COOK IN THE ANTARCTIC AND IN ALASKA 109 



This was the sixth day of their climb. Observation gave the 

 height they had reached at 16,300 feet. The effect of the lofty 

 altitude here became severely felt, and after toiling up 2,000 feet 

 along easy slopes, they pitched their tent in the early afternoon for 

 another rest. Observations from this point showed them that there 

 were two main peaks, about two miles apart, with lower ranges 

 between them. The one to the east was the highest and towards 

 this they turned their steps on the following morning. 



The final climb of the two explorers was one that needed their 

 utmost resolution. The temperature was 16 degrees below zero, and 

 the wind bitingly cold. The lofty elevation seriously affected their 

 strength and caused their hearts to labor to keep up the circulation. 

 The chill crept into their very bones, the only alleviation to it being 

 hot tea. But at that elevation it was difficult to melt snow and the 

 water boiled at so low a temperature that the tea was weak and 

 not very hot. 



But, taking their sleeping-bags and a light emergency ration, 

 and carrying a flag, once more, with grim determination, they faced 

 upward on their final climb, over the feathery snow-field that clothed 

 those high altitudes. Much of their route lay in the shadow of rock 

 pinnacles, and here the chill was piercingly severe; but in the sun- 

 shine they felt a distinct sensation of warmth. 



Progress was very slow. At every hundred steps they had to 

 halt and lean on their axe-handles to rest. Gasping for breath, they 

 dragged themselves onward. When near the summit they fell ex- 

 hausted and gasping on the snow. The final stages of the climb were 

 almost beyond their powers, and the relief was great when climbing 

 came to an end and they stood on the summit of the heaven-soaring 

 peak. With clasped hands and looks of gladness they stood in 

 silence. They had not breath enough to shout or even to speak, and 

 they could only express their feelings by their eyes. It was the i6th 

 of September, 1906. The altitude they had reached, as indicated 

 by their aneroid barometer, was 20,391 feet. 



