Putnam patriot., 1911-11-10
UT @'' Byron D. Blu gb C C Watch Show Windows


afternoon that he thought it better to 70 at night than in the day time, as the heat is terrific at Gibraltar, which is IA huge wall of rock 1900 feet in height rising perpendicular from nar- row trail and Is especially dangerous from rocks and ice falling, when the sun is shining. We started at nine D. m. with a great ovation from the camp. and several followed along the trail for short distance wishing us good speed. After perhaps three miles of compara. lively easy climbing the real work commenced and this kept up until the top was reached at eight the next morning. We started out with twelve besides the guide, but two fell out at the It, 600 1t. level, and two others who really did not intend to go the entire number. 1 really can't begin To tell you all that we saw and passed through, but with all the discomfort, 1t is much the finest trip l have ever
 
 have made the summit, and in the record book at the top l signed from Thompson, Connecticut, as l believe l am the first from there to have made the trip, and think 1t is an honor. There are two boxes at the top contain | ing the names of those who have been there, one of brass or copper and one of | iron. There is also an American flag protected from the wind beneath a rock, as without cover it would last but short time as the wind is very l sharp.
 We went down into one of the steam ] caves in the crater where we applied l the grease paint to our faces to protect Us from the glazing sun on the snow. i Three of us also crossed the crater, which is probably a half mile across, to the north side to see the peak that is visible from our side of the mountain. l All around the rim we could see steam issuing, proving that there is still heat somewhere beneath, but the entire crater is filled with snow and the steam only issues around the edge. All of our immediate party of six had little difficulty except the cold during the 1 night and extreme fatigue of course
 but one of the others fell out about 300 feet from the top and the guide had to haul him up with an Alpine stock and when he reached the point where we were all sitting he fell fast asleep and remained in half daZed condition un. til we started back. We were not . lowed any water from the time we left camp until our return, so in place of it We drank pear juice and ate plain bread sandwiches, raisins and Bartlett psars. l took three oranges with me as my previous experience had proved them of value. One of the difficulties in ascending is the possibility of nau- sea, but none of us were troubled, as very rigid diet was adhered to from the experience of the party that sseended just before we did. One of the effects of the high altitude is the desire for sleep, part of IL however may come from fatigue.
 The descent was made without mis- hap although we had 10 cross several eravasses in the ice near the summit and two glaciers. At one point rope was used in descending and also AS eending, AS slip would mean the end 10 whoever was unfortunate enough 10 fall. 1 slid over one small crevasse which could r ot see from above, but it was only a foot wide so not especial. ly dangerous, only couldn't see the bottom of it when 1 looked down. There are some that are several feet across sud extremely dangerous. We reached camp again at two p. m. hav- ing been gone seventeen and s half