The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1878-03-06
Official Press Of King County
Wednesday, March 8. 1878.
PUGET SOUND MOUNTAINS

nal, beng record vi mOuutaiu hu-
venture and scientific observation" We
have received the February number.
containing an article from the pen of
Mr.. r. T. Coleman. entitled " Noun.
tains aud Mountaineering in the Far
West" from which we extract the fol-
lowing account Of the four chief noun
tains of Washington Territory;
mount Baker. fourteen miles south
Of the boundary line of the British pos.
sessions. 1t was so named by Van
eouver, who first explored these coasts.
in com pliment TO his third lieutenant,
Joseph Baker, who discovered it. Its
Indian name is Tukullum. or White
stone. The height given in the list.
viz: 1884 feet, is from a trigonomet-
rical measurement made by Captain
Lawson, OF the United States Coast
Survey. / determined the snow line on
Mount Baker to be 5.l75 feet above
the sea by aneroid barometer. but con.
sider that for the coast generally it may
be taken ct {, 900 feet.
It was first assembled in August. 1868,
by . party which I organized, consist
ing Of Mr.. Thomas Stratton, Inspector
Of Customs at Port Townsend. Puget
Sound. Washington Territory Mr..
now the Hon. John Teuneut. now or
late member of the Legislative Assem-
bly, for Washington Territory; Mr.
David Ogilvy. Of Victoria, aud myself.
l described the journey in Harper's
Magazine for November, 1869, under
the title Mountaineering on the Pa
cific, and the main facts were repro
duced in the Alpine Journal tor May,
1872. In the latter part Of October.
1864, an earthquake shook the coast.
when an immense portion Of the SUN.
nit, estimated to be 1000 or 800 feet,
fell in. so that the appearance Of tho
peak was decidedly altered rs seen
from Victoria. Vancouver Island, it
being no longer conieal and sharp. but
truncated.
A very interesting ascent might be
made on the southeastern side, taking
the course OF the river Sksgit, my ascent
having been made by the river Moot
sac. on the southwestern side. The
starting point for the journey would be
the Utsalady sawmills, where indians
and supplies could be had. From Ut.
salady TO tho mouth of the Skacit 10
only SIX miles. From the mouth of the
river to Bakers river, which heads in
the mountain, and is probably fed by
the Frontin Glacier, if il does not have
its origin in that, is from forty to fifty
miles. The length Of Bakers river is
about twenty miles.
The second difficulty is the naviga.
tion OF Bakers river, which is reported
to be full of bouiders, and very swift
and turbulent. The Chinook or salt
water canoe, would have TO be exchang-
ed at the mouth of Bakers River tor
fiat ana smaller canoes, termed shovel
nosed. suitable Tor navigating shallow
streams. But difficulties only enhance
the zest of an undertaking, aud give a
spice to it in tho eyes of true noun.
taineer.
An unknown mountain, mentioned
in the list. This | observed when on
Mount Baker. 1t is q solitary peak,
apparently from 5000 to 5000 feet in
height, and distant from fifteen to
twenty miles to the southeast. II is
not marked on the maps a. separate
mountain. though spur of the Cascade
range is given in that direction From
the cursory view l obtained in ascend
ing Mount Baker it appeared TO be
isolated.
Mount Rainier was named by Van
couver after his friend Rear-Admiral
Rainier. The Indian name for this
mountain is generally given as Tacoma,
but . tribe on the Cowlit. Pass pro.
nonnces it Tsh-ho-ma. According 10
the latest authoyity on the subject, it
Is Ii, 444 feet above the sea-level As
It can be seen from the neighborhood
Of Beacon Hill, Victoria. Vancouver
Island. distance of lao miles on au
air line. its height must be great. The
general form of the mountain is that of
a great pyramid. The summit con-
sists OF central peak, banked by two
lower aud smaller ones. both as nearly
40 possible of the same shape and size.
Mr. A. ID. Richardson. the well known
correspondent of the Nee York Tribune
Ia former years. speaking of the
scenery OF Puget Sound. says: Some
ct the boliest mountains on the Couti.
nent are here visible--Baker, Adams.
Sc. Helens. and more than any or all
others. Mount Rainier, triple. polluted
aud robed with snow. Shasta il grand:
Hood is grauder; but, from this stand.
point. Rainier is monarch Of all-the
Mont Blanc of this coast II is distant
about seventy five miles from the shore
Of Puget Sound, and may be approach.
ed either FROM Steilaooom or Olympia.
In 1859 proposed 20 General Stevens
ct Olympia, formerly of the T.. :.
army, 70 attempt the assent of this
mountain. lie was unable 10 go with
me. but next year he announced hi.
Willingness TO undertake the Journey.
Mr.. Van Trump. also Of Olympia. Join.
ell us, but an accident befel ne which
near the base OF the mountain prevent
ing my attempting the ascent, while
General Stevens aud Mr.. Van Trump
successfully accomplished. being the
hrst on record. The bass os the noun.
: tain Is ut least six days travel from
Olympia, the capital Of Washington
Territory. For the first thirty miles
there is a good wagon rad. The re-
mainder of the journey is by trail ca,
through the forests and leading to the
Cowlitz Pass. Ii was originally made
several years before my visit by two
settlers, for the purpose of prospecting
on the mountain, but has hardly ever
been used since, 80 that n the time of