The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-09-19


position. From this point the ascent is yerv
abrupt, the FIRST part of the distance Continuing
along ridge covered with volcanic ashes sew
sral inches deep. The last 500 feet of the ascent
of the main dome is q wall of ice seerninolv
nearly perpendicular. Ordinarily the noun
taineer has to cut steps, but on
account of the snow which had ya-
Gently fallen we were enabled to make
the ascent by means of our alpenstoeks At
O'Clock we found ourselves standing upou the
west rim of the summit, which consists of an
oval snow field about one-half mile across, with
the eliminating point near the east border. A,
we approached TINS eliminating point we were
delighted 10 see the evidence OF the presence OF
q former party in a small flagstaff projecting out
OF the snow.
upon reaching this flagstaff We found at it's
base what might have bcen a many colorsd
wooden blanket, but what was more probably
the petticoat OF Miss Sevins, OF the La Conner
party, who had sacrinced that portion of her
wardrobe the nearest representation OF the
American flag she could procure. There was
also broken bottle tied to the flagstaff, which
probably at the time II was put there contained
the names OF the ascending party. Each mem
Der OF orr parsy took a piece of the aforesaid
garment and brought it down as a trophy.
afr m this point the crater Ia plainly visible
thousand feet below, on the south SIDE OF the
mountain II is filed with snow, excapt in the
center, where there Is q circular opening about
fifty feet in diameter, from which steam and
sulphurous vapors are constantly escaping In
fact, we noticed the presence OF the sulphurous
vspor eco feet below the summit whenever the
wind came from the direction of the crater, and
the vapor was sometimes so strong TO affect
the breathing OF the ascending party The
crater is circular In form, about half mile in
diameter, with the eastern wall broken down,
and the other walls about 90 feet high per.
pendieularly.
"The view was magnificent beyond descrip-
ton. To the north the snow-eapped peaks of
the selkirk range seemed but few miles away
To the east Mount Shuksan and the Sank noun
tains glistened in the MONDAY sun, amid a sea
of mountains spreading through the oksnegan
country, while 10 miles TO the south Mount
Rainier crowned the scele. The waters OF the
sound were not visible on account of
the dense clouds suspended ab,ye it
While on this elevated point one men,
Der of the party made map OF the
various sou ces OF Baker end Nooksaek rivers,
the glacierst orming al Of these sources except
the middle fork OF the Eooksack being visible
from that point. This glacier the party located
during their attempted ascent four days earlier.
The south or clear fork of the Nooksack does
not have its origin on Mount Baker, but comes
from the snow fields of a short range a few miles
TO the west Coming from snow fields rather
than glaciers accounts for the clearness of its
waters
"Aiter remaining upon the summit an hour,
our party was warned by approaching clouds
from around the entire horizon that it was time
to descend. The descent was made in a little
less than three hours. When we arrived at our
camp we found it envelop1d in the clouds,
which in a very short time swept up 10 the sum-
nit OF Baker, but an hour before gistenng
In cloudless sky. 1t was the intention of the
party TO cross over by the north side OF the
mountain to Baker lake and ascend the river of
he aNna hYtth uiyar ~ two
gion from the summit of the mountain and re-
alizing the uncertainty OF the weather at this
season of the year, we decided to call our trip
great success and return home by the shortest
route, which was the way we came
"Monday morning at O'Clock we broke camp
and commenced our homeward march The
first day We covered the same distance descend
ing that had taken US two and half days
to ascend. Reaching the hospitable home of
Mr.. Davis, at the mouth of Glacier creek,
we were kindly received and given shelter
for the night. Bidding our newly found friends
good bye at O'Clock Tuesday morning. we de-
scended the north fork OF the Nooksack and
reached Mr. Owens about o'clock in the even
ing. This morning we took the Lake shore
train at O'Clock at the forks, and reached here
about 3d.
"Parties desiring to ascend Mount Baker will
find the route taken by our party The shortest
and easiest. BY writing 10 Mr.. Owens at DEM
tuty can DIS FdtuADle as
sistanee in procuring pack animals and in
other material ways"
Mr.. Ingraham took his camera with him and
has brought home some good views of the
scenery along the trip and as far up the noun
tain as the permanent camp.
The same party already has a programme
mapped out for next summer. When he re-
Gently assembled Mount Rainier Professor Edwin
Twitmyre observed an active volcano pouring
forth dense black smoke, about twenty-five
miles to the east, he stood on
the Cowlitz glacier, and another man
saw still grander display from
the mountain side at night Prospectors on
the Menastash also report having seen a vol
cano about thrty-five miles TO the southwest
with lava flowing down its side. On one of his
ascents of Mount Rainier Mr.. Ingraham saw
in the distance among the mountains a great
waterfall, looking to be about 1000 feet high.
He proposes 10 seek out this and the unknown
volcano next summer.
Hardman pianos +. Christianer, Sill Third