St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-10-20

the mountain wall which rises to the
west of it. we again found pass lead
ing toward st. Elias that afforded an
easy passage TO
The Conrad Glacier,
one branch of which rises on the north
ern slope of the great mountain. Fol-
lowing up this branch we at last, after
twenty days hard work above snow line,
found ourselves encamped at the base
of st. Elias. The weather had been
clear for ten days and we had every
prospect of good days climb on the
morrow. Rising at in the morning we
began what we thought to be the final
ascent, but, after a few hours, storm
clouds settled down around us, snow
began to fall, and all land marks 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 a
lower camp, where the necessary
ratlons were to be had. A second
the summit two days later.
but another snow storm broke over the
mountains as suddenly as the first. This
time was alone i'll the highest camp,
where | was imprisoned for six days be-
fore being able to rejoin my party be-
low; while Mr.. Kerr was similarly iso-
lated at the first camp lower down.
When / started down there was six feet
of new snow which refused to harden,
and rendered it Impossible to do more
work among the nigh peaks. On de-
scending to lower level, started on
an excursion up the glacier between st.
Elias range and Mount Cook, which
gave promise of leading to low pass
across the main range, but a third snow
storm coming OH, was obliged to re-
turn to Blossom island, and there re-
joined Mr.. Kerr, who had descended a
snow line lasted thirty-five day s.
During that time we lived in tents,
many times camping on the open gla-
cier, so as to be out of the reach of ava
lanches. After returning to Blossom
island an excursion was made far out
on the Piedmont glacier. which forms a
plateau about 800 feet high, stretching
along the southern base of
The st. Elias Range.
This glacier is of the continental type
in distinction from the Alpine glaciers,
and has an area by estimate of about
1000 square miles. 1t is the largest
glacier known in the northern hem
isphere, with the exception of the ice
fields of Greenland. We returned to
Yakutat bay about the Goth of Septem-
Der, having had stormy weather almost
all the time since leaving the vicinity
OF st. Elias. On the 22d of
September our hearts were glad
dened by seeing the COrwin
steaming up the bay. Capt. c. L..
Hooper, commander of the C0rwin, act
ing On his own judgment, and knowing
t,nf ixo f,r lnF&
at Yakutat until winter set in, made
relief, and conveyed the expedition to
Port townsend, where we arrived Oct.
2. From the point of view of the sci
enlist. If not the Alpinist, our eXpedi-
ton was success. The plan proposed
before starting was carried out almost
to the letter, so far as the study of gla-
ciers, geology and topography was con-
cerned, but we did not reach
the top of Mount st. Elias. The
measurements made have determined
that all the mountains in this region are
lower than was previously supposed,
and that St. Elias. instead of being the
highest point in North America, is in
reality a SecOnd-rate mountain. Its
elevation, instead of being 1880 feet.
as previously considered, is about 1880.
Mount Cook has all elevation of 10.250
and Vancouver 9,400. Many other peaks
in the same region are as elevated as
Cook and Vancouver, but st. Elias is
higher than any of its immediate neigh
bOrs. The results eff the expedition will
be presented to the National Geographic
society some time in November. and as
soon after as practicable will be pub
lished by the society in the National
Geographic Magazine"