The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-05-08

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THE TRANs-CAsCApEs ROAM.
Report OF the survevors who Founa .
Pass North OF Mount Baker.
WHArcoN, May Especial 1.-The Wis.,
dom OF the policy Of the county commits
sioners In fiatly refusing to appropriate
So,ooo for the construction of the trans
Cascade road provided for by the last ler-
isiature to run "north of Mount Baker"
while grave doubts existed as to the prac.
ticability Of the route designated, is now
conceded. Many citizens of this county.
as we'll as of Skagit county, have made
very emphatic declarations that it would
be utterly impossible to find q feasible
route even for a pack trail across the
mountains between Mount Baker and the
British boundary. In the face of these
opinions the commissioners, though ar.
dent supporters of the road proposition,
did not feel justified in blindly aiding .
project which might prove to be a sheer
waste of public money. They accordingly
decided TO send out a accommodating ex-
pedition in charge of q competent and re-
liable man to settle the question of the ex-
lstence of suitable pass. The members
OF the party chosen were: Banning Aus
viii ShASls uafTett, II. u. w ellis.
+. Z. Chase and William Thompson, all
hardy woodsmen, already familiar with .
considerable portion of the region to be
explored.
The expedition has proven an even
greater success than the most sanguine
anticipated. A pass of easy approach
from both sides has been located between
the Nooksack and the Skagit, 1000 feet
lower than the much talked-of Cascade
pass between the Skagit ana Lake Chelan,
the route advocated by the people Of
Skagit county. The height of the pass is
gwen by Mr.. Austin at 4 500 feet, and the
topography of the country ON both sides
is such as to render road construction easy
and inexpensive. Previous explorations
have determined the feasibility of q route
from the Skagit across the mountains to
the Methow, SO that now all doubt as to
the practicability of the entire route as
outlined by law is removed. The state.
ments contained in the Posr-INrELLr.
GENcER today are confirmed bv Mr.. Aus
tins statement published by the Reueius
this morning as follows:
The pass is Immediately west of 6hucksau.
the range 7ooo tess S,1s Rsaka r Q,
creeks without canyons heading in q tabIeland
with scattering timber rise in the pass discov-
Nooksack about thirty-eight miles from Thomp-
sons We followed those creeks from the North
fork and reached these tablelsnds. This was
the summit, $3.50 feet above seq level We
found that the north fork Of Beaver creek Also
headed in these tablelands and flowing TO the
Skagit. and that our task was accomplished, al.
though We followed down Beaver creek fifteen
miles to DO certain of it Where we stopped ON
Beaver creek It was 2.soo feet above sea level.
ploration. found to bs 2. 400 feet This would
leave fall of 400 feet in twelve miles, 90 that
there il no question about splendid pass hav-
At Thompson's, ana for six miles above II
burned timber; then comes heavier timber, flr
fine alley for fifteen miles with lioht timber
and fine agricultural laad, the valley averaging
over q mile in width. We went up the main
ended our course in this direction. We turned
,ss nack & snd followed up partly by accident. the
AND Semloss win tiiI Nv ~aS sshI WITH white r
The table land 10 prairie The north fork of
Beaver creek commences to be timbered with
white ir and hemlock three miles from the pasa
The valley OF the main Beaver IL . mile wide
well tnbered and the most fertile have seen in
Washington. more fertile than the Nooksack
com creek: the north fork Of the Beaver il
twice the size Beaver creek puts in ons-fourth
the water @ OF the sEasit and IL larger than the
The glacial water OF Beaver creek noticed by
Triton sheets In his report to the b. b d b G.
Co.. comes In from Sour Dough mountain, be-
low the forks of Beaver creek and does NOS
come IRON Mount shucksan. Mount Shucksan
can not be much. IL any lower than Mount
Baker. and is fnsurmountable. The last 1900
sieet Is barren rock with preciptous sides, and
Is more inaccessible than any of The Sisters
The psss Is only q mile southwest of the main
dome. The scenery 10 the widest that can be
found anywhere, and the numbe OF blue grouse
Is surprising. We shot three mountain goata
The wolves followed our camp, and gave US
considerable trouble. We made snow shoes st
camps. and the wolves ate them up at camp &
Ihe snow was quite deep In some places. and
would bother wagons at this time Of year unless
there was considerable travel. The PASS was
really pointed out TO us by the flight OF birds.
which generally follow the low ground.
After We returned from the glacier basfn In
Mr.. Garrett aud myself went upon one OF these
twin peaks. at an altitude Of 500 feet; and, near
the summit the clouds came up from the south.
east, and flock OF wild geese came from the
same direction. The next day we followed the
direction pointed out by the birds, and found
in finding this pass had not this little circum-
stance helped us. All of our party had sore feet
aud chilblains aud suffered considerably. Mount
Shucksan Is twenty miles east aud three miles
north OF Mount Baker. Tho mountain is about
tea miles from the British boundary.
The expense of this valuable exploration
which warrants the county commissioner In
cooperating with the state road commission
and In expending the amount authorized by
legislature, will be less than 5000. A trail Ia
made so that a horse can go from Thong pson's
10 the falls, ten miles; after this trail Ia bazed
tive miles beyond tho summit This In probably
not where the state commission will locate the
state road, but will be great help In getting
over the route and in establishing q good
highway.