY Gl,22o feeD, one of the ScIkirl peaks /
In Canada.
Within twenty-five years after the formation |