Mountaineering in the Sierra Nevada

MOUNTAINEERING IN THE SIERRA NEVADA


BY CLARENCE KING “Altiora petimus” NEW YORK CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS 1902 Copyright, 1871, by JAMES R. OSGOOD & CO. ——— Copyright, 1902, by CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS TROW DIRECTORY PRINTING AND BOOKBINDING COMPANY NEW YORK To JOSIAH DWIGHT WHITNEY AND HIS STAFF MY COMRADES OF THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CALIFORNIA THESE MOUNTAINEERING NOTES ARE CORDIALLY INSCRIBED


This book, originally published in 1871, has long been out of print, though in constant demand. Its publication was discontinued owing to the desire of the author to make certain emendations in the text, a work that the arduous activities of a professional scientific life left him no leisure to perform. A few changes, indicated by him, have been made. Otherwise the text of the present edition is that of the last, the revised and enlarged edition of 1874. Only the fastidiousness to which the extraordinary literary quality of the book is itself due, could suggest further modification of what is here republished with the motive of restoring to print and circulation a work too perfect in form and of too rare a quality to be allowed to lapse. It is accordingly with the view of renewing the accessibility of a genuine classic of American literature that the present edition is presented.



Mountaineers will realize, from these descriptions of Sierra climbs, how few dangers we encountered which might not have been avoided by time and caution. Since the uncertain perils of glacier work and snow copings do not exist in California, except on the northeast flank of Mount Shasta, our climbs proved safe and easy in comparison with the more serious Alpine ascents. And now that the topography of the higher Sierra has been all explored by the Geological Survey, nearly every peak is found to have an accessible side. Our difficulties and our joys were those of the pioneer.