Los Angeles herald., 1890-10-20
SAINT ELIAS SHOWS.
Recent Scientific Researches
in Alaska.
The Late Expedition to the Yu-
katat Region.
Deserts of Ice and Mountains of
Trackless Snow.
Unsuccessful Attempts to Ascend Mount
st. Elias-The Great Piedmont
Glacier.
Associated Press Dispatches.

expedition sent last spring, under the
joint auspices of the National Geograph-
ical society and the United States Geo
logical survey, for the purpose of explor-
ing the region about Mount st. Elias,
Alaska, has returned. MIR. Russell, who
organized the expedition and had charge
of the work, has furnished the Associ-
ated Press picturesque sketch of the
work of his party. The actual base of
operation, at the head OF Yukatat bay,
was reached June 2Sth, and a study of
the geology and geography of the region
was begun at once. They found an
island near the head of the bay, which
they named Grand View island. From
it's summit, which rises boldly thou
sand feet above the water, magnificent
view was obtained of vast stretch
OF snow clad mountains, from
which glaciers of great magnitude
descended to the sea and ended in cliffs
several hundred feet high. From these
the icebergs crowding the bay were de-
rived; One Of these glaciers we named
after Dalton, the pioneer explorer of the
4
of the bay was named in honor of Gard
ner Hubbard, president. of the Geo
graphical society. A magnificent mount
ain peak rising some 10000 feet, imme-
diatelv above Hubbard glacier, received
the same name. Another towering peak
on the same mountain crest, triangular
in shape and always OF the purest white,
was named Mount Seattle.
Among Deserts of Ice.
AS soon as the Typographical work was
we'll under way, line of march towards
Mount st. Elias was decided upon. "All
of our rations. bedding, tents. etc."
says Mr.. Russell, ''had to be carried or
packed by men, the character of the
country not allowing the use of animals.
We found passes in the mountains leading
in the directions we wished to travel,
and no insurmountable difficulties in
the way, although great patience and
Judgment were required in threading
the network of crevasses in the ice fields.
Probably more than nine.tenths Of our
journey was across glaciers and snow
fields. On the 1st of August we were
midway between Yukatat bay and
Mount St. Elias, but still at the base
OF the mountains. The timber line is
there about 1900 feet high, and all trees
disappear. A few miles to the west an
island of rock, surrounded by vast gla-
ciers, but clothed with beautiful flowers,
rank ferns and dense spruce trees, fur
nished delightful spot for our base
camp. We named this lovely oasis in
the desert of ice, Bloom island. From
there our work in the high mountains
began.
Above the Snow Line.
"After twenty days hard work above
the snow line, we found ourselves en-
camped at the base of st. Elias. The
weather had been clear for days and we
had every prospect for a good days
climb on the morrow. Rising at 3
O'Clock in the morning, we began at
what we believed to be the final ascent,
but after few hours storm clouds set
tied down around us, snow began to fall
and all landmarks were lost to view.
The storm continued for thirty hours
without cessation, and it was with diff
Guilty that we found our way through the
binding snow to camp, where necessary
rations were to be had.
ga second attempt was made to reach
the summit two days later, but another
storm broke over the mountains as sud-
denly as the first. This time was alone
in the highest camp, where I was inn
prisoned for six. days before was able to
regain the party below. When I started
down there was six feet of snow. which
refused to harden, and rendered it i'm
possible to do more work among the
peaks.
"On descending to the lower level,
started on an excursion up the glacier
between the st. Elias range and Mount
Cook, which gave promise of leading to
a low pass across the main range, but
third snow storm coming up, was OBJ
iged to return to Blossom island, and
there rejoined Mr.. Keer, the topog-
rapher, who had descended few days
previous.
'.My stay above the snow line lasted
thirty.five days; during that time we
lived in tents, many times camping on
the open glacier so as to be out of the
reach of avalanches.
The Great Piedmont Glacier.
"After returning to Blossom island,
4 an excursion was made far out on the
great Piedmont glacier, which forms a
plateau about 1900 feet .high stretching
along the southern base of the St. Elias
range. This glacier is of the continental
type in distinction from Alpine glaciers,
and has an area, by estimate, Of about
1900 square miles. 1t is the largest
glacier known in the northern hemi-
sphere, with the exception Of the ice fields
of Greenland.
1--WE returned to Yukatat bay about
the 10th of September, having had
stormy weather almost all the time, and
on the 22d our hearts were gladdened by
seeing the steamer Corwin coming up
the bay, Captain Hooper having made
the cruise from Sitka, especially for our
relief, and conveyed the expedition to
Port Townsend.
Results of the Expedition.
"From the point of view Of scient-
ist, if not of an Alpinist, the expeGi-
tion was success. The plan proposed
in starting was carried out almost to the
letter, 30 far as the study Of glaciers,
geology and topography was concerned,
but we did not reach the top of Mount
st. Elias. Measurements made have
, " 4s IL A szsI N s M 4 sf