Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 14.djvu/89

* MOUNTAIN ASH. 69 MOUNTAIN CLIMBING. generally red, sometimes yellow, fruit (rowan berries), which is aeid and somewliat bitter, is sometimes used for preserves. The very nearly allied American species {Pyrus Americana), which has bright red fruit, is a shrub or small tree distributed from Newfoundland to Manitoba and southward in elevated regions, and often planted as an ornamental. The wood is soft, liglit, and little used. Somewhat similar to it is the elder-leaved mountain ash (I'yrus sam- hucifolia), a hardy species ranging north to Greenland and Alaska, but seldom found south of the Great Lake region. It differs from Pyrus Antcricdiin in its leaves, larger flowers, and fruits. MOUNTAIN ASH. A coalmining town in Glnnu)r<;anshirc, Wales, five miles south of Werthyr-Tydlil (ilap: Wales, C 5). It has large collieries, foundries, and iron manufac- tures, owns its water and gas works, and main- tains slaughter-houses. Population, in 1891, 17,820; in 1001. 31,100. MOUNTAIN BEAVER. The sewellel (q.v.). MOUNTAIN CAT. (1) In California, the cacomistle. (2) Any of several wild cats re- garded as peculiar to local mountain regions; a catamount. MOUNTAIN CHAIN. See Mountain. MOUNTAIN CLIMBING. The awakening of man's interest in mountains is chiefly due to Rousseau, though earlier writers, while approach- ing them as scientists, were also susceptible to their charm. This two-fold interest led Saus- sure to incite J. Balmat to find a way to the summit of ilont Blanc in 1780 and to accompany him tliitlier in 1787. From that ascent alpinism is generally dated. In London in 1857 was formed the first Alpine Club to foster '"the com- munity of feeling amongst those who in the life of the High Alps have shared the same enjoy- ments, the same labours, and the same dangers." This idea, in a modilied form, was taken up lluoughout Continental Europe and advocated with such enthusiasm that more than 100,000 persons of both sexes are now enrolled in the various alpine societies. The largest of these are the tJerman and Austrian (founded in 1862), about ,55,000 members; Swiss (1803), 7000; Ital- ian (1803), 54.000; and French (1874), 0000. In America three strong societies came into being: the Appalachian Mountain Club (q.v.) in Boston (1870). 1300 members; the Sierra Club (1892) in San Francisco, 800; and the 'Mazamas' (1894) in Portland, Ore. In these derivative societies eligibility is based upon a love of nature and of the mountain in particular rather than on alpin- ism proper, though most of them contain a con- tingent of expert climbers. The American Alpine Club ( 1902), with its home in Philadelphia, aims to revert to the original type, but adds to its field polar exploration and the study of glaciers. Thus cultivated, Alpine climbing has attained almost to a science. Its principles are set forth in extended manuals, such as Dent's Mountaineer- ing. Badminton Library (London, 1892). It has called into existence the class of professional guides — Swiss. Tyrolese. and Italian — whose skill far exceeds that of the best amateurs. Their aid, always expedient in tours above snow line, is indispensable in attacks upon giant peaks in dis- tant lands, such as have frequently been made within recent times. The most dangerous accidents in mountain climbing, those which consist in falls from a great height, rarely occur when guides are taken and the party is properly roped together in a chain of mutual support. Occasionally some foothold seemingly secure gives way beneath the climber's weight; but more frequently the NAME Localit.T Height Tear Party 7.000 9,64T 10,627 15,781 l;i.672 14,026 16,217 13,385 14,803 14.318 14.780 12,457 12.800 16.546 18,470 15,700 17,000 24,015 22.600 21,010 13.349 20.498 22,860 21,030 6,293 14,147 11,934 14,526 18.024 10,645 10,652 11,100 11,637 11.150 11,860 1492 15— 1739 1786 1811 1812 1855 1861 1861 1862 1865 1799 1804 1868 1868 1888 1888 1883 1892 1898 1895 1879 1897 1898 1642 1820 18.M 1870 1897 1888 1890 1899 1894 1897 1901 1902 Dompjniian de Beauprg De Candale Anon.vnions Pic du Midi Titlis* Mont Blanc t P.vrenees Swiss Alps « (< J. R. and H. Meyer ,( tt • t «, Smyth, et al. Leslie Stephen J Tvndall Srlireckhorn «• «t <• •< •< tt E. S^ Kennedy. C. Wigram E. Whyraper. et al. •1 •, Ortlpr t Josele (a hunter) Klbruz t l-,shha Pikhtnw tt .. F. Mummery Kahni § W. M. Conway « M. Zurbriggen (guide) E. Whymper S. Vines. Zurbriggen W. M. Conway Darby Field (Miiinborazo Andes Aconcagua IlHmant ,. Hodii .Stevens and Van Trump Rainier Saint Elias § << Selkirks W. S. Green, H. Swanzy Sir Donald t< Temple Canadian Rockies S E Allen W D Wilcox pt iit J W Collie et al « •• t« « • The first snow peak. + The highest in range. t The highest summit. (In most instances the guides are not mentioned in this list.) § The highest thus tar climbed.