Telegram-herald., 1888-10-02
GRAND TETONS GLACIERS
seorg Of Their Exploration by Rev. samuel
Parker and Party.


Especial Correspondence
CHEYENss Sopt. Is. So far as I know the
glaciers en- The Grand Ietons have never
been described This region OF Wyoming
was EIst invaded by ths Rev. Samuel Par
ker during 1855 It's first and probably
only decent was made by an exploring party
OF ths URissd States Geological Survey. m
charge Of NJ. A d. Wilsoa- Reaching the
top Of d deep notch 5000 fee. high, they soon
climbed down over a bank Of snow and out
on a small glacier, which filed tho amphi-
theatre, or basin, at this point Crossing this
quickly they found themselves face 20 face
with the peak itsslf, where it looked as II
& would De almost impossibls 10 climb very
high. They halted moment TO examine the
ground ahead Finally, they concluded TO
follow up the long slide which came from the
southwest slope Of the peak. This would
enable them To reach tho saddle on the
main ridge. They proceeded over the great
loose mass OF angular powders of granite.
first giving strict orders that the others were
not 70 follow IN line, as IL would 10 impos-
Aibls TO prevent the powders from rolling
under the feet OF those in advance. After
about one hours hard climbing they reached
the saddle, and halted again for a moment 70
u
walls extended below the saddle on either
eide. compelling the party 70 follow path
which was very steep and II many places
Morn smooth by tho snow slides which passed
down this channel every spring.
Mr. Wilson took tho lead and climbed as
best he could, carrying a transit on MS back
with no difficulty until a placs was reached
where the rocks were well polished and
II. -
be coaunued, finding here and there finger
hold or u crack IN which be could
stick a toe. When he came 70 a place
where there was good standing room he
waited for his companions, but had not
rested long before cry for help came VI
from below. Crawling out on jutting stons
and looking down he saw about forty feet be
meath him one of the men clinging to tht
face Of the blufI, as a starfsh might hang OF
breakvater. The man was in such a posi-
ton that be could neither get up nor down
Mr.. Wilson cast him rope, and thus aided
be COS up safely. After another lift or two
the climbing temporarily became little bet
ter, the rocks here were more broken, thu,
| Offering better hold for hand and foot Tn.
| party next reached the notch, formed Of two
walls as they cross the peak. Much to theu
chagrin they could find no means Of getting
up the wall to the right, which they hae
| to do in order TO reach the last high
peak At the lowest point the wall va
forty feet high, composed Of granite
smooth and vertical, without a breal
anywhere that could possibly be scaled
| Thus they found themselves completely
blocked within few feet Of the top, after
weary climb 0; Il, 600 feet. Turning to tn,
left they climbed 10 thu top of the western
point, where they found a circular inclosur'
| OF rocks, such as are often seen on many
western mountains, evidently built By th'
Indians OF course, this party, and probably
no other, ever scaled the mnid peak, perhap
hundred feet higher, bot they bad CRANE
| panorama Of views while climbing. includ
| ing Fremont's peak, far in the distance, and d
| pretty much ali the peaks mentioned herein
a remarkable phenomenon was witnessed OF
the great walls OF ice OF the glacierS. Thi
| ice was permeated with grasshoppers, which
IN trying 70 migrate over the Rockies. hss
struck against tho ice and become part %
it 70 such an extent that they we're enabled
20 do much climbing tv clinging 10 tho rough
surfaces made ~ tie bodies OF the insects
l II Ii IA