The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-08-16

road TO Silver Lake station. from thence
TO the crossing eight miles further at Rid
dies ranch on the Middle Fork, where We
purchased some of our provisions. then
onward two and half miles from the
river, where we camped the first night in
two empty cabins. The next day We fol-
lowed the river 10 Beal's, two and a half
miles, waited for Scatbo, who got lost in
the woods. taking lunch in the mean
time. Found a scanty trail on the north
east side from Bears house. Made four
miles, and made our second camp June .
in the woods. part way in the canyon. The
next day we continued along the trail un-
til We got two-thirds through the canyon,
where we made a break for the top of the
mountain, expecting to get better walking.
but were disappointed and got out of
our course on the Middle Fork. We
made five miles of rugged travelling and
came TO a clear stream that runs into the
Middle Fork above the first canyon. where
we camped on the night on June ..
Scatbo, Amsden and Whitstruck caught
two dozen mountain trout that we ate for
breakfast. The party named this Trout
creek 1t rained during the night.
We broke camp at 10 O'Clock in the
morning and made up along Trout creek
through narrow alder bottoms, north by
northeast Lunched on some dozen trout
that were caught. We thereupon made
about five and half mile. and came 10
quite a stream from the east, run
ming down through canyon. We
climbed 10 the top and camped for the
nighttime 80. At 8 in the morning We
started out and at noon we came 10 an
open meadow, a perfect paradise for the
huntsman. fresh deer and bear tracks
everywhere. We started TO lunch in this
beautiful valley that was hemmed in on all
sides by mountains. Scatbo and Smith
were out hunting game. In about 10
minutes We heard two reports and bear
was the victim, a short distance from
camp. The bear was shot while cross
ing a log over a stream. We got a
fine view OF Mount Baker 10 the
east from the meadows on Bear creek.
We made several miles further. climbing
Up hunchback between two precipitous
creeks having a fall of 1000 feet. Had 20
use ropes to pull up our packs over the
bluff and make it possible TO get up. We
made few miles further and camped July
on the mountain side, where two small
inlets started out Of spring.
We were off at the next day, and at
$50 We came 10 our last cam p on snow
line, between 5000 and on feet high. on
July ,. We remained in Baker camp dur
ing the rest of the day. During the day
NE heard the report OF a gun, that we
afterw ards learned resulted in a fatal acct
dent 20 one Richard Smith, who was with
a party of tour from Blaine. His body
was buried close 10 the glacier. on the
northwest side of Mount Baker. We were
three or four miles apart, and saw each
Others camp fire AZ night.
In the morning al twenty minutes after
4, OF July 5. each carrying his blanket and
provisions weighing from twelve 70
twenty pounds. We commenced TO ascend
from the north slope Of the western ridge
that runs up the dome of the mountain,
that can be plainly seen from Whatcom.
We started up the slope. IL extending
north 10 south ana then from west
10 east. We passed over messy flelds and
rocky beds and then through continuous
snow, past = chain OF rocky peaks that
bore the marks Of volcanic action AZ a for-
raer period Of time. On the south side Of
these peaks was what | supposed
10 he an extinct crater. | am not 50
sure now that il Is crater az ali. but
that IL was subject TO volcanic action
7 have not much doubt II has left a
huge basin that is filed with glaciers, and
there seems 70 be an outlet ont of this
basin on the west side that feeds some
stream running from the glaciers. We
passed over one great CTevasSe,t bus We
were all roped together for al emergency.
The last climb o; , ,o.e feet was very steep
at an angle Of from fortv % eighty de-
Crees as we nearei The summit The last
seventv-llve feet had 70 be cut with an Ak
through q covering of ice on the snow.
All OF seven that made the ascent
reached the summit. The dome covered
about riftv acres. The highest peak stands
of from the dome 10 the northeast and IS
twenty-five feet higher. IL Is 100 feet long
bv fiftv wide As soon as We reached the
highest point our feelings gave vent
in loud huzzas OF victory. We
ding hole twelve feet deep
in the snow and put IN TWO stats with
the American nag tackled on. and II now
waves about 500 feet northeast Of where
we reached the summit. on the west side.
We wrote our names on card and placed
il in a cigar box and tied II 70 the staff that
bore the American Tag. We placed a stone
nine inches by three At the base 81 the
staff We discovered the real crater of 70
the east Of the dome. II was fifty hy
seventv-tive feet in circular shape Puifs
Of smoke issued from the interior snd
yyolld evap0rate in the light atmosphere
AZ short distance. When the wind
yy,uld blow our way We detected the smell
Of Sulphur. Ii lies from 10 70 100 feet
loyxer than the crown Of Baker and Is sur
rounded from the very dome by glaciers,
and Is half way between the dome and an