The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-24
IN BANNERS CRATER.
Steam Heated Sleeping Rooms
on the Mountain Top.
A NIGHT SPENT ON THE SUMMIT.
In Some Places the Temperature II 10
Degrees-A Page From Professor
Ingrsham's Note Book.

During my first ascent of Mount Rainier
remained upon the summit between two
and three hours. Some of the party, my
self among the number, were DESTROYS of
remaining longer, but that veteran noun
taineer, John Muir, became alarmed at the
approaching clouds, and advised an i'm
mediate descent. The recollection of
three days spent in the midst of terrible
nowstorm on Mount Shasta had made
him duly cautious about spending very
long time upon the summit of any high
mountain.
In preparing for the ascent the follow
ing year suggested preparations looking
to spending night in the crater. That
extra preparation meant the packing of
blankets and an extra supply of food.
We might as well have left out the extra
food. as far as our party was concerned,
for we ate but very little during our stay
In the higher attitudes. Our party seemed
to live upon what they breathed and saw.
On this occasion the stomach took a back
seat; We did not feel the heed of or desire
for food.
We left in the crater can of beef and
some other articles, which served to
strengthen two other mountaineers who
made the ascent ten days later, and found
themselves. late in the day, at the summit
without food or blankets
We reached the summit about II o'clock
In the forenoon. For three hours it re-
NAMED quite pleasant. We passed the
time in the enjoyment of our extended
field of view. Hood, st. Helens, Adams
and Jefferson to the south. and Baker to
the north seemed far below US, and but q
nf r,itaa MO u,b, IL D,,c
the Straits of Fuca and the Pacific, in the
hazy distance, looked as they would APP
pear on very large map. The distant
cities were located by their smoke. BY 4
o'clock the wind was blowing at a very
high velocity. To stand upon the rim of
the crater for five minutes would test the
endurance of the best of US to its utter
most. But inside of the crater we were
quite comfortable, its walls protecting
us from the fierce wind that was
sweeping over the top Of the mountain,
and the warm rocks and escaping steam
afiording us ready means to warm our
selves. Two of the party explored some of
the immense ice caves that are formed by
the steam that escapes from the crater
near the center and melts its way through
the ever-failing snow, escaping near the
rim. Within these caves the temperature
Is the same the Gear round. But for the
water that is constantly dropping from the
roof one might keep very comfortable
within them in spite of the fierce tempest
that might be raging without. Retiring
hour upon the summit of Mount Rainier
has been irrevocably fixed at not later
than O'Clock p. m. In fact, 4 o'clock
seems more reasonable time. There were
seven in our party. Two of the party took
the precaution to ask for an assignment
Of rooms early, and thereby secured first
cnoice of cosy nook down deep in the ice
and in size about Axe This room had
been carved out of the solid ice by the
friendly steam, and the warmth
of the earth below made it very
comfortable berth. Four of the party
concluded to occupy one large room. The
chambermaid had not been around that
day, so We had to make our own bed. This
consisted in leveling place about 6xs,
which, to begin with, had an incline
toward the center of the crater of about 80
degrees. Upon removing the earth from
the upper side by means of the iron points
OF our apenstocks, we were delighted to
find the earth growing slightly warm as
We got lower down, and by the time we
had finished our bed the friendly heat of
the interior of this extinct volcano was
quite perceptible. / might here note that
the earth at the surface. for quite an ex-
tent near the north point of the rim of the
crater. is of uniform temperature of at
least ITO degrees the year round; and at
this same point there are hundreds of holes
about an inch in diameter from which the
steam escapes in putfs at regular inter-
walls. The seventh member of the party
selected a room with single bed. 1t was
close to large rock. from beneath which
the steam was escaping in large volumes
with sound that made strange music all
through the night.
Lights QUIT
During the night felt quite solicitous
about the seventh man. 1 was in doubt
about the effect the stea m bath he had
placed himself in might have upon him.
lie had taken the precaution to place part
OF his blanket against the rock so that the
direct effect of the steam was not felt.
During the night l would occasionally
shout through the speaking tube. "How
is A. R---?" The reply would inyaria-
bly, come back, Fine, fine!"
Morning dawned. We arose from our
beds rested and refreshed. All soreness
OF body and limb caused by our hard
climbing of the two previous days had left
US. No. was among the first TO leave his
couch; but with a vigorous and prolonged
Ugh" he rushed back TO his steam
hath. During the night his clothing and
blankets bad become thoroughly saturated
with the escaping steam. As soon as he
got away from il his clothing was frozen
tulf by the chilly mountain breeze. He
did not venture to leave his couch again
until We We're about 20 commence the de-
cent He then called to me to assist him
Ioil his blanket. This was soon accom-
plishcd, for no sooner had he spread it
upon the ground than it was frozen so
that We could roll it as easily as though
1t were sheet of lead.
By noon We were back 10 our camp.
making the decent in one-fourth of the
time that that it took us TO make the as
cent f. s. ISSRABAM.