The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1912-08-29
The: he ,
Climbers.

NM11DCkS!.
Flora, Dear: Your letter rather
piQued me. Your accusations were
uncalled for. I am not secretive:
neither have evaded your questions
purposely. Judson Barnet, or Jack, !"
Pc We now call him, is q wonderfully
clever. interesting man, and adIaire
him exceedingly. You may safely
crafty your curiosity with the infor.
nation that am not In love with
him.
Weren't you surprised to receive my
card postmarked Switzerland? This
has been rightly designated the "play.
ground Of Europe" have had such
. perfect time and disliks to think
that but one more week remains to
enjoy the scenery.
l have actually climbed I'VE giant
mountains Of the Alps. Aren't you
envious? Our party arrived at Lu.
cerne during the late afternoon. and
when I viewed those majestic noun.
tains. hedged about with mystery
the glaciers flling the neighboring
valleys-the snowpeaks, whose white
outline against the sky was cameo
like in its clearness, T. longed to
reach their submits. Jack and few
others voiced the same desire. and
our consuming ambition became to
add notches to our alpenstocks.
: Early next morning We assembled
Rigi to see the sun rise. Whit an
inspiring sight! Far below flowed
the River Reuss. and there was Lu.
cerne surrounded with it's, walls and
nine toll houses, resembling q FAIRY
city" held In the fastness of the noun.
ttains by some powerful enchanter.
!; The pink.gdld light Of dawn her.
Hiding the approach Of day touched
Ieach tip Of the towers, then spread
lpvsr the howery fields II ~ valley.
This seemed strange wh(2 We were
1urrannded By snow Asid5,,
! The following wssk W went 70,
Lake Brieng and crossS6 10 Inter
|laksn. Here the Incorporate Jung;
Ifrau doomed invitingly In A. distance.
The mountain would not Come to ~.
10. like Nohammsd. We wont 70 the
mountain. At LautssbruShen village
I've took the cable cars, which lifted
he $500 feet to The famous little q.
pine village Of Nurrsn.
Here We had q wonderful view Of
lJungfrau. This maiden q the Alps
appeals strangely to one. She 10 sur,
passed In beauty BY Monte Rosa and
I'm grandeur BY the MattSrhorn. To
me she 10 the loveliest Of mountains.
/, We reached the summit at sunset.
q never imagined such Wonderful col:
pring possible! The evening clouds
land shadows gathered, and finally
hight enshrouded the peaks with its
dark, silent pail. We DESCENDED half
way down the mountain and spent the
might at g. picturesque Swiss inn,
where we sat around the huge fire.
place relating strange experiences. /:
5 The following day we jparneyed to
'Byron's Lake Geneva. wifi Hts roman,
tic castle Of Chillon. spShding two
weeks there. Then We csme to Zerl
matt. am real mount neer now.
You should see me attire4 insa rough
euit, with spiked shoes, fssn hat
adorned with q sprig, Of e4elWeiss and
my '''ruck-sack" STRAPPED to ny back:
{ somewhat resemble Piltrim on his
rough and weary way. Ftfst We o.;
cended Monte Rosa, and ITO days
later braved the Matterhprn. 7 did
not enjoy climbing this mountain. and
you will hardly blame me- when you,
have heard all.
Six Of us started out, lied to the
same guide. After climbing for hours
and hours became friGhtfully f.
tigued and while scaling . rugged
crag I slipped and turned my ankle
again. To proceed was impossible.
The guide told us Of several huts
built to shelter stormbound climbers,
instructing us to remain there until
he returned. and not to attempt q
descent. Jack assisted me-in fact
) was almost helpless-to the hut, .
quarter Of mile from the path. He
built a fire and bandaeed my ankle.
living me instant relief, and fell
asleep.
+, I awoke several hours iatsr, to 1ind
q tempting spread. the contents Of our
ruck-sack.. We were ravsnously hun.
cry and ate everything, in sight. Al
three o'clock terrific snowstorm, IN
all its hendish fury, burst upon tho
mountain ! tried my belt not to ap.
pear frightened. but as the hours wore
on and inky darkness envsloped US, !
wondered. II the guide had forgotten
to come. All night long We strained
our ears for any sound which might
foretell the approach of the party.
Morning found the storm still raging.
Jack showed signs Of worry. Our
food was entirely gone. At two
o'clock the sky cleared and We started
to descend. We hadn't gone far when
We were met by searching party.
Two Of them escorted us to Zermatt.
It was a wonderful experience, but
] haven't the slightest desire to 70
peat It.