ASCENT OF MONT BLANC. 71 



with a spur of the great glacier which still lives in the 

 next valley. 



We now rise above the limit of trees, and begin to en- 

 joy a vast and magnificent landscape. Under the shadow 

 of the last trees stand the chalets of Paraz. We are now 

 two hours from Chamonix and more than 5,000 feet (5,264) 

 elevated. Between here and Pierre Pointue the broad, 

 unshaded acclivity is held in about equal parts by heaths 

 and angular blocks precipitated, in the progress of ages, 

 from the pinnacles of Midi, which tower almost directly 

 above our heads. 



Pierre Pointue is 6,700 (6,722) feet high, a little 

 higher than Mount Washington. Here stands a truly com- 

 fortable little inn, kept by one of the most intelligent and 

 enterprising guides of Chamonix, Sylvain Couttet. Stand- 

 ing on the terrace of the inn, we look back upon the tree- 

 tops long since past, and down into the quiet valley of 

 Chamonix. On the opposite side rises the Brevent, from 

 which we obtained our panoramic view of this situation. 

 A little farther to the right is the Flegere; and behind 

 and above both rise the red pinnacles of the range of the 

 Aiguilles Rouges. Above us, and almost over our heads, 

 shoot up the spires of the Aiguilles du Midi. Not far 

 off to the south flows the rugged river of ice which we 

 are soon to cross; while far up, over the fields of firn, 

 rise the Aiguille and the Dome du Goiiter. Mont Blanc 

 is hid by Mont Mimont. We are already in the realm 

 of the clouds, and their damp, pale forms ride past us like 

 the spirits of the mountains. 



We press on around the steep slope of Mont Mimont, 

 which dives down like a Gothic roof from the craggy 

 crest projected against the blue sky, and almost crowds 



