, 1867-08-23


we came to
WHITE SALMON FALLS,
where we bivouacked under the shade of tall
pine tree. The weather was severely hot mer-
curry in the shade rose to 1929 Farenheit. At
this place, the water, as it comes rushing and
foaming down an abrupt declivity of fifteen or
twenty feet, presents beautiful sight. This
stream, which is somewhat larger than the Walla
Wala river, is very swift and abounds in cata,
racts, and as the water comes tearing and surg
ing over the rocks, one is inspired with feelings
of admiration such as the works of art fail to
produce At noon on the third day, after trav-
cling circuitous route over rugged mountains,
through grassy praries and shady vallies, we
arrived at the
which is situated seven or eight miles west of
the White Salmon river, and at distance of
thirty-fve miles from the Columbia by the most
direct trail. The first appearance of this cave is
that of a round hole or aperture in the ground
fifteen or twenty feet across, into which we en-
tered and descended about fifteen feet down
ladder, and found floor, with the exception of
a small mound of rock and earth directly under
the opening, composed Of solid ice. The tenn
perature, as might reasonably be supposed, was
decidedly cool. The cave, which is kind of tun-
mel cut in solid rock, runs east and west The
arched roof is ten or twelve feet high, and it is
about twenty feet in width The eastern end of
the cave, in which there is the most ice, extends
one or two hupdred feet, when the ice closes the
cave, filling it entirely to the roof Parties were
engaged forwarding ice to Portland and the
Dalles, which they saw out in large blocks and
pack to the Columbia river. They had cut down
about FIVE feet but found no signs of the bottom.
For three seasons ice has been shipped from here,
but the cavities fill up every winter. The slush
ice which is made in getting out the blocks, very
gradually melts and runs off to the western end
where it remains on the ice. Here were some
most beautiful pillars, columns, pyramids, and
icicles formed by the water leaking through the
roof aud cOugealiug It dropped into tue cave.
This end of the cave extends two or thre hundred
yards west, when there is another aperture SINH
lar to the first but not so large or deep. This
tunnel so far as it has been explored seems to
| commence somewhere in the vicinity of the Ice
Cave, and runs nearly east for seven or eight
miles. There openings formed by the cavng
in of the roof at various distances from each 9TH
| er all through the vicinity. Possibly there are
several tunnels running through the country, but
it has not been thoroughly explored, this is Of
| course only matter Of conjecture. There is no
ice in most of the caves, and none in any consid>
erable quantity except here. The country is open
l. e. free from underbrush, but covered with trees
and abundance of grass. There is a gentle slope
| allIhe way east to the White Salmon Our ther-
mometer at sunrise on the third ofAugust, stood
W
mess, though it was week or two too early for
most of them. About four miles, little north
| OF east from here, is another one known as the
BIG CAVE,
which is one third of mile in length. Having
provided ourselves with pine torches we entered
it at the western extremity through an opening
similar to the first described, with the excep.
tion that the floor of this opening was thickly
set with brush the roof was often forty or fly
feet high, while it varied from twenty to forty
feet in width. The floor of the cave was mostly
covered with large rugged boulders, having very
sharp edges. Here were specimens OF lava and
burnt rock, also other indications that the tunnel
has been burnt out by flow of lava from some
eruption in the vicinity as yet unknown, While
in the cave, the effort of travelling and the heat Z
of our torches caused us to feel quite warm. We
were about an hour going through Our shoes
were badly cut with the sharp rocks aud we all
experienced a feeling Of relief as we once more
beheld the clear light of day. The final terml-
nus Of this tunnel affords an interesting tonic
for future investigation. Our next point of des,
tinatlon, after troutng, hunting and enjoying
ourselves generally for few days, was towards
MOUNT ADAMS
| After recrossino m the aost id ae At MI -.
Salmon, we commenced the ascent BY climbing
spur on the south side of the mountain, leav-
ing the White Salmon canyon on our left. As
we neared the mountain the timber and general
vegetation changed materially, diminishing in
size as we sscended. We saw many rare and
beautiful flowers among others the flowers of
the soap root plant were abundant; this root
makes very good substitute for SOAP When
within FIVE miles Of the summit we struck camp
on ridge surrounded with snow, having come
about twenty miles from the Ice Cave, and cross
ed the snow line four or Eve miles below u.s.
The varieties Of timber he7e we're spruce and
mountain pine, being very much dwarfed. From
camp we had view of the distant ocean to the
west, with Mount St. Helens on the right Mount
| Hood with Mount Jefferson almost behind it
with the Three Sisters slyly peeping over the
east side Of that to the south and the valley of
the Columbia with its numerous tributaries to
the east; while at the north, directly back of u.s.
the majestic summit of Mount Adams loomed up
to the skies. o. the morning Of the sixth Of
August, being duly prepared with gunny overs
shoes, black faces, aud pine canes, at about
clock, we mounted our horses and commenced
| TIE ASCENT.
The party was composed of Hrs. Winston,
Misses G. Auburt, P. A. johnson, and &. A.
Tanner, and Hon. W. c. johnson, Messrs. E. s
JOsiyn, s. L. Brooks, A. G. Booth, G. G. COs,
and E. Eells, with N. Moody and Indian Charley;
Mrs Phelps and Miss Scales remaiaing in camp
with Mr.. Henry COe. The ascent here VISA com
ParssiTely gradual, bu. we were often obliged to