Los Angeles herald., 1892-06-15
THE ONLY ONE.
The Herald Finds a
Glacier.
An Ice River in Southern
California.
The Trip of the Herald's Ex-
ploring Party.
A Mountain Gorge Packed With
Snow and Ice.
The Glacier Fully Two Hundred Feet
Deep.
Interesting Facts About the Water
Outflow.
An Arduous Trip = A Great Altitude
MISUNDERSTANDING from the Rar-
ity OF the Atmosphcrs-A
Subterranean River.
The Trip of the Herald's Ex-
ploring Party.
A Mountain Gorge Packed With
Snow and Ice.
The Glacier Fully Two Hundred Feet
Deep.
Interesting Facts About the Water
Outflow.
An Arduous Trip A Great Altitude
Reached-suKerlnG from the RAr-
ity OF the Atmosphcrs-A
Subterranean River.


ity of the Atmosphers-A
Subterranean River.
Tue existence OF an active glacier in
Southern California OF such heroic pro-
portions as to justify comparison with
the minor continental glaciers OF the
Alps, Andes and the Himalayas-in
fact. the largest if not the only glacier
in the confines Of the United States-is
one of the wonders which the inhabit-
ants of this marvellous section, from
geological standpoint, can add to the
local category of stupendous works in
the economy of nature here to be found
in sub. tropical California.
The story of the existence OF moving
river OF ice buried in the deep cafions OF
the San Bernardino range of mountains
is an old one, and among the earlier
settlers in this section it has been hand
ed down az tradition. At times the
more venturesome Of the army Of argo-
nauts, penetrated these deeper recesses
of the range in the search for yellow
metal, and came back again into the
haunts of men and told tales Of the
great gorge choked up with mighty
mass OF ice, and the story exciting
momentary interest in those days OF
rugged civilization then gradually be-
came q memory, a tradition, tale of
the hills.
Among many of the older residents OF
San Bernardino county the existence OF
. great ice gorge on the upper levels OF
Grayback mountain, the monarch of
the San Bernardino range, has been
known and vouched for during the past
thirty years. Mr.. @. Haskell of San
Bernardino received the story from many
different sources and only two years ago,
in September, Mr.. F. Gilman, now Q
teacher in North Ontario, while on an
exploring tour in the section mentioned,
found his way to this marvel, and came
back with wondrous tales of an i'm
mense body of ice locked up in mighty
cation that was pressing immense masses
Of granite down into the valleys below
with the Titanic cumulative force of
nature.
THE EXPLORING PARTY.
The frequent iteration Of these stories
prompted the HERALD to make an ex-
haustive investigation as to their truth,
and with this end in view HERALD ex-
ploration expedition was organized, and
securing suitable outfit the party left
Los Angeles over the kite-shaped
track of the Santa Fe road,
Monday. June 9th. At Highland
station they boarded the Bear
valley stage and made the first noun
tain portion of the journey through a
wild and ruggedly beautiful section Of
the country to Pine lake, where halt
was made at the Bear Valley hotel to
procure mustangs and burros wherewith
to cross the intervening range, go up to
the headwaters of the Santa Ana river
and then make the ascent of Grayback
mountain. One of the features of the
stop at the Bear Valley hotel was June
snowstorm, with fall of six inches OF
snow, the altitude being $3.50 feet, and
ice in water pitchers forming one-quarter
of an inch in thickness.
Az the exploring party were only pro-
vided with indefinite directions as to the
locality of the presumptive glacier, the
first consideration was the securing Of a
competent guide, and Mr.. Gus Knight,
proprietor OF the Bear Valley hotel, and
gentleman thoroughly familiar with
that section of San Bernardino county
from many years residence and frequent
iourneyings in the most remote and
often inaccessible cations of the region,
kindly volunteered and his services were
of inestimable value in promoting the
objects and ultimate success of the ex.
pedition.
SNOW STORM.
A start was made at O'Clock the next
morning and q climb Of 5000 feet wai
made to the summit of the range south
of Pine lake, the aneroid barometer here
showing an elevation of 1920 feet. The
descent from this point into the upper
section OF the Santa Ana valley is 9
most precipitous one. There is an al
most abrupt fall oit30OO feet, reminding
one very much of the chasmic declivitiei
that are to be found along the eastern
aspect of the Sierras.l At one point or
the trail there is steep incline of 150(
feet that very nearly approaches the per
pendicular. 1t is covered with shal,
and disintegrated granite, and bears tn,
somewhat ominous appellation of sThl
DEVILS Slide" Here the party dis
mounted, and holding the mustangs
reins with one hand, and bearing th,
weight of the body on stout iron. shoe
alpenstocks, started on terrific slid
down the mountain side, the descent o
1900 feet elevation, and perhaps ZOO
feet Of distance, being made in precisel,
four minutes. The valley of the SAINT
Ana was crossed. and the party proceed
ed in southwesterly direction, cfossin
the line of foothills and then making tn
ascent of the summit range of the Sal
Bernardino mountains Now the tra!
led through thickly timbered section
with dazzling white patches Of sno,
cleaning ct intervals in the mor
secluded gorssa. Next stretches (