The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-09-17
ESTABLISHED AUGUST "a, 1852.
mountaineering under his charge they were
unanimously Of the opinion that cid Ireland

mountaineering under his charge they were
unanimously Of the opinion that cid Ireland
never produced a moro genuine specimen oi
sturdy manhood. He was literally our
philosopher, guide and friend" in all our
arduous and exhausting tramps. As 8
specimen OF his fearless and tireless way,
he set oil at nightfGll one evening in search
Of one OF our party who was supposed 10
have lost his way and hunted him solitary
and alone through the wild dtilles OF the
mountains where the cougar and other
beasts Of prey are want 10 fix their lairs
until bed time. Happily our stray com:
panion had not fallen over ledge, and
had been able by himself to find his way
into camp, but the kindness Of our pion-
Ger leader was none the less appreciated.
On Sunday morning, the 10Th, the sun
burst over our mountain fortress bright
and beautiful, and We we're oil astir early,
as we had no assurance that the next day
would not, as on previous days, envelope
the mountain in mist and also in the
smoke OF the burning woods which seemed
everywhere on fire as We came up from
Wilkeson. Our objective point was a
cliff on the north fork canyon Of the Pnyal-
lup river whence we expected to get view
ot the northwest hexGgonal section Of the
mountain. Westripped ourselves down to
our blue shirts and pants for this journey
(Mr. Driver kindly taking charge OF our
coats, which we were obliged TO put on
when resting, for fear Of taking cold and
provided ourselves with alpen stocks or
jacobs staffs to assist US in maintaining q
foakI,Il In al nSIna aNA hal
ing US to let ourselves down gently from the
huge tree butts which lay in great wIndtall
masses acress our course. We had only q
mile and half to go, according to Driver 5
Judgement, but it was the longest mile and
a half that any Of US had ever walked be-
fore. We were over three hours accom-
plishing It, and when we gained the cliff We
felt as Il We had paid In full for whatever
sights might be before US.
Mt, TACOMA.
AS have said, Mt. Tacoma is 14.S00
feet high above tide water at this place,
which is only sixty niles distant. At the
clif, overlooking the canyon Of the north
fork OF the Puyallup, we were only $500
feet up, with all cur climbing, and conss-
quently We had to look 1000 feet to the
peak. Can you readers imagine the dizzy
altitude Of the view ? II was altogether the
grandest and most awe inspiring sight that
/ ever looked upon, and am only sorry
that no words Of mine can paint the pic.
ture. The heights which the Greeks beliey.
ed were the heme Of 0lympian Jove would
dwarf into small dimensions alongaide OF
this great mount. A road traced down
from its peak which is covered with 200 feet
OF SNOW, over its glaciers to level with our
clift, would be six miles long. Hence you
can see that il We had been across the can
yon, on the glacier opposite, we would
have bud to travel upwards at rising in.
clination OF 1850 feet to tho mile, which
wond he a rise OF one foot 10 every three
and half feet. when you rellact that
there Is only a fall OF about $50 feet i'll the
whole length OF the river between Wheel
ing and New Orleans, a distance Of nearly
1000 miles, you can torp some idea Of the
precipitou5 character oi the vast snow and
ice fields outspread before us.
This great mountain Is estimated to be
twelve miles in diameter at the base Of It's
glaciers, aud forty miles in circumference,
and its superficial area Is 1000 miles, or
more than three times the area of Belmont
county, Ohio. And when you take into
your mind that this area is nearly all COW
cred with show and Ice to tho depth Of fifty
to 200 feet, the gradual melting OF which
gives riBe to five rivers, issuing from i've
different slopes and flowing down through
five different canyons, you Gan form some
idea Of what sert of Greenland's 10y
mountain 1t must be. 1t towers like a
huge colossus above the Cascade range,
and can be saen gtanding out against tho
skya hundred miles away. in all its his
tory but two men have been known to As.
cend 10 its summit, and they were Obliged
to cut footsteps in the ice and frozen snow
with their axes.
We remained on the cliff about two
hours aud half aud then commenced our
return journey to camp on Crater Lake.
Our experience was much the same 40 in
the oltvgrd Lrip-a wearing and weari-
some succession OF climbing aud slipping
and hence We were more than rejoiced
when ht O'Clock in tho afternoon We
struck the basin oi the lake oncs more.
We were not so tired, however, but that
we sailed forth airesh and climbed an ad.
iacent spur in order to see the sunset tinge
the peak with all the Colors Of the rainbow.
Long after the sun had gone down on the
valley and on every. part Of the no4ntajnC
visible to us, aud when the twilight was
deepening Into the shadows OF night the
rays Of the sun, far sbRloY oFr horizon,
played around the great peak and lent an
enchantment to the scene that was fasci=
mating.
At TUE BOTTOM or TIE GLACIERS.
The next day we were all glad to rest in
camp, for We had so strained all our mus.
cles and ligaments out Of their normal ad.
justments that we had very rheumatic
feeling indeed. One day, however, made
us as good as new again and 1t was voted
that we were nov 10 better condition than
ever for tramping. We agreed to attempt
the descent OF the Mt. into the South Fork
canyons distance Of 2,l00 ieet-And 90
up to the bottom OF the glaciers at the head
OF that canyon. Our guide was not sure
that we could succeed, as he had never
been over the route and WAS apprehensivs
that Wa might come upon an oVerhauyIng