JOHN C. FREMONT. 207 



which his journey lay. He was confirmed in this 

 opinion which afterward proved to be totally er- 

 roneous by the judgment of the chief guide, 

 whom he had selected and employed at Pueblo San 

 Carlos. 



At length, on the 30th of November, the company 

 commenced to ascend the mountains. They were 

 impeded by the deep snow, and were often assailed 

 by wintry storms. On the first day they reached 

 an elevation at which all vegetation ceased: they 

 were unable to obtain any wood for fire, and the 

 cold was intense. During the night which ensued, 

 the mules were saved from being frozen to death 

 only by the most strenuous and unremitting exer- 

 tions of the men. The snow still fell ; and the next 

 day they were able to advance only by sending for- 

 ward a division with mauls, for the purpose of break- 

 ing down a road in the snow for those who followed. 

 At length, after a toilsome and painful journey of 

 many hours, the summit of the mountain was 

 reached. It was covered with vast masses of ice 

 and rocks. A more gloomy and repulsive scene 

 could not be imagined than that which there pre- 

 sented itself. The winds swept through the sur- 

 rounding gorges and frozen abysses with appalling 

 fury ; and, as from his lofty perch the bold leader of 

 the expedition gazed around him, he beheld nothing, 



