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[Illustration: VILLAGE OF CHAMONIX.

    1 Summit of Mont Blanc.
    2 Bosses du Dromadaire.
    3 Dome du Goute.
    4 Aiguille du Goute.
    5 Grands Mulets.
    6 Glacier des Bossons.
    7 Montagne de la Cote.
    8 Glacier de Taconnaz.]




AN IMPROMPTU ASCENT

OF

MONT BLANC:

BY

_W. H. LE MESURIER._


LONDON:
ELLIOT STOCK, PUBLISHER,
62 PATERNOSTER ROW.

BIRKENHEAD:
E. GRIFFITH & SON, HAMILTON STREET.
1882.


BIRKENHEAD:

E. Griffith & Son, Printers, "Caxton" Works,
Hamilton Street

[Illustration]




PREFACE


The interest which still follows individual ascents of Mont Blanc,
notwithstanding the attraction of other mountain peaks, must be my
apology for once again repeating an oft-told tale; but with this
endeavour, to make the narrative a true and unvarnished account of what
we did and how we did it, and to present the accompanying illustrations
(which, for the most part, are taken from photographs) free from
exaggeration.




CONTENTS.


CHAPTER I.

Evening at Chamonix--Excursion to the Brevent--View of the Mont Blanc
chain.


CHAPTER II.

Commencement of the ascent--Pierre Pointue--Crossing the Glacier des
Bossons--An awkward bit--"Cabane" on the Grands Mulets.


CHAPTER III.

View from the Grands Mulets--A foreign invasion--Trying to
sleep--Preparation for a night march.


CHAPTER