Monday 24 Decr.!
We all got up at 5 this morning to prepare for ascending the Great Pass to the summit of Mount York. ---It was a very fine morning -- but promised to give a very hot Day. ---At 1/2 past 5 the first Cart was sent up the Pass. ---At 1/2 past 6 we Breakfasted -- and had all the other Baggage Carts packed up, and sent off in their Turn -- one after the other; the good Horses having to return down the Pass to assist the indifferent ones. ---We set out ourselves at 8, to ascend the Pass. ---I rode up the easy part of it -- and walked the rest of the more steep part of it. ---The whole of the Carts (5 in number) did not arrive on the Top of the mountain till 1/4 before 11 o'clock -- and then moved on for Black-Heath -- the men as well as the Horses being greatly fatigued with the labour of ascending the mountain, in consequence of the extreme Heat of the day and the constant hard work they had to undergo. ---Mount York is only 700 feet high from the Vale of Clwyd, but the length of the Pass from the Top to the foot of the mountain is three quarters of a mile.
I rode in my Tandam [sic] from the Top of Mt. York to Black-Heath -- where we arrived at 1 p.m., but the Baggage did not come up to the Ground till 4 p.m. ---We then Pitched our Camp for the Night at Black-Heath; distance from the summit of Mount York being 9 miles.---
Dined at 6. -- and went early to Bed.---
Copyright © 1998 Macquarie University.
All rights reserved.