THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 
BETWEEN THE RIMPFISCHHORN AND MONTE ROSA WAS A VAST EXPANSE OF ICE 
AND SNOW 
It was like a beautiful billowy sea, with clouds covering Italy beyond. Photo by Dora Keen 
there is first a tiresome moraine, then a 
steep snow slope, then snow-covered 
rocks, on which the early morning cold 
was so great that we could hardly stop 
long enough to eat, and finally the real 
work of the long snow ridge and the 
snow-covered rocky summit. To me the 
_ snow ridges are the worst part of moun- 
tain climbing. So long as I have rocks 
to hold to I do not mind how perpen- 
dicularly | look down; but it is an un- 
steady feeling to walk along a ridge-pole 
of snow where one’s foot may easily slip, 
and wkere the only aid to balance is an 
ice-pick that may also slip as one leans 
on it. 
The rocks at the top of the Zinal Rot- 
horn also require care. Twice my leader 
said, “Here is where Mr. So and So was 
killed” ; and again, ““Here Mr. So and So 
and his guide slipped and were killed,” 
to which my reply was always, “Then 
hold the ropes well for me,” and always 
1 had the comforting thought that with 
care and roped between two good guides 
one light tourist could hardly cause the 
Entire wacarayame metontalle 
At one point were steep slabs with no 
handholds. Over them one must pass 
with scarcely any footholds, and these 
almost too far apart for my reach. 
Around a corner, too, they went. At 
such points only one moves at a time, 
and the others hold on tightly until he 
has reached a place where he in turn can 
brace himself while the next person 
moves. ‘This is one reason why it takes 
so long to make a difficult ascent. At 
