UP THE MOUNTAIN.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 18, 8 September 1914, Page 6

UP THE MOUNTAIN.

NOTES ON A “ROUND TRIP.”

ACROSS THE SNOW

When the party arrived at the track around the mountain they found that their troubles had only commenced, and that a succession of barriers had to be passed before they could reach their destination. Though the snow was soft on the ridges, that oh the slopes between the ridges was as solid as ice, and really an ice axo was needed to cut steps. Mr Williams went first ancl knocked rough steps with his boots, and the others, used pocket knives to improve the steps, but the progress across the slopes was necessarily very slow. Added to this, the experience was a novel one for throe of the party. The first face was at last negotiated after considerable trouble. When the writer missed his footing, for a short space he Understood what real rapid transit is like, going lor a few seconds on his feet and hands, the burning sensation caused by the friction being very unpleasant to the hands. When all the party had collected on the soft snow on the track where it crossed the ridge, it was seen that another face at least had to be crossed. This was tackled in the same way as the previous one. Above this face was seen the grim, bare front of Warwick Castle, looking as if it were the last resort of Solitude, who from its heights was grimly smiling at the puny wretches who clung by their toes and hands to the slippery ice. Before the leader had crossed, he complained of his hands being numbed, and when the further ridge was reached, and ahead of them the party saw another ice face in their track and the sun descending over the summit, it was decided to strike down one of the gorges. »At the same time it was evident that the party would have to spend the night on the mounain. They had discovered one thing—that the track is impassable in August without propei- equipment for the ice. Shortly after 4 o’clock, the dense scrub was again tackled. On the snow at various stages had been seen undeniable traces of hares.

Mem : Though everybody crossed the ice faces with riiore or less diffidence, three of the party posed as intrepid ilpinists in the steps on the last face negotiated while they were photographed. (To be- continued.)