The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-05-28
TO SNOWY HEIGHTS.
Explorers Will Attempt Elias
Virgin Peak.
PROF. RUssELL's GREAT TASK
He Returns to Alaskan Glaciers to Study
Their Work and Their Noun
tain Birthplace.

Mr.. Israel C. Russell, OF the United states
geological survey, arrived in the city yesterday,
on his way to Alaska, and is now at the Rainier
hotel. This is Mr.. Russell's third expedition to
Alaska. Year before last he went up the
Yukon, and last year he spent the summer in
the country about Mount St. Elias That ex-
petition, whose results have been published in
Mr.. Russcll's official reports, and likewise in an
article in the April Century, was undertaken
under the backing of the National Geographic
Society and the United states geological sur
vey.
This expedition is under the same auspices"
said Mr. Russell last evening"" Last year.we ex-
plored the country east OF Mount St. Elias. The
Geographic Society was particularly interested
in our explorations, but the exploration is in a
sense incidental for am by profession geoio-
gist, and have been for some years making
special study of glaciers. The country there
affords unrivalled opportunities for such work,
for the glaciers are thousand times larger
than any in Europe, and you can see their ac-
ton on a much more tremendous scale.
1--WE leave by the revenue cutter Bear early
Saturday morning. After short stops at Sitka
and Yakutat, we shall arrive at our destina-
ton, Icy bay, about June g. From there 1t 10
only about thirty miles to Mount St. Elias We
shall begin our climbing at once, OF course going
little slowly until we become hardened.
''The snow line is only ., 800 feet above the sea
we shall spend the summer on the glaciers.
and shall attempt the summit OF Elias.
Last year we spent thirty-fve days
continuously above the snow line, and we may
be there even longer this year. We also tried
three times TO reach the top OF the peak, out
each time we were driven back by heavy storms.
In one of them was cut of from the party ana
was alone on the ice for six days.
"We shall strike into our old trail the first
thing, and then work around the east and south
OF the mountain. OF course we shall do con-
siderable triangulation during the summer, for
a good map is very necessary.
''The party will contain six men besides my
self, Thomas Stamy, Thomas White, J. II.
Crumbaek, Neil MeCsrty and two men named
Moore and Warner. The first three were with
me last year, and proved themselves very
efficient in every way. They have spent the
winter in the Olympics, where they hate taken
up good claims.
ut will be necessary to pack on foot all our
camp supplies, tents, blankets, food and fuel in
from the coast. SO you see that we have no
holiday task. We take tents, and one blanket
for every two men. The food is regular rations,
oat meal, bacon, ham, bread, etc, which are
sealed in fifty-pound cans. We carry SINS all oil
stoves and oil with which to do the cooking
''Much of the time we will sleep right on the
ice and snow, though, of course, when such a
thing is possible, we shall get on dry ledge of
rocks. There is no use in denying that such an
expedition involves good deal of hardship,
but must say enjoy it all. Ny health was ex-
cellent all of last summer, in spite of the ex-
posure; but l find it hard work to keep we'll
when am in an Office.
"We shall return in October, hope, with dis
coveries of some value"