AX ASCEXT OF MX. ORIZABA. 



5"? •? 



its outline, gives it a dazzling splendor — a crown of glory worn only 

 by the kings among mountains. 



For five hours we plodded upward through the snow. With woolen 

 socks pulled partly over the shoes so as to leave the rubber heels ex- 

 posed, I found it easy to walk up the steep smooth slopes which held the 

 feet almost like sandpaper. But my guide's wide sandals could not 

 hold to the snow, consequently he had to cut steps. When he became 

 exhausted I took his place, and thus we alternated. Exertion at that 

 altitude is difficult. At the cave to roll over on a blanket and pull it 

 over the shoulder almost makes one pant. ' And to pull the blanket over 

 both shoulders would make a pair of pants, I suppose,' said my hostess 

 at a dinner party a few months later, when the story was being related. 



Fig. 5. Mount Orizaba from 12,000 ft. Elevation. Snow extending down to the 15,000 



ft. Line. 



During the ascent of mountains up to fourteen thousand feet in height 

 heretofore mountain sickness has not caused me much annoyance. But 

 for the last three thousand feet of the ascent of Orizaba, headache, pain 

 at the top of the spinal cord, rapid beating of the heart, shortness of 

 breath, inability to eat even a cracker or chocolate, general discomfort 

 nearly destroyed all pleasure. I have never noticed the popularly re- 

 ported tendency to bleeding at the nose and ears. Olives and lemon 

 juice were the only things I could swallow. This mat de montagne was 

 Less severe when clouds obscured the sun than when the glare was 

 brightest, and le>s noticeable when we were in hollows than when we 



