The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-09-27

none of the published maps 10 IL properly
delineated. The streams at the head
waters are almost purely glacial counter
parts of Glacier creek at Mount Baker.
On the northwest side of the mountain
one of the streams falls in q series
OF cascades with great regularity
for distance of 1900 feet.
As TO the feasibility of the valley of the
Nooksack as rail route there is a little
doubt. II the pass near the boundary
line is as good ~ il has been reported
and the crossing Of the Skagit equally
good, there is no reason why an easy
grade cannot be built TO the crest from
this side OF the range. The distance
from Grltfth's store where the basin widens
into the north valley, 10 Mount Shuksan
Is about thirty-hve miles, and from there
TO the boundary pass perhaps twenty-five
miles This seems to be all the distance
required for an easy ascent. The valley
contains large amount of good farming
land and an abundance of good saw tim
Der. For some distance on the south side
oil the river the coal formation is regular.
with fair outlook for finding coal In pay
ing quantities. Good coal exists, as ths
drift samples show. One of the party
was left to continue the examination from
Shuksan west. The formation is mostly
barren volcanic rocks of many varieties.
The whole country has been reheated, and
shows the effects of much volcanic action.
In the river bed fine specimens of porus
iron lava and black trap carving perfect
specimens of sea shells were found. That
the ancient sea shore line formations
should be metamorphosed and still retain
their life forms seems to your correspondents
to be something extremely rare.
The view from any of the mountain tops
is extremely s.and, for the family Of
mountains seems TO have gathered on all
sides. Those surrounding seem rs near
neighbors, though accessible only by sew.
eral days hard journeying. On the upper
waters they range in height from
5000 feet to 1900 feet. including
Mount Baker. The northern slopes are
mostly covered with snow, while the
south sides are green and pleasant The
lower ranges are covered either with heavy
timber to the very top or with steep but
grassy pastures and beautiful flowers.
while the higher peaks, snow-capped and
IN sharp angles stand out prominently as
though lords of their particular tribe.
Ihe party was only fairly successful in
scsr'ng game, though the country
abounded in bear. deer and grouse. Some
elk signs were noticed beginning near
Horseshoe bend, and large pair of antlers
found In the valley Of Fall river, were
regretfully left behind The deer feed
mostly in the pastures at great heights,
days journey from the valley. The whistle
OF marmots was heard at various times,
while fresh beaver work on Balm of GIIea.d
trees and the tracks of the fur-bearing
n c of< h.
of the party who assembled Mount Baker
higher than the others saw a flock of
mountain goats at a considerable distance
on the spur beyond them.
Many incidents of the trip peculiarly ex-
citing to individual members of the party.
which will long be remembered, are not
here recorded. The per:lous climbing of
canyon walls. the difficult crossing on
slippery and springy logs over rushing
waters, when false step meant to go over
falls or cascades; the novel idea of sitt.ng
astride of a mountain peak or comb, as
the party did on Bears Paw, at a height
of 5000 feet, one of the Bald Mountain
range, is not to be forgotten in years. To
say that the trip was hard one does not
fully express it. Any one who has had
experience in the forests of Western
Washington knows well the diff
culties to be surmounted in the
mountain districts beyond all roads
or trails. The roughness of the
country, the fallen timber and the jungle
in some places made it almost impervious.
Wet from head to foot with perspiration
or an accidental bath, at the days end the
2-sd explorer devou-s his bacon, bread
cakes and coffee with better relish than
a tenderloin in a fashionable cafe.
and smokes his "Missouri meerschaurn"
before the campfire with greater zest than
q fragrant Havana. Slumber Is soothing
rolled in blankets on balsaam boughs and
life in the mountains is not without some
pleasure after all.