The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-08-28
ON TOP OF MOUNT RAINIER.
Camping Near the Crater-MOuntain
Goats and Marmots.
Olympia Tribune.

Olympia Tribune.
The return of Dr. Riley and party from Mount
Rainier Ia attracting much interest, and the
many experiences of the party would fill good
sized book At the top of the mountain the
heart action rose from 20 to ITO beats. Physical
changes are great, and are the most noticeable
with the lungs and heart. Respiration was 40
per minute, and it was found necessary to con-
sumo eight times much air as in the valley
below. some OF the party complained espe-
cially of the sulphurous air, which escapes
from the craters.
The greater number of people heretofore have
camped within the large crater, where there are
but few steam jets. The recent snow, which
was from 40 to GO feet deep, filled the crater,
and it was impossible to camp within. Much
more steam was found to be escaping from the
sides of the little crater on the outer walls and
about seven acres of ground are kept clear from
snow by this escaping steam This condition
is most marked at the highest elevation of the
south peak.
The largest crater 10 on the southern and lower
slope, being 800 feet below the small one 1t ia
circular basin. about eighty five feet deep and
go yards in circumference. The smaller one
lies at the top of the highest peak, and is above
seventy-hye feet deep and $50 yards in eircum-
ference The rim Is perpendicular wall of
black basalt rock and granite, similar to the
material of which the Mormon temple in Utah
is constructed
These craters give out a continual cloud of
steam having temperature of 2l2 degrees aud
pot full of snow was converted into boiling
water in ten minutes.
A general examination was made TO End relics
of former travellers in the craters On the
northeast slope of the large crater was found
the stump of the flagstaff which was erected
by the Enumelaw party few weeks before
The staff and flag had disappeared. The next
article was sheet of lead three feet by twelve
inches, which lay under the rocks in the little
crater. On it was engraved the names of G. B.
Bailey, T. b. Van Trump and James Longmire
and dated August, 1873 On the opposite side
was the name of w. Foabs or Forbs, the party
was unable to determine which. 1t was cut
with knife and had no date. DR.. Riley-s party
left a small board under q ledge of rocks in the
rim of the small crater at the highest peak No
evidence beyond prune seed could be found
OF the recent Longmire party, because of the
heavy SHOWS.
Some time was spent in visiting the White
river glacier, for the purpose of discovering a
praet.c way of ascent. and from appearances
above, il is the easiest way. The main climb
OF the mountain has no dangerous passes and Ia
comparatively smooth and even
The two Cowlitz glaciers are combined with
those OF Nesqually and are very rough. The
rock OF Gibraltar has been counted the most
difficult pass, but il has more passes than one
as each of the three took a different rou,a in
descending. 1t is solid mass of rock with dif
ierent shelves or lodges, covering about 45o
acres, and is about !, 500 feet high. This stands
alone and shows that the constant work of the
glaciers have actually sawed IL away until il
has the appearance OF an immense monument
Dr Riley took pass over the Puyallup glacier
and found il by far the easiest way.
The lack OF provisions and the evidence Of an
oncoming storm lessened the surveys and nro-
gress the party had hoped 10 make. MANY vain.
able photographs and sketches were made how
ever, and several quartz lodges were found. and
one supposed TO contain considerable silver
But the absence of all rich mineral ores In re-
markable, and contrary TO expectation. The
party brought back large collection of plants.
flowers and MOSES
Several herds of beautiful mountain goats
were seen at the l3,000-foot level What they
were feeding upon at this altitude was peeu.
harry interesting. The only vegetation was an
almost invisible green moss, adhering closely to
the rocks. and this the goats appeared to lick
with relish.
Alter leaving the goats, no evidence of life
was seen except common house mouse which
was sleek and lat. and which jumped right into
the dogs mouth How il ever got on the noun
tain Is mystery. An interesting animal living
at the base of the mountain is the grounding.
OF msrmot which is about the size of a coon.
with the build OF a lion, aud is white from the
shoulders forward u ID eaten with consider