93 
The Matterhorn is, of course, a famous mountain, and 
from Zermatt hundreds of people make the ascent each 
summer. The Lecturer gave a graphic account of his ex- 
perience in climbing the Matterhorn, traversing to Breuil 
on the Italian side in a snow storm. From the south-east 
ridge a good view is obtained of the Dent Blanche on the 
opposite side of the valley. Its south and north ridges shew 
on the sky line with the Col d’Herens on the left. 
Climbing in the Swiss Alps requires considerable previous 
preparation and training, on account of the constant and 
long-drawn-out demands upon the powers of endurance and 
nerves of the climber. The Lecturer dealt at some length 
with the precautions necessary, particularly with the question 
of refreshment, for the party may be overaken by bad weather 
and delayed for several hours. The climb of a snow mountain, 
broadly speaking, divides itself into three stages ; — first, 
the trudge from the village in the valley by the lower and 
very often steep slopes of the mountain to a mountain hut ; 
secondly, the crossing of a glacier and ascent of a snow-field ; 
and lastly, the scaling of the citadel of the mountain by the 
ascent of the rock or snow ridge leading to the summit. 
The knowledge and skill required for the scaling of a rock 
peak may be acquired in our own country among the crags 
of Cumberland, or the buttresses of Snowdon, or in the 
Coolin Hills of Syke, but it is impossible to acquire knowledge 
of snow and ice without actual experience in the Alps. 
Many attempts have been made to describe views from 
mountain summits. Of course, no two views are alike, nor 
is the view the same on two different days. There is the 
abnormally clear and distant prospect, a contrast in shades ; 
at times one is cut off from the earth above a still and 
fleecy sea of cloud, the sharp tips of the higher peaks standing 
out like lonely rocks in a great ocean ; and at others rolling 
masses "of seething vapour are hurled against the climber 
by the wind with tremendous force, and the pinnacle on 
which he stands trembles with the heavy onslaughts made 
upon it by the mighty hurricane, when suddenly the veil 
is riven and for an instant a glimpse is caught of fairyland 
in roseate colours far below. 
Arolla, one of the most charming spots in the Alps, is 
situated at the head of the Val d’Herens, 19 miles from Sion 
in the Rhone Valley. It is a favourite centre for some magni- 
ficent rock climbs such as Aiguille de la Za, Aiguilles Rouges, 
Grande et Petite Dents de Veisivi, Bouquetins, etc. Its 
altitude of 6000 feet above sea-level makes it one of the most 
