Year: 1875

A Cherries Night on the Alps-Mont


Blanc-Genpya.


| My DEAR EDITOR In the afternoon of
August 9th, having done justice to an
excellent dinner after the manner of way
worn travellers. we passed through the
streets of Martigay and began the ascent
to the Col de In Forclaz. As the day was
exceedingly warm, we congratulated our
selves upon our forethousht in leaving our
luggage behind. The road over which
we passed, WAS new and well built. and
commanded 4 fine view of the Rhone Val
| lev, still, as it made an ascent of from four
to five thousand feet. its continuously SER
pentine windings became extremely mo-
notonous long ere the summit was reached,
From the Col de In Forclaz there are two
routes leading to Mont Blanc The one
passes over the Col de Balme, (thc bound
ary line between Switzerland and France
| where an extensive view is obtained of the
Mont Blanc range, the Chamouny Valley
and nearly the whole mountain scenery Of
Nalais and Savoy. The other leads by 4
carriage road through wild gorge over
the Tetc Noire, and is Of less interest to
the tourist We chose the former route,
and, though the day WAS already drawing
to a close. we thought that we could easily
reach the inn at the summit of the Col de
Balme before darkness would come on
| Parting with an American gentleman who
had accompanied us during the afternoon.
we descended hastily into the valley, and
soon began the almost treciptous ascent
upon the other side. Meanwhile the sky
! became overcast with dark clouds, and
night FASTENED rapidly on, SO that, ere the
first steep ascent was made we could, with
difficulty trace our pathway. We pushed
on, however. rs rapidly rs the fading light
and our uncertain way would allow. until
at length the muttcrins thunder told us
that the gathering storm would soon burst.
Already the thick darkness had inclosed
us, and we looked in vain for the CLEAN Of
light from the hotel on the height. while
the furious blasts swept unchecked over
| the bare and desolate mountain sides, and
nought, save the continuous flash Of the
lightning, revealed to us our way. In
the midst Of this gathering gloom, we
passed close to a chalet. or rude structure
of some kind, and hope revived for 4 mo-
ment, As we thought that there might be
some one Within but our numerous calls
brought no response. and. cropping about
here and there we at length found the door,
and discovered it to be Il deserted chalet
which had been later used rs 4 hcrdsman' s
stable. 1t was doubtless already past
eight o'clock, and remembering that Il poor
shelter Is better than none, we concluded.
though suppcrlrss, To }ocl- the door and
make ourselves ut home for the night
The wind which had now increased in fury


whi>tled through the crevices in the walls
and the heavy blasts caused the very
storm burst. and, having spent its force,
there was again no sound save the dripping
of the rain through the crcviccs above our





heads. We We're now ut III elevation oi
1000 feet with the prospect of 4 cold light
before US. and although very warm after
our difficult ascent. we had brought no cx-
ira clothing, and the serious question that
confronted us was, in wha. WAY we should
spend the long hours Of the night. The
only feasible plan suggested, was to keep
up some form of exercise until we became
perfectly cool and dry, and then draw Il:
closely together us we could and resigr
ourselves to our fate. CnfOrtunately
neither of us possessed 4 match. and we
were therefore, unable to tell how slowl ly
the hours were dragging by, bat it was
probably about ten that we venturcu tC
sit down upon the stable floor, back tC
back, with Il determination to grin and
bear it " until the morning light should
was no easy task to keep off the influence
of the drowsy god. but as we conceived
that our lives were in the balance. we
persisted until it seemed that the night
must have nearly worn itself out, when in
order to get some relief from our con
strained position, we ventured oat into the
night air. The storm had long since
passed. and the myriad stars sent down
their soft light over the mountains. 50 that
it was easy to ascertain our position and
choose out our path which would bring us
to the summit Proceeding leisurely
along this path, less than an hour sufficed
to reveal to us the inn, but, imagining that
the morning light was already breaking
we determined to climb up one of the
higher peaks, half an hours walk distant
where an unobstructed view of the expect
ant sunrise could be obtained. This peal
was, without serious difficulty. reached
but rs the sunrise still fingered. we made
n careful examination of our watches an(
the relative position Of the hands and came
to the conclusion that it was yet only three
o'clock. raw wind blew over the heigh
and the wild grass was wet from the rar
be no alternative but to choose position
little below the height, which was par
TALLY sheltered from the wind, and rur
back and forth until the hour had passed
This we did, but the hour did not bring
the day. The stars twinkled just as un
concernedly as before, and y second closer
scrutiny of the time compelled us to admit
that our previous reckoning had beer
wholly untrustworthy, and that we mus
+ still wait for the coming of the light An
, other hour passed. asleep or ava Ike, VI
g hardly knew which. We only knew tina
= we walked or stood, and then, at length
there was the breath of morning in tn
air, and the lofty peaks of the Mont Blan