110 Dr Barry's Ascent to the Summit of Mont Blanc. 



mained contemplating it, until at the end of an hour and a half, 

 a recollection of the coming day's fatigues, rendered it prudent 

 again to take repose. 



At 5 on the morning of the 17th, we left the Grand Mulet. 

 Proceeding at first across the icy valley, that lay between us and 

 the Dome du Gouttet, we reached almost the base of the latter; 

 and then ascending more directly, often by a zig-zag course, ar- 

 rived at the Grand Plateau by 9 o'clock : another great stage 

 of the journey being thus accomphshed. 



The newly fallen snow, from a foot to 18 inches in depth, 

 had rendered the way fatiguing : it had been needful for our 

 leader to ascertain the safety of every step with the baton, and 

 we had proceeded in a line united, two or three together, with 

 cords, following carefully the same track. Latterly our way 

 had lain over vast fields of snow, but the early part of it had 

 presented scenery even more magnificent than that of the pre- 

 ceding day. Chasms of unfathomable depth, — towers of ice, — 

 caverns with almost crystal walls, — splendid " stalactites" guard- 

 ing the^entrance. Such scenes live in the memory, but cannot 

 be adequately imparted by word. No wonder if I often turned, 

 and turned again, not knowing how to leave them *. 



Very diff'erent feelings, however, soon took the place of the 

 admiration which this scenery had excited. IMfficulties occurred, 

 that it required all the experience and intrepidity of Couttet 

 and Balmat to overcome. At one point, indeed, it was found 

 absolutely impossible to proceed further in the same course ; 

 and from the top of a block of ice, obstacles were discovered 

 requiring an extensive change of route. After having been 

 foiled in several attempts to proceed in other directions, we com- 

 menced a long ascent that afforded the last forlorn hope. Four 

 years having elapsed since Mont Blanc was last ascended, we 

 knew not but that from the shifting nature of the snow masses, 

 changes had occurred to render the undertaking hopeless •, and, 

 thus dispirited, the labour of the way was felt to be much more 

 arduous. The ascent of this part having at length been gained, 

 a great fissure next presented, that would certainly have obliged 



• The bhie-gi-een colour of the ice, when occurring in large masses, is here 

 seen on the gi-andest scale ; a phenomenon not less interesting than beauti- 

 ful. 



