summit. Ice work is unnecessary. The guides are of obliging disposition and moderate in charges. They wear sandals and for ice work wrap their feet in strips of cloth. They provide the same primitive and clumsy footgear for the tourist. Knickerbockers, woolen stockings, canvas leggings or puttees, and shoes protected with rubber are the most satisfactory clothing. The guides greatly admired my golf stockings which were hanging before the fire at the cave. They would feel them repeatedly exclaiming 'Magnifico, magnifico.'
The earliest recorded ascent of Orizaba is that made by some United States army officers in 1848. But no one in the country credited their report. Three years later eighteen young men of different nationalities formed a party and started for the summit. One man after another dropped out of the company till finally only a Frenchman by the name of Doignon was left. He persevered and after great hardships reached the summit. Upon his return to Chalchicomula the villagers ridiculed the claim. Consequently the following week he repeated the ascent and planted a flag upon the ridge of the crater, where it could be plainly seen by the doubting inhabitants. He was received with honor when he descended. Since Baron Müller's ascent in 1856 more than a dozen climbers have reached the summit and made many measurements of altitude.[1] Miss Anna Peck, of New York City, who is an experienced mountain climber, displayed great courage and endurance in her ascent of Orizaba. She is the only woman who has ever succeeded in reaching its summit so far as I am aware.
- ↑
Reports upon the altitude of Orizaba:
North American Engineers in 1848 17,879 Ferran 17,885 Müller 18,133 Doignon 18,178 (Determined by boiling point of water.) Scovill and Bunsen 18,174 "by aneroid barometer. Heilprin 18,205 """" Kaska 18,270 ""mercurial" Scovill and Bunsen 18,314 ""triangulation.
