The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-09-19
Return of a Seattle Party of
Mountain Climbers.
THE VOLCANO STILL ACTIVE.
Professor Ingraham Tells OF the Ascent
OF the Precipitous Peak-Its
Smoking Crater.

the trip 10 PoST-lNTELLIGENCER reporter:
I'VE left Seattle for the forks OF the Nooksack
on Friday morning, September 4, on the Seattle,
Lake shore & Eastern road. We left the road at
the forks near Deming station about 2:3) p. m,
ana met Mr.. Owens, the postmaster, the post
Office being one and half miles up the river
from the railroad. We went with him, and on
arriving at his house, found that we
could SEIZURE a pack horse TO take cur
provisions up the river next morning,
30 We accepted his hospitality that night and
made an early start next morning. The course
decided on was TO take the north fork as far as
Glacier creek, one of its branches, and then
follow the creek TO the snow line. Our course
up the north fork lay along a very fair trail,
passing by numerous ranches in various stages
OF cultivation. About / o'clock we reached
Boulder creek, quite a large stream coming in
from the mountains on the north of the Nook
sack. There is quite good road up the river,
and as the mountain spurs do not come right
down to the river, as they usually do, the road
10 comparatively level.
"Afte- lunch we proceeded up the river until
we came 10 point where the trail crossed the
river by ford TO the left bank. After an inef-
fectual attempt to get our horses TO take to the
water, we abandoned them. They did not seem
used % the water and one which we got into the
river got mired and the packs were wet before
We could remove them After crossing the river
ourselves on a jam OF logs we continued up the
trail, taking the precaution to spear a sa-mon
for our evening meal, all the little streams
being full of salmon. We made our first mp
in the woods on the bank of small s.rean
coming in from the hills on the south. Making
camp consisted in throwing ourselves on the
ground and throwing our blankets over u.s.
"Next day we took our line of march up the
trail about o'clock, AID about 10 O'Clock ar
rived at what Is known as Glacier creek, the
main branch OF the north fork. Here we met
Mr.. Davis, who has taken up claim there, and
who gave us quite specific directions in regard
to our course from that point, very kindly
accompanying US for about mile of our jour-
ney across and up Glacier creek. About noon we
arrived at another of those beautiful mountain
streams which at frequent intervals empty into
the main stream. While the rest of the boys
were building fire and making coffee engaged
in catching our first mess of trout. These trout
are from six TO ten inches long and rise only to
a fly. After lunch proceeded lesurely up
the river, passing several deserted prospectors
camps, until we reached point where one OF
the spurs ends abruptly at the river bank
Being unable to pass this spur or
cross the river we decided to ascend
1T. After much difficulty one member
of the party got about halfway up the perpen-
dicular bluff, drove his alpenstoek into the
ground and made rope fast to it to assist the
Others in climbing TO this point. We then re-
peated the operation, hauled up the packs, and
then the other members of the party followed.
After reaching the top of this bluff We found 1t
necessary to ascend about 500 feet further in
der TO PAYS over the spur, as we had to avoid
deep canyon at that point. Having cleared the
canyon in this manner, we descended to the
river bed, again making use of our rope, first
letting our packs down and then desce aiding by
its aid ourselves over the face OF perpendicu-
lar precipice. 1t being quite late when we again
reached the river, we made camp for the night.
"The next morning continued our march
up the river but soon met with the termination
OF second spur. One member of the party was
enabled to find his way over a precipitous ledge,
and then by means of the ever-needful rope got
the others past it From this point on we were
constantly meeting with distractions of this
kind and found it necessary to cross and recross
the river. This we did upon trees that pros
pectors had fel ed for bridges. We were now
fairly in the foothills, some of the spurs rising
TO a height of 5000 to 1900 feet.
"About noon we arrived at the entrance OF one
of the most rugged canyons to be found any
where in the state. For about half mile the
slope of the mountain spurs abruptly termin-
ates in a rock oyerhanging the river at a height
OF 100 to 300 feet. Below this is steep slope of
ragged rocks that have fallen from above. sup
porting no vegetation except the detes'ed
devils club. Far below this in a tortu-
Gus channel cut in the solid bed
rock, presenting the appearance of brown
sandstone, flows the river, often invisible and
al one point descending a perpendicular dis
lance oil about leo feet. After an hours hard
work we got through the canyon, which ends
as abruptly as ii begins. Darkness approach
ing, we here made cur third camp on the bank
OF the stream. AT this point the mountain can
be plainly seen, as one looks right up the river.
seemin only half mile distant
From this point the river bed ascends very
rapidly, numerous waterfalls and rapids inter
fering with our progress. About mile above
the canyon Glacier creek forks and we dec ,ded
10 rakG b. fork La
and quite easily forded. This fork about a mile
further up again forks and before, we took
the south fork. BY noon OF this day, which
the fifth after leaving Seattle, we gained
open ground and took our meal on
the banks Of lake nesting among
the stunted frs of the foothills. Here numer-
Gus snow fields were in sight, but
the main peak was shut out from our view
by an intervening spur, which we determined
to ascend and establish our permanent camp
at its top. Upon reaching the top we found
ourselves upon the edge Of glacier which
made directly from one OF the main peaks,
which Mr.. Colman in an article published in
Hdrper's Magazine in lS6o named Coliax peak. The
summit OF the main peak is called by the same
writer Grants peak, Lincoln peak Intervening
The main peak seemed TO the inexperien ed eye
To be but IA mile away, while TO one accustomed
10 view objects in the clear atmosphere of the
mountains IL was known to be six times that
distance off
'lhe following forenoon, the atmos phere be-
coming quite clear and pleasant day being
certain, We decided 10 attempt the ascent. Just
before noon we concluded our preparations and
struck boldly ont to ascend the glacier Before
We had got half way across the first ice field the
courage of one member OF the party failed and
he returned TO camp. The other three con-
tinued the ascent, but clouds which had been
forming in the distance were soon driven against
the cold mountaia-slde, and We found ourselves
al she end OF lwo hours in the midst of a snow
storm. We were unable TO see any great distance
ahead, and, fearing that our tracks might be
covered by the falling snow, We decided TO re-
turn 70 camp and wait for clear weather.
"Wheu we had descended below the storm
cloud we same across Jour ptarInigsns busily
numerous insects that had been driven against
the mountain side and persisted in the snow.
Knowing OF the delicious morsel that the meat
OF this rare bird MAKES, We decided TO secure
one for our evening meal This we had no
difficulty in doing, as they are quite tame. being
unfamiliar with mans presence and his de-
structive instincts. They allowed US 10 approach
near enough 10 knock one over with our alpeu-
stocks This bird resembles the grouse in shape
but the plumsge is white, except the upper
side of its wings, and that in the winter
season IS also white. Ii is beautiful
bird and seldom seen below snowline.
with some difficulty we returned 70 camp
where the continuance OF the storm so
suddenly begun kept Us close TO our tent Tor
three days and nights. Rain fell on the lower
mountains, while on the peaks OF Mount Baker
iail of about three feet OF snow occurred. On
the afternoon Of Saturday. September i, the
storm clouds began 10 disappear and our hearts