At the Mountains of Madness | Page 6

could do nothing to check this
headlong risk of the whole expedition's success; but it was appalling to think of his
plunging deeper and deeper into that treacherous and sinister white immensity of
tempests and unfathomed mysteries which stretched off for some fifteen hundred miles to
the half-known, half-suspected coast line of Queen Mary and Knox Lands.
Then, in about an hour and a half more, came that doubly excited message from Lake's
moving plane, which almost reversed my sentiments and made me wish I had
accompanied the party:
"10:05 P.M. On the wing. After snowstorm, have spied mountain range ahead higher than
any hitherto seen. May equal Himalayas, allowing for height of plateau. Probable
Latitude 76¡ 15', Longitude 113¡ 10' E. Reaches far as can see to right and left. Suspicion
of two smoking cones. All peaks black and bare of snow. Gale blowing off them impedes
navigation."
After that Pabodie, the men and I hung breathlessly over the receiver. Thought of this
titanic mountain rampart seven hundred miles away inflamed our deepest sense of
adventure; and we rejoiced that our expedition, if not ourselves personally, had been its
discoverers. In half an hour Lake called us again:
"Moulton's plane forced down on plateau in foothills, but nobody hurt and perhaps can
repair. Shall transfer essentials to other three for return or further moves if necessary, but
no more heavy plane travel needed just now. Mountains surpass anything in imagination.
Am going up scouting in Carroll's plane, with all weight out. You can't imagine anything
like this. Highest peaks must go over thirty-five thousand feet. Everest out of the running.
Atwood to work out height with theodolite while Carroll and I go up. Probably wrong
about cones, for formations look stratified. Possibly pre-Cambrian slate with other strata
mixed in. Queer skyline effects - regular sections of cubes clinging to highest peaks.
Whole thing marvelous in red-gold light of low sun. Like land of mystery in a dream or
gateway to forbidden world of untrodden wonder. Wish you were here to study."
Though it was technically sleeping-time, not one of us listeners thought for a moment of
retiring. It must have been a good deal the same at McMurdo Sound, where the supply
cache and the Arkham were also getting the messages; for Captain Douglas gave out a
call congratulating everybody on the important find, and Sherman, the cache operator,
seconded his sentiments. We were sorry, of course, about the damaged aeroplane, but
hoped it could be easily mended. Then, at 11 P.M., came another call from Lake:
"Up with Carroll over highest foothills. Don't dare try really tall peaks in present weather,
but shall later. Frightful work climbing, and hard going at this altitude, but worth it. Great

range fairly solid, hence can't get any glimpses beyond. Main summits exceed Himalayas,
and very queer. Range looks like pre-Cambrian slate, with plain signs of many other
upheaved strata. Was wrong about volcanism. Goes farther in either direction than we
can see. Swept clear of snow above about twenty-one thousand feet. Odd formations on
slopes of highest mountains. Great low square blocks with exactly vertical sides, and
rectangular lines of low, vertical ramparts, like the old Asian castles clinging to steep
mountains in Roerich's paintings. Impressive from distance. Flew close to some, and
Carroll thought they were formed of smaller separate pieces, but that is probably
weathering. Most edges crumbled and rounded off as if exposed to storms and climate
changes for millions of years. Parts, especially upper parts, seem to be of lighter-colored
rock than any visible strata on slopes proper, hence of evidently crystalline origin. Close
flying shows many cave-mouths, some unusually regular in outline, square or
semicircular. You must come and investigate. Think I saw rampart squarely on top of one
peak. Height seems about thirty thousand to thirty-five thousand feet. Am up twenty-one
thousand, five hundred myself, in devilish, gnawing cold. Wind whistles and pipes
through passes and in and out of caves, but no flying danger so far."
From then on for another half hour Lake kept up a running fire of comment, and
expressed his intention of climbing some of the peaks on foot. I replied that I would join
him as soon as he could send a plane, and that Pabodie and I would work out the best
gasoline plan - just where and how to concentrate our supply in view of the expedition's
altered character. Obviously, Lake's boring operations, as well as his aeroplane activities,
would require a great deal for the new base which he planned to establish at the foot of
the mountains; and it was possible that the eastward flight might not be made, after all,
this season. In connection with this business I called Captain Douglas and asked him to