The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-08-16
CLIMBING MOUNT BAKERS PEAK.
Thrilling Story of Fairhaven Party
The Crater Still Smoking.

T. n Clark, of Fairhaven, who was one of
the party Of eight from Fsirhsyen. which
cendei 10 the summit OF Mount Baker, feat
not performed since 1864 is in the city and tells
q story fun of thrilling details.
His companions were Percivai J. PARIS, ". o.
Amsten, Y. V Low, Henry Low, Ed F. Whit
struck, Tom Skatbo and George w. Smith
They left Fairhsven on the morning OF June y,
and took the Beliingham Bay and British Co
lumbia road TO Silver Lake Station. From that
point they trsmped over 70 the Nookszck river,
took q course that followed the middle IorS of
the stream until they arrived ~ q weii-kDown
place in the iocality-Riddie's store Here they
laid in stock OF provisions for camping. The
first night out the party oecu pied two deserted
cabins.
Next day. Just before the sun rose, the party
struck camp and started eut, each man carrying
pack weighing AZ least Atty pounds. They
walked over broken country, where no trace
o. previous human presence was 10 be seen, and
which was full of difficulty and hardship
The march 10 the base OF the mountains occu-
pied six full days By the way The men hshsd,
and caught front in the streams They fol-
lowed the trail OF the deer and elk, and George
W. smith shot and killed large bear. The
party also saw . numUer OF wild mountain goats
skipping upon snOw-covered rocks
On July >, the base of the mountain was
reached. That day and night was spent in max
Ing maj pgep6fdIlUut 1pI kLe ascent. anu at
on the morning OF July s, the march Up the
mountain was sssayed- The men wore light
apparel, thick corked shoes. and each carried q
six-pound slpenstock, and they afterwards
found out that without these latter they would
have failed IN their attempt
When the snow level was reached hard work
began In many places alrnos. perpendicular
wall of snow and Ice confronted the climbers,
and some other route was chosen. At 700 feet
above snow level the party struck q crevasse IN
the ice that opened up ehAsm the bottom OF
which could hardly be seen. Through some
freak OF nature. however. natural bridge of
hard snow had been formed wide enough TO
permit the passage OF the men in single fla
The danger Was great. and s fail into the ere
yssse meant instant death. The men tied
themselves together with strong ropes and gos
safely across In many places the grade was 20
steep that steps had TO be carved out OF the ice
in order 10 make progress. IL took two hours TO
ascend the last steep dome.
The summit was reached shortly after noon BY
the pathway found by the glasses at early morn
ing About three hours were spent al the TOD
of this huge mountain that towers up into the
blue heavens over 90 feet above the leyes OF the
sea. The msu erected pole, and put upon il
the national flag. in homo. Of the frst reaching
of the summit BY 8 native American party
From the TOD OF the mountain the parry had
great view of the crater, which is on the south
east side between two spurs, aud July $50 feet
distant from the highest point. The crater from
that distance looked 10 be about 100 feet in diam
eter. hu, mus. have been much larger The
PARTY reports having positively seer large vol
uule OF smoke issuing from tae mouth of the
crater. which disappeared as quickly as it rose
into the sir
On the way Up the atmosphere vas not cold
and no one suffered. but when the top was
reached they suffered from the rarity OF the air,
the high wind and the terrible nUTlbing cold
Ats.l0 they started on the return trip all
roped together FOR safety. and without accident
Of sny Kind reached esmp again az "a IN the
evening Each member Of the par1y vas com
ulefely exhausted Two were suow-blind and
the rest generally ismorsllZed They retired
esrly AMI awoke the following morning amid
heavy snow storm. Dishes, pots. pans, guns
ana trspplngs were completely buried in snow.
They started back for F4irhavea OF July : fol-
lowing the nortn FORK OF the NooEssck, and
reached their starting point On JAY :, By L good
t-sll, made probably by pros ectors.
lis Ga med thai but one other 1Qogn ssceut
10 tise SUNNI, OF Mount Baker has ever beea
made. sna that was by party OF E2g.tsamea in
lS6s. a. account Of which VS. pEt,isA ted n the
November issue OF EGrTSTs &ag1ssaz