The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1912-08-22
! ne 1
Climbers

Flora. Dear: Your letter rather
piQued me. Your accusations were
uncalled for. am not secretive;
neither have I evaded your questions
purposely. Judson Barnet, or Jack, !"
as we now call him, is q wonderfully
clever, interesting man, and ad3aire
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
q perfect time and dislike to think
that but one more week remains to
enjoy the scenery.
have actually climbed i've giant
mountains Of the Alps. Aren't you
envious? Our party arrived at Luz
cerne during the late afternoon. and
when I viewed those majestic noun.
tains. hedged about with mystery
the glaciers filing the neighboring
valleys-the snowpeaks. whose white
outline against the sky was cameo.
like in its clearness, 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 FAIRY
city" held in the fastness of the noun.
tains by some powerful enchanter.
/; The pink-g0ld light Of dawn her.
aiding the approach of day touched
each tip Of the towers, then spread
pver the fowery fields of the valley.
This seemed strange when We were
surrounded by snow fields. :,
The following week we went to
Lake Brieng and crossed to Inter-
Taken. Here the Incompatible Jung;
frau doomed invitingly in the distance.
The mountain would not come to US,
$50. like Mohammed, we went to the
mountain. At Lauterbrunnen village
I'VE took the. cable cars. which lifted
lus 1900 feet to the famous little al
pine village of Murren.
Here we had a wonderful view of
Uungfrau. This maiden of the Alps
appeals strangely to one: She is sur,
passed in beauty by Monte Rosa and
lin grandeur by the Matterhorn. To
(me she is the loveliest of mountains,
/; We reached the summit at sunset.
II never imagined such wonderful coli
pring possible! The evening clouds
land shadows gathered, and finally
might enshrouded the peaks with its
dark, silent pail. We descended half
way down the mountain and spent the
might at a picturesque Swiss inn,
where we sat around the huge fire
Ipiace relating strange experiences. ,
The following day we journeyed to
'Byron's Lake Geneva, with its roman
tic castle of Chillon, spending two
weeks there. Then We came to Zeri
matt. am real mountaineer now.
You should see me attired in rough.
euit, with spiked shoes, green hat
adorned with sprig of edelweiss and
my "ruck-sack" strapped to my back.
4 somewhat resemble Pilgrim on his
rough and weary way. First we as;
cended Monte Rosa, and two days
later braved the Matterhorn. did
not enjoy climbing this mountain. and
you will hardly blame me when you
have heard all.
Six of US started out, tied to the
same guide. After climbing for hours
and hours I became frightfully ia
tigued and while scaling a rugged
crag slipped and turned my ankle
again. To proceed was impossible
The guide told as Of several huts
built to shelter stormbound climbers,
tnstructing US to remain there until
he returned, and not to attempt q
descent. Jack assisted me-in fact,
was almost helpless-to the hut, q
quarter Of mile from the path. He
built a fire and bandaged my ankle,
giving me instant relief, and I fell
asleep. .4 :
I awoke several hours later, to find
o tempting spread, the contents Of our
ruck-sack. We were ravenously hun.
cry and ate everything In sight. At
three o'clock terrific snowstorm, In
all it's flendish fury, burst upon the
mountain. I tried my best not to ap,
pear frightened, but as the hours wore
on and inky darkness enveloped 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.
"a n