740 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



mountaineer was not even alluded to by any of the speakers, nor was 

 the fact that, in recognition of his discoveries in the Alps, one of the 

 highest peaks in our country has been named for him. 



In 1864 I had charge of a party exploring the group of highest 

 peaks of the Sierra Nevada, in California the highest, in fact, in 

 the United States. For several years I had been familiar with its 

 distant aspects, as seen from nearly every side. The group was en- 

 tirely unknown, however, so far as any accurate knowledge of its 

 height, topography, or interior scenery, was concerned. Previous at- 

 tempts to reach it had failed. Once we had been prevented by floods, 

 and once turned from its flanks by hostile Indians. But this time we 

 were more successful. Our camp was at 10,000 feet elevation, the 

 deep, -blue-black canopy of sky our only shelter. From this point our 

 first attempt failed. Two of us reached an altitude of nearly 14,000 

 feet, only to find the crest nearly five miles beyond, and separated 

 from us by a' canon 3,000 or more feet deep, with vertical precijfices of 

 perhaps 1,000 feet below us, and, still farther below, frozen lakes of 

 vivid blue. We turned back, weary and dispirited. 



That night, the intrepid Clarence King earnestly begged that he 

 be permitted to try, with Cotter, to reach the summit. I hesitated. 

 "We were short of provisions, and far from supplies. Moreover, I had 

 seen the difficulties, and he had not, but he had read Tyndall's " Gla- 

 ciers of the Alps," and thought no place inaccessible. Permission 

 was at length given, but this meant partial starvation to those of us 

 remaining, that they might have the necessary food, and to those who 

 went it meant fatigue, sleeping among the rocks at 11,000 or 12,000 

 feet, hard climbing, and doubtful success. 



Early dawn of July 4th found us on the way, with instruments and 

 six days' provisions. We carried their packs up to 13,000 feet, to 

 lighten their labors, then pointed out the way they must take, and, 

 after a hearty shake of the hand, saw them descend into the canon and 

 disappear. The evening of the fifth da'y saw their return ; they had 

 reached the summit, and were back in safety. By the light of the 

 camp-fire that night I calculated the height as well as I could from 

 their observations. It was the highest unnamed peak that had yet 

 been measured in the country, so we called it Mount Tyndall. 



This peak now finds a place on our maps. Its position is about lati- 

 tude 36 39' north, longitude 118 19' west, and its height 14,386 feet. 

 It is one of a group of peaks, several of which are above 14,000 feet, 

 amid the most sublime surroundings. The peaks are buttressed with 

 ridges of granite, streaked with the snows of ages, and furrowed with 

 canons, the desolation of the scene increased rather than relieved by 

 the many little blue lakes that repose in the ancient glacier-beds. This 

 group is a part of that chain which stretches from Cape Horn to Beh- 

 ring's Straits, the grandest mountain-system on our planet. Here is the 

 monument bearing the name of our honored o;uest. 



