Dr Barry's Ascent to the Sitmmit of Mont Blanc. 109 



a long and dangerous climb was required, over its almost per- 

 pendicular layers, to bring us to that part proposed as our rest- 

 ing place for the night, a narrow ledge, usually selected, as 

 being out of the reach of avalanches. We reached this spot by 

 half-past six. It consisted in a flat surface, of a few square feet, 

 forming a sort of open shelf, on the south-west side of the rock ; 

 its margin a precipice. Our batons, inclined against the rock, 

 served as rafters for the roof of a little cabin, which was com- 

 pleted with canvass ; two or three blankets having been spread 

 on its floor. I found the height of the barometer here, at three- 

 quarters past six o'clock, to be = Eng. inches 21.235 ; the 

 attached tliermometer = 45°.50 F. A fire was made at a short 

 distance from the tent, and we supped with good appetites around 

 it. At nine o'clock, having tripled some parts of our clothing, 

 and provided particularly for the feet, we crept into our cabin, 

 and soon found, that, lying very closely together, we were suffi- 

 ciently warm. 



Awaking at twelve, I got up, and regretted to find, that two 

 of the guides, Couttet and J. Tairraz, were lying in the open 

 air, from want of room in the tent. The cold, however, was 

 not intense ; for a thermometer which at nine o'clock indicated 

 39° F. had risen to 42° ; a smart breeze from the soudi-west 

 having entirely subsided. At half-past one a. m., the thermo- 

 meter had again fallen to 41°. It was a brilliant night. The 

 full-moon had risen over the summit of the mountain, and shone 

 resplendent on its snowy surface. The guides asleep, I stood 

 alone at an elevation of ten thousand feet ; just below me, lay 

 piled, in the wildest confusion, the towering masses of ice we had 

 been climbing, and whose dangers we had narrowly escaped ; 

 around and above, was a sea of fair but treacherous snow, whose 

 hidden dangers we had yet to encounter. The vale of Cha- 

 mouny was sleeping at the foot of the mountain ; and, interrupt- 

 ed only by the occasional thunder of an avalanche, the pro- 

 foundest stillness reigned. The scene was exquisite : and I re- 

 is a copy of part of the memorandum leceived from Couttet. " Je soussigne 

 et certifie avoir ett; 9 fois au sommet du Mont Blanc. Je n'ai jamais rencon- 

 tre autant de difficultes que cette fois-ci (avec le Docteur Barry, que j'ai ac- 

 compagne Jusq'au sommet du Mont Blanc) pour arriver au Grand Mulct : et 

 la ndige nouvelle nous a beaucoup fatigue. Malgre' toutes les difficultt^s, 

 notre voyage a etJ heureux.— C/wmoni^', Ic 20 Septembrc 1834. 



(Signed) Couttet Josei'H, Guide." 



