The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1909-08-12

y | !: 81: !: ::. ::. y: 4"
century.
Lofty mountains in the
various quarters Of our
globe present a great
field. Modern noun
taineering dates from
the first ascent OF
Mont Blanc, in 1856
and for more than
half a century ascents
Of importance were
confined almost exclu-
sively TO the Alps. Another epoch
making date was 1857. In which year
was founded the English Alpine club.
destined to become the prototype OF INhSf
more than eight score similar organ OfNI
i%zations, represented in nearly every h"HHi
civilized land. societies whose lead. 29o0
srs generally turned to the play
ground Of Europe" for the enjoyment
OF their chosen recreation. Hence il is no.
strange that in the next quarter OF a century
Switzerland and Tynol had become hack.
neyed, with scarcely an important peak LEFT
u~nclimbed.
In 1868 Messrs. Freshheld. Tucker and
Moore. OF the English Alpine club. visited the
Caucasus and made the first ascent of Elbruz
uS,34D at the westerly and of Kasbek
u6.546) at the easterIy end Of the great cen
tral chain. They may perhaps be regarded
as the pioneers Of a different type OF noun
tain exploration and certainly as the reveal
ers, i not discoveries. Of a new playground"
on the Confines OF Europe and Asia. destined
70 witness IN the last two decades OF the cen.
fury the coming Of experts Of different ma
tionalities, who soon would leave. as ia the
Alps. no remote valley u~nvisited and no proud
summit unyanouished.
A glance at the map OF the world shows
upon the several continents vast systems Of
mountain ranges or striking instances Of iso-
lated peaks. To note only the principal ones,
we have here upon our western hemisphere
that belt Of varying width which. rising TO
MARKEDLY different attitudes. extends from the
Arctic ocean TO Cape HOrn-a distance Of
hardly less than 10000 miles. In Alaska 1t
nttains 1900 feet IN Mount st. Elias. about
10000 in Mount Logan, a comparatively near
nelghbor, and over 10000 IN Mount Mckinley,
some degrees nearer the Arctic circle. In
South America. from the equator southwark.
II scars yet higher In such giants as Chimbo-
razo, Huaacaran. sorata and Aconcagua. II
Is here that the western continent reaches It's
eliminating attitudes.
In Asia a similarly irregular and much in
terrrpted chain runs In a general southeast
eTy direction from near the black sea. Be
gianing with the Caucasus and passing by
way OF the Eburz mountains. several minor
ranges and the Hindu Kush 20 The mighty
Himalayas. which for a distance OF over
1900 miles fc7m the fronuer Of India. Il ex.
tends to the sources OF the Drahmaputra and
the Irawadi; great spurs Ike the Kusu Iun
monntains and the trans Hlmalayan range.
lately explored by Sven nedin, strike east.
ward from a. This system has a reach OF
perhaps 4e0O miles and in Il Us Il IN Mount
Everest 29,002 feet, or some iofticr peak. pos.
sibly caught sight OF once or twice By men OF
the oocidentYl we have the crown OF the
world Yet farther north, IN central Asia. an.
other notable range. very recently explored.
must also be mentioned. for ia Il rise peaks
OF truly Himalayan proportions-the Tian.
Shan mountains, with Khan Tengri. some ag,
500 feet in altitude,
Compared with these great systems such
limited regions as the European Aips sink
into ipsignidcanoe. and yet for inspiring gran.
denr and variety and beauty OF form. also as
a school for the art Of climbing on crag and
SHOWS, these readily accessible peaks will
always retain their prestige.
The vast continent OF Africa presents no
corresponding mountain system. The Atlas
range IN the north is OF minor Importance;
for, while it's SUBMITS suTpass 1900 feet. they
are devoid Of alpine features. Yet almost
upon the equator, east OF the median line OF
the continent and In the nelghborho6d OF the
great lakes at the sources OF the Nile, a con-
pick Of snowy peaks, Ruwenzori. and yet far
faer east and south Isolated giants like Kenia
and Kilimaniaro rise 10 attitudes Ear surpass-
ing Europe's long-boasted monarch OF noun.
tains." Mont Blanc measures 1871 feet
above the sea. Kenia Is 1880 feet; Kiliman-
faro 1850. while nine OF the chief submits
Of Ruwenzorl measure between 1890 and
1885 feet
The isles OF the sea are not without their
claimants for honor II. IN our extreme def
erence for crowns Of snow, we pass by the
Hawaiian volcano Mauna Kea Qs.953), pri-
mate OF The peaks OF the Pacific. and FujtSan
Oa.go5). the sacred mountain OF japan, and
rs eompeers. We shall nnd on the southern
island Of New Zealand. az q latitude OF It's
hnnIanhara about dat Of our White Noun.