The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1880-11-19
FROM wHATCOM AND STEVENS
COUNTIES.
"vox" HEARD PROM ONCE MORE,

GooDRLL's LANDING, Nov Q, 1880.
EDITOR 1STELLIcEsoER
wish some OF the scenery lovers and
painters Of this coast could have ioired
'chum' and in our last thres weeks
trip. Oar party Of four left this place
aboat three weeks ago for q general
tramp'-two starting for Lake Chrlan.
and thence to SpokAn, aud We for a
climb into the snowy peaks lying be
tween Nee Within, creek coming into
Skagit, nearly abreast of Goodcll's and
Ruby creek. We kept company with
our Chelan friends a. far as Stevens
Ferry; then We left part OF our packs,
bid our friends good bye. and started
again across the river We went up on
the south side of the Skagit as fer as
opposite Ssetattle creek, where .
small stream comes in. which we called
Ssrdine creek.
We followed this creek. both branch
es, to the very ice from which it came
the immense glacier Sd plainly seen
from the summit of Sour Doash Moun>
tain. We saw NJ game. nor signs of
any. Silence and solitude seemed 10
hold indispaied sway over the country.
There have been some fesE!uliy great
snowslides from sll the gulehes on the
steep mountains. crashing through the
timber, jsrring great rocks Of hundreds
of tons weight from their seats. and
sending them embodied in the ava
lanche hundreds OF feet lower down the
mountain. where they may be seen now
in every position, many just ready, ct
the least jar, to tGke another tumble.
As Q person crawls aud picks his way
through these dangerous spots. be nat
urRlly feels IS il be must whisper. and
not speak out Loud; and one usually
breathes very lightly also. and at such
times cough or speege 10 very annoy
ing. Chum and have taken dog TO
raise, and in ordinary places We prize
that dog highly, but think we have
seen times when the dog would have
been shot. only we were afraid the re-
port Of tho rifle would start the loose
rocks on US. We always intend to leave
the dog ct the camp when We 60 out.
but never have yet: expect We will next
time. Through the bushes. over the
loose. tumbliug rocks. and leo we toll
on. until we finally reach the great field
Of ice and snow. There 10 perpsrdic
ular wall OF blush ice nearly 500 feet
thick ct the edge. and probably one
mile long by one. fourth wide. Around
this cold shoulder we pick our way
very carefully, cutting steps in the ice,
for should we slip our clothes would
not DO worth mending, even in hard
winter, for it 10 away down to the first
little bsnch Of projecting rocks, and the
next we cannot see. After two hours
hard woik we reach the summit of what
has been called the Sharp Peak. .oppo-
site the Tunnel House; but we gave it
the name Of Glacier Peak. on account
Of a perfect girdle Of ice which, nearly
encircles it. A most beautiful scene
lay around as on every side--fully pay
ing US for the dangers and hardships Of
the trip. Around and beneath us the
snow capped heads of the Cascades APP
peared in every shape and style. and
still below them the evergreen covered
foothills. tracked here and there with
their grand little streams. pouring over
the rocks, contrasting beautifully with
the glittenng ice around us. Way to
the southwest We saw Rainier; nearly
west Of US stood Baker. and q little
blue line Of salt water somewhere on
the Sound, which we thought was at
the mouth Of the Skagit. How beauti-
ful the sceue was TO rs on that bright
autumn day. and how sorrowful we
watched the suns rays creeping steadily
up the canyons. shading an almost
gloomy.light over the valleys and foot.
hills. while II seemed to add new luster
to the mountains icy coating. After
building . small pyramid Of snow and
Joe, and leaving some names. with date.
we kissed good bye TO our friends far
away. and began the descent. Difficult
aud dangerous - was the climbing up,
we found that going down was doubiy
so. but BY using rope and caution. We
reached our camp In safety before
night overlook us. We had camped
three nights on the creek, climbing q
little higher each day. and our CO .
now was above the first body Of old
snowslides. and not far from the glacier
From ourscamp altar supper We watch.
ed the moon climb the face Of th.
peak. and her rays. glittering. spark
ling. gradually stealing down the can
yon on our side. How bsautifal the
contrast between tho silvery light oil
the moonbeams on the Toe. and the deer
shade OF tho canyon. and the green
trees on the mountains side. sparkling
with white frost. the roaring. foamy
waterfall, whore the creek pours over
the bare rock for hundreds Of feet, and
then loses itsslt In ap immense snow
slide. All OF this in the canyon bel M
Just discernible. while the ice and the
peak seemed body OF silver. One
must zee . sight like this 10 fully real.
ize its beauty. and when once seen. II
will never be forgotten. We left our
camp early next morping. came to the
mouth Of the creek and cAmped for the
night We had great feast Of salal
berries on the trip. bat she supplies We
had brought with us had nearly run
out, and We hoped TO live better when
No reaohd the ferry. where We left our
packs. Judge our surprise. eur indig-
nation. our feelings. our words even.
when We reached Stevens. and found
that some contemplate cuss' had sso>
len nearly all OF our supplies there
Chsm talked in his sleep that night.
and next morning No left for RUBY and
Canyon creeks, where we found nearly
every ous discouraged. We started up
Canyon creek. got ~ far ~ Slate creek.
when Il began TO snow terribly. Back