FIRST ATTEMPTED ASCENT, 1857 



a temperature was to freeze to death, for we brought 

 no blankets with us, and we could not delay, as it 

 would be impossible to return along the crest of the 

 mountain after dark. When I returned to where I 

 had left the soldier, I found the doctor there also, and 

 after a short consultation we decided to return. 



Returning was far easier and more rapid than 

 going. The snow was much harder and firmer, and 

 we passed over in three hours, coming down, what re- 

 quired ten in going up. We were greatly fatigued by 

 the day's toil, and the descent was not accomplished 

 without an occasional rest of our weary limbs. In 

 one place the snow was crusted over, and for a short 

 distance the mountain was very steep, and required the 

 skillful use of the stick to prevent our going much 

 faster than we desired. The soldier lost his footing, 

 and rolled helplessly to the foot of the declivity, thirty 

 or forty yards distant, and his face bore the traces of 

 the scratching for many a day after, as if he had been 

 through a bramble-bush. 



We found the Indian and Carroll in the camp. 

 The latter had a long story to tell of his wanderings to 

 find camp, and both stated that the fatigue was too 

 much for them. There was no complaint on the part 

 of any of us about the rarity of the atmosphere. The 

 doctor attributed to this cause the fact that he could 

 not go but a few yards at a time, near the summit, 

 without resting ; but I am inclined to think this was 

 due to our exhaustion. My breathing did not seem 

 to be in the least affected. 



We were much disappointed not to have had more 

 time to explore the summit of the mountain. We had, 

 however, demonstrated the feasibility of making the 

 ascent. Had we started at dawn of day we should 

 have had plenty of time for the journey. From what 

 I saw I should say the mountain top was a ridge per- 

 haps two miles in length and nearly half a mile in 

 width, with an angle about half-way, and depressions 



87 



