Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1890-10-25

be carried or packed by men, the char
acter of the country not allowing the
use of animals. We found passes in the
mountains leading in the direction we
wished to travel, and no insurmountable
difficulties in the way, although great
patience and Judgment were required
in treading the network of crevasses in
the ice field. Probably more than nine
tenths Of our journey was across glaciers
and snow-felds. On the 1st of August
we were midway between Yukatat bay
and ST. Elias, but still at the base Of the
mountains. The timber line is there,
about 1900 feet high, and all trees dis
appear a few miles to the west. An
island Of rock, surrounded by vast
glaciers, but clothed with beautiful
flowers, rank ferns and dense spruce
trees, furnished delightful spot for our
base camp. We named this lovely
oasis in the desert of ice Blossom island.
From there orr work in the high
mountains began. After twenty days
of hard work above the spow line we
found ourselves encamped at the base of
St. Elias. The weather had been clear
for the past ten days and We had every
prospect of good days climb on the
morrow. Rising at o'clock in the
morning we began what we believed to
be the final ascent, but after few hours
storm clouds settled down around us,
the snow began to fall and all landmarks
were lost to view. The storm continued
for thirty hours without cessation and it
was with difficulty that We found our
way through the binding snow to camp,
where the necessary rations were to be
had.
The second attempt to reach the sum
nit was made two days later, but anoth-
er storm broke over the mountains as
suddenly as the first, This time I was
alone in the highest camp, where I was
imprisoned for six days before was able
to rejoin the party below. When I
started down there were six feet of new
snow, which refused to harden, and rem
dered it impossible to do more work in
the peaks. On descending to the lower
level I started on an excursion up the
glacier between st. Elias range and
Mount Cook, which gave promise of
leading to lower pass across the main
range, but a third snow storm coming
up [ was obliged to return to Blossom
island and there rejoined Mr.. Kerr, the
topographer, who had descended few
days previously. My stay above the
snow line lasted thirty-fve days. Dur
ing that time we lived in tents SO as to
be out of reach of avaIanches.
latter returning to Blossom island
an excursion was made far out on the gre
at Piedmont glacier, which forms a
plateau about 1900 feet high, stretching
along the southern base Of the St. Elias
range. This glacier is of continental
type in distinction from Alpine glaciers,
and has an area, by estimate, OF about
1000 square miles. 1t is the largest
glacier known in the Northern hemis-
phere, with the exception of the ice fields
Of Greenland. We returned to Yukatat
bay about the Goth of September, having
had stormy weather almost all the time
since leaving the vicinity of st. Elias,
and on the 22nd our hearts were glad
dened by seeing the steamer Corwin
coming up the bay. Robert Booper had
made cruise from Sitka especially for
our relief, and to convey the expedition
to Port Townsend.
"From the point of view of a scientist,
the expedition was success. The plan
proposed in starting was carried out, al
most to the letter, so far as a study of
the glaciers, geology and topography
are concerned, but we did not reach the
top of Mount st. Elias. Measurements
made determined that all the mountains
in this region are lower than previously
supposed and that st. Elias instead of
being the highest point in North Amer
lea, is in reality second-rate mountain
Its elevation, instead of being 1850
feet, as previously considered, is about
1880. Mount Cook has an elevation Of