. Travels amongst the great Andes of the equator . ur and ahalf we got to the foot of the western summit, and, as the slopessteepened, the snow became firmer again. We arrived on the topof it about a quarter to four in the afternoon, and then had themortification of finding that it was the lower of the two. Therewas no help for it ; we had to descend to the plateau, to resumethe flogging, wading, and floundering, and to make for the highestpoint, and there again, when we got on to the dome, the snow wasreasonably firm, and we arrived upon the summit of Chimborazostanding upright like men, inst
. Travels amongst the great Andes of the equator . ur and ahalf we got to the foot of the western summit, and, as the slopessteepened, the snow became firmer again. We arrived on the topof it about a quarter to four in the afternoon, and then had themortification of finding that it was the lower of the two. Therewas no help for it ; we had to descend to the plateau, to resumethe flogging, wading, and floundering, and to make for the highestpoint, and there again, when we got on to the dome, the snow wasreasonably firm, and we arrived upon the summit of Chimborazostanding upright like men, instead of grovelling, as we had beendoing for the previous five hours, like beasts of the field. The wind blew hard from the north-east, and drove thelight snow before it viciously. We were hungry, wet, numbed,and wretched, laden with instruments which could not be much trouble the mercurial barometer was set up; oneman grasped the tripod to keep it firm, while the other stood towindward holding up a poncho to give a little protection. The. LOWER IT WOULD NOT GO. 70 TRAVELS AMONGST THE GREAT ANDES, chap. hi. mercury fell to 14*100 inches,1 with a temperature of 21c Faht.,and lower it would not go. Tliv tiro aneroids (D and E) read13*050 and 12*900 inches respectively. By the time the barometerwas in its case again, it was twenty minutes past five. Plantingour pole with its flag of serge on the very apex of the dome, weturned to depart, enveloped in driving clouds which entirely con-cealed, the surrounding country. Scarcely an hour and a quarter of daylight remained, and wefled across the plateau. There is much difference between ascend-ing and descending soft snow, and in the trough or groove whichhad already been made we moved down with comparative it took nearly an hour to extricate ourselves, and we thenran,— ran for our lives, for our arrival at camp that night de-pended upon passing the breach before darkness set in. Wejust gained it as daylight was
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookpublishernewyo, bookyear1894
