Barometrical Measurement of Mt. Seward. 



173 



carrying in a pack three clays' provisions, rubber and woolen blankets, 

 , and in his hand a liatchet. I was encumbered only with my baro- 

 meter and satchel containing sketch-book and maps. 



Our course along the river bank was a slow but constant ascent, as 

 was proved by tlie numberless rapids and several falls wliicli at short 

 distances made the hurrying water wliiten to foam. Step by step 

 the stream descended its channel, and now our approach to the true 

 Adirondacks became obvious. In the bed of the river were nume- 

 rous huge boulders of labradorite rock or feldspar — sometimes called 

 hypersthene granite — of the familiar bluish, ashen hue, which gives 

 the beds of these mountain streams so peculiar an appearance. 

 Before nightfall we had reached the terminus of the sled road, not 

 far westward from the Preston ponds, but returned to make our camp 

 in one of the old, long deserted lumber shanties. During the night 

 sparks from the camp-iire caught in tlie roof; fortunately the flames 

 were extinguished before they w^ere beyond control, or the instruments 

 on which the success of the expedition depended, might have been 

 destroyed. 



October lith. — The camp was about thirty feet above Cold river, 

 the banks of the stream being very steep. When we awoke, clouds 

 and fog enveloped everything, and a drizzling rain was falling. 

 Before 9 a. m. the fog lifted, the rain ceased, and finally, the clouds 

 broke a little, though the mountains were still obscured. There was 

 no wind. This was the first station where observations were made, 

 four readings being taken. 



Hour. 



8.30 A.M 

 8.42 " 

 8.45 " 

 8.50 " 



Barometer. 



28.150 inch. 



28.175 " 

 28.200 ^' 

 28.225 " 



Attd. Ther. 



52° 5 Fah. 



53° " 

 53° " 

 54° 5 " 



Detd. Ther. 



53° Fah. 



54° 5 " 

 54° 5 " 

 54° " 



I had previously determined the compass direction of the moun- 

 tain, and notwithstanding the dubious state of the weather, set out 

 immediately to commence the ascent. At the south, or south-east, 

 Mts. Henderson and Santanoni were, alone of all the peaks, visible ; 

 and even their summits were hidden in the clouds. Taking a north- 

 easterly course, we struck directly into the forest toward a small 

 mountain, whence we might be able better to select the way. Our 



