The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-10-20
Thirty-Five Days in Tents
Above the Snow Line.
MT. sEATTLEATowERlNo PEAK.
Exploring the Largest Glacier on
the Northern Hemisphere.
The Enort to Reach tho summit Of
Mount b. EIias Failure-work Of
the Government Geological Survey
Expedition just Ended.

X
Society and United States geological sur.
vey for the purpose of exploring the region
about Mount st. Elias, Alaska, has re-
turned. Mr.. Russell, who organized the
expedition and had charge of the work has
furnished the Associated Press q pic
turesque sketch of the work OF his party.
The actual base of operations at the head
OF fukatat bay was reached June Is, and
study OF the geology and geography OF the
region began at once.
They found an island near the head Of
the bay which they named Grandview
island. From its summit, which rises
boldly 1000 feet shove the water.
. magnificent view was obtained
OF the 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 derived One Of these glaciers We
named after Dalton, the pioneer explorer of
this region. Another, of large size, at the
head Of the bay, was named in honor of
Cardinal Hubbard, president Of the Ma
tional Geographical Society. magnificent
mountain peak. rising some 10000 feet
above the Hubbard glacier, received the
same name. Another towering peak on
the same mountain crest. triangular in
shape and always of purest white. was
named Mount Seattle.
As soon as the topographic work was
well under way, the line of march toward
Mount St. Elias was decided upon. ALI CT
our rations. bedding. tents, etc., had to be
carried or packed by men, the character of
the country not allowing the use of ami
mails. We found the passes in the mount
aims in the direction we wished to travels
and no insurmountable difficulties in our
way, although great patience and judg-
ment were requisite in threading the net
work of crevasses in the ice fields. Prob
ably nine-tenths of our journey was across
glaciers and snow fields.
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 about !, 500 feet high, and all
trees disappear few miles to the west.
An island of rock, surrounded By vast
glaciers. but clothed with beautiful flowers.
rank ferns and dense spruce forests, fur
nished delightful spot for our base camp.
We named this lovely oasis in the desert
of ice Blossom island. From there the
work In the high mountains began.
After twenty days. hard work above
snow line, We found ourselves en-
camped at the base OF Mount st. Elias. The
weather had been clear for ten days, and
we had every prospect of q good days
climbing on the morrow. Rising at 8 in
the morning We began what we believed
to be the final ascent, but after few hours
storm clouds settled 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
difficulty that we found our way through
the binding snow to camp, where the nec-
essary rations were to be had
A second attempt was made to reach the
summit two days later, but another storm
broke over the mountains as suddenly as
the first This time / was alone in the
highest camp, where was imprisoned for
six days before / was able to ioin the
party below. When started down there
were six feet of new snow, which refused
to harden, and rendered il impossible to do
more work in 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 low pass across the main
range; but third snowstorm came up and
| was obliged to return to Blossom island.
and there rejoin' Mr.. Kerr. the topogra-
pher, who had descended few days prev
ious. My stay above the snow line extend
ed over ihirsy-five days. During that time
we lived in tents, so as to be out of reach
OF avalanches.
After returning 20 Blossom island an ex-
cursion was made far out on the great
Piedmont glacier, which forms a plateau
about l.500 feet high. stretching along the
southern base OF the ST. Elias range. This
glacier is of the continental type. in dis.
tinction from the Alpine glaciers. and las
an alca by estimate of about 1000 so,r6-e
miles. 1t is the largest glacier known In
the northern hemisphere, with the excep-
ton of the icefeld 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 23d our
hearts we're gladdened by seeing the
steamer Corwin coming up the bay. Cap-
tain Hooper having made cruise from
Sitka especially for our relief, and to con-
yey our expedition to Port Townsend
From the point of view of scientists. if not
from any other, the expedition was a suc.
cess. The plan proposed in starting was
carried out almost to letter, so 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 determined that all the mount
ans In this region are lower than previ-
ously supposed. and that ST Elias instead
of being the highest point in North Amer
lea, is in reality a second-rate mountain.
It's elevation instead of being Is, 500 feet. as
previously considered. is about II, 500.
Mount Cooks elevation is 10, ,250, and VAN