elled by unfavourable weather to
return. He was, however, not discouraged, but as the season was now
far advanced, he postponed his operations until the ensuing summer.
Accordingly, on the 1st of August, 1787, he again set out from
Chamouny, accompanied by his servant, and eighteen guides, carrying a
tent, a bed, ladders, cords, provisions, and philosophical
instruments.

The party arrived early the same day at the Montagne de la Cote, where
they passed the night. The next day, notwithstanding an increase of
dangers and difficulties, they passed under the Dome de Goute, and
reached a platform, or small plain, at the height of 11,790 feet
above the sea, where they pitched their tent in the snow, and passed
the night. The following morning, (August 3d) the snow was so hard,
and the ascent so steep, that they were compelled to cut their
footsteps with a hatchet, and it was only by proceeding with the
greatest caution, that they were enabled to pass this dangerous
acclivity with safety. They, however, persevered, and reached the
summit about an hour before noon, in view of many persons who were
observing them from Chamouny. M. Saussure turned his eyes to the house
where his mother and sisters were watching his progress with a
telescope, and had the satisfaction of seeing the waving of a flag,
which was the signal they had agreed to make, as soon as they should
be assured of his safety. The latter part of his ascent was the
slowest and most fatiguing, owing to the difficulty of breathing,
occasioned by the rarity of the air: the stoutest of his guides could
not take more than thirty steps, without stopping to take breath. No
one had the least appetite, but all were much tormented by thirst. The
guides pitched the tent, in which M. Saussure remained four hours,
making a number of observations. At half after three, the party began
to descend, and slept lower 1100 feet than the preceding night. The
next day they arrived, without any accident, at Chamouny.

This successful expedition of Saussure, and the interesting account he
published of it, inspired many persons with a wish of accomplishing
the same task; but they were generally soon deterred by an examination
into the difficulties attending its execution, and returned satisfied
with a view from the vallies below, of the terrific glaciers, and
everlasting snows, which defend the approaches to the summit. The
following are the principal attempts that have since been made, an