The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-06-05

pursusd their course nnfil they wsrs CON-
peised 70 cross over aenin- They continued
up ne river until the afternoon Of the next
day, October Is, when they reached the forks
eoouf % p m. Here wus where il had
oee1 agreed that the Indians should leave
men, but thsy remained there foxefker
ior three dsys. the buck going up the East
Lofk and killing four elk. which he salted
down 10 take home with him.
CANOE TRAVEL AsAspoxEp.
On October -. they took the canoe and
started on up the east fork. which came
down from the direction OF Mount Con-
stance. IN course . little south Of west;
but they had hardly gone three Males be-
lore they encountered an immense log
jam and had to abandon the canoe Then
they shouldered their blankets. weapons.
provisions and camping outfit and set ont
on loot They csmped that night ON the
bank Of the stream. and, staying there two
days. climbed = neighboring peak, which
their aneroid told them was 4.90 feet in
height They remained al night on top Of
the mountain. The weather was chiIly
but not severely cold. Ii was on this
mountain that they struck their first snow.
N THE HOME or THE ELK
Returning to the river. the journey was
resumed and at the end of three DAYS they
we're within two miles Of the foot OF Mount
Constance. They were now in the heart OF
TIE mountains Fierce overhanging peaks
shut them in on every hand. and they
found their way. during sunless days, over
aIfilcult paths and trails strewn with pro-
fusion OF rocks and logs Elk trails be-
came more numerous, and. to save labor,
they followed them through the dense un-
derbrush, only to return TO the water and
to continue their difficult way Far up on the
mountain sides ths sun shone brightly,
but its rays never pierced the gloom Of
that valley, or removed the moisture from
the overhanging boughs and underhrush,
upon which the frosts OF the chilly nigh Is
hung in clofs the livelong day. The
ground and the very air was damp: aud
the water dripping from the trees added
much to their discomfort The mountains
were wildly rugged and broken, and il
looked ~ II they would never dare climb
their precipitous sides. Here and there on
the mountain slopes, was long, deep trail.
showing where some gigantic land slide
had torn in its irresistible course down to
the valley below. II was easy TO see where
many Of these great masses of rock and
earth had started. Sometimes whole
lodges, their hold becoming weakened BY
the action OF the melting SHOWS. had torn
themselves loose. and dashed down into
the valley with overpowering momentum.
leaving exposed great barren patches in
their stead. Often the track had begun so
far up that they could not discover its
origin, and it disappeared in the lofty
distance. The scene with the surroundings
Was one Of frightening grandeur: but the
adventures never faltered.
They concluded to ascend some Of the
peaks and get view OF the surrounding
country. After much travel. they got TO
the summit OF several in succession; but
the skies were SO thick with fog that moth
ing could be seen. Their provisions were
getting little low. so they shot an elk
each, and cooked and ate its meat. They
saw many others. but not needing them,
did not modest them.
THE CREST or THE RANGE.
For several days they had noticed lofty
peak - the south and on their right as
they came mp, and they determined TO A.
tempt its ascent. Its sides appeared very
steep and thny expected 70 have much work
in the climb b, nor we're they disappointed.
The mountain was so steep that they could
make bat little progress. and that With the
most exhaustlng effort and labor. So slow
was their march that night overlook them
shortly after the snow line was passed.
They made camp IN the snow. and gather
ing some brush lighted their fire and
cooked their supper. The SLOPE was so
steep that when they lay down 70 sleep
they had to prop their feet against some
logs to keep from rolling down the noun
tain-a means Of descent. however easy,
that they would not have relished. Next
day they toiled on through the snow and
reached the summit: and there the view
that burst upon their bewildered vision was
glorious beyond description. The morning
was clear aud beautiful and their sight was
limited only by the far~distant horizon.
To the northwest, eighteen miles, was
Mount Olympus covered with giittering
snow, and the last Of q mighty range OF
hills extending in descending succession 10
the west, along the Straits of Juan de Fuca.
Ten miles TO the north was Mount Con-
stance. abrupt and lonely. its lofty summit
piercing the sky above all its immediate
neighbors. On the east they could dimly
see the range OF wooded Cascades. with
Mount Rainier rising grandiy to the right
and Mount Baker on the extreme left.
Hoods canal. its shores covered with ever
green, fir ana cedar, was shining thread
at their feet, while beyond. Puget sound
could inst be discovered.
THEY COULD ALMOST sEg SEATTLE
Seattle was lost in a haze. but they
were quite sure they could locate the
big CITY, Miles away TO the west and south
they deserted both Gray s hsrbor and Lake
QuiniauIt In the background q rolling
hank OF thick fog shut off their view OF the
ocean. The whole vista was grand and
indispensable, and impressed itself so
fxedly upon the Two lonely hehalders that
they viii surely never forget il.
$500 rrEr ABOVE THE sga-lEvEL.
The aneroid told them that they were
Z. $50 feet above the sea-levei. The location
OF the mountain was singulariy. fortunate,
for il enabled them not only 10 see great
distance. but il gave them q commanding
view of the hills and wales and water
courses around them Loa,h TO leave the
scene. they tried 10 follow the crest OF the
mountain. nut their course was soon i'm
peded by insurmountabie rocks aud
eresices. They decided TO descend on the
south side. The bluffs they found very
steep and In places they had to lei them
selves down with ropes. Camping again
At nisht on the mountain side. they next
day resumed the descent and finished dur
ing the day.
TIE Rrrrss TO THE eEisfArtr-
They reached a stream. plainly branch
OF the Quiniault. on November q That
day il hegan To rain and continued with