118 Ascent of the Volcano of Popocatepetl. | ¥ebruary, 
Vesuvius and Snowdon, and not a few peaks in the White mount- 
ains, the ‘Adirondacks and Northern Maine, but the labor of the 
ascent of Popocatepetl, owing to the far greater altitude and the 
consequent rarity of the atmosphere, as well as the yielding sand 
and the nature of the snow is peculiarly difficult. 
_ To my surprise the snow lay on Popocatepetl as a thin sheet of 
from a foot or. two to six or eight feet thick—deeper of course in 
the ravines, but the ravines were of a mild type. The ascent is 
made from the northerly and westerly side; the deepest ravine 
was filled with snow passing beneath into ice, thus forming an in- 
cipient glacier perhaps nearly a mile in length. Looking at it 
the day previous, from the road. below, I supposed it to be a true 
glacier filling the ravine, but it can scarcely be regarded as such, 
whatever may have been its dimensions in early times. 
The surface of the snow fields over which we walked was ex- © 
ceeding rough. The snow was, on the average, about three feet 
deep, cut up by deep narrow fissures lying at various angles to 
our line of march; the footing was thus very rough and uncer- 
tain; the snow grew softer as the sun rose higher, and it was 
impossible at times to prevent: slipping and falling down. Four 
_hours.of such work to one not hardened to mountain climbing at 
such an altitude, reaching nearly or, quite 18,000 feet, are no 
child’s play. One advances three or four steps, and-thoroughly 
exhausted sinks down upon his staff to rest and recover his breath; 
his heart beats-in a wild extravagant fashion, and his breathing is 
short, quick and labored. No one should attempt the ascent who 
has; not a healthy heart and sound mige and is not. under. fifty. _ | 
There i is danger of over-fatigue. s 
At about half-past ten the summit seeming no nearer ‘ian at 
the start from La Cruz, I asked Rafael how long it would take to 
‘reach the top. He, thinking I might give it up, craftily replied, 
a“ dos horas ;” not satisfied with this I privately asked my trusty 
: guide i in front, and he said, “una hora: y 
oE then a whiff « of. sulphur vapor passed by, the: draught 
though nauseous. was inspiring, and gave new strength to my 
- tired limbs, and at. eleven: o’clock I suddenly walked over the 
~ edge of the crater and could look. part way down into the bowels 
(a of Popocatepetl. We were on the- summit, could walk on level 
ground along the narrow, sandy edge of the crater, without 
fatigue, the heart at once resumed its normal beat and the respi- 
ration became again natural. 
Pre ak eae ete pe 
