The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-03-12
MONTE CRISTO ALPS.
Jagged Peaks, Deep Canyons
and Rivers Of Ice.
REGION RIVALS SWITZERLAND.


The scenery Of Monte Cristo Is wonder
fully grand and beautiful / am not
qnits prepared to agree that il II the
equal OF Switzerland, nor IL the COMPARE
son of the two entirely fair; the one With
its every peak and valley known to the
world. travelled by magnificent roads that
reach the deepest recssses OF the mount
aims, impregnated with the legends OF
centuries, and. possibly greater than all.
with its natural grandeur made douoly
attractive by the picturesque chalets that
dot the mountain sides and the trim green
fields that give to the valleys beauty
that Is none the less real because is - arti-
fetal; the other . scarce-expiored Nook OF
the leasf-known part Of the great Cascades,
its wilder beauties as yet gazed upon only
by the chance prospector as he tolls over
the painless hills, its heroics not Jet grit
with the golden haze that centuries some
times lend TO even trivial deeds and with
its grim nature unrelieved by the gentler
evidences of mans presence and uncon-
trasted save by Its own various grades of
beauty,
The principal attraction of Monte Crisso
scenery Is its extreme ruggedness. There
are no foothills to give an appearance OF
remoteness to the landscape. bur peaks,
glaciers. canyons and rockslides rise in
the widest confusion from the very out
skirts Of the town. and give to the would
be mountaineer every opportunity for the
speedy qualification of his exploring pro-
ciivities.
junction of Glacier and Seventy-six creeks.
These head in the glaciers two miles away
and unite TO form the Sank river. They
are swift, turbid mountain torrents, broken
by numerous falls, and posses in summer
the peculiar milky appearance that is COM
mon to all glacial waters. The most inn
portant mines lie near the sources OF these
streams, and a. two of the principal trails
of the district follow their courses they
form the most practicable openings into
the heart of the mountains
The route up Glacier creek ascends the
gulch for the first half milo at compara-
lively easy grade. past the famous Rainy
mine, and then across tho foot Of great
rocksiide that takes its name from the
Mystery mine, situated near its summit.
These slides are very prominent features
of the scenery: they always form an ap-
proach to any particularly abrup. noun
tam, and are the accumuIations Of debris
resulting from the gradual disintegration
of the cliffs during untold centuries. As
great masses Of rock and boulders give
way before tho ceaseless workings Of
down the mountain sides, the
huge stone piles increase until the
solid earth is buried hundreds of
feet beneath their unstable mass, and uni
form slopes are formed that extend we'll
up the sides of the precipices. The law of
gravity precipitates to the bottom of these
slides the larger of the boulders, which
steadily decrease in size, until at the face
of the cliff. the smallest fragments are
found that roll and give under foot. and
makes progress over them q very trying
task.
The Mystery rockslide ascends almost
directly from the banks Of Glacier creek
to . height of /. 500 feet, where 1t joins an
overhanging precipice that rises another
1000 feet, and Is known as the Wilmans
peak.
After crossing this slide the almost per.
pendicular Mystery hill 10 encountered,
q curious rocky spur from the peak. over
which the trail gradually makes its way
by the aid Of switchbaeks and an average
grade of 20 per cent. Down this obstruc-
ton the mad waters OF the creek dash in a
series of picturesque falls through the
narrow chasm carved by its own resistless
might, and then flows more gently at the
base of q line of snow-clad peaks scanned
with tremendous canyons until at about
two miles from town. and !, 500 feet above it,
glacier basin is reached.
This is treeless and perfectly level
boulder-strewn valley of fifty acres,
covered in summer with the grcenest of
grass and brightest of flowers and shut in
on all sides by great, jagged mountains
that rise to Tn almost vertical height of
$500 feet. II Is one of natures parade xes
"A bit Of SIMMER reposing in the lap of
winter. The loyeiiess Of flowers bloom
with tropical luxuriance at the foot of
eternal snow slopes. Perpendicular preci-
pices rise abruptly from a spot as level rs
race track, and at the head of the basin
the creek emerges from under the great
glacier that frowns down upon the valley
created by its own agency. and reflects
the sunlight from its yawning ice
crevasses in every imaginable tint Ygreen
and blue. To the west the WiimafA reaks.
three stgpendous oheiisks of stone, rise
naked and bare I. 500 feet above the creek,
aid TO the east the saw tooth submits of
the main range rear their jagged heads in
a score Of contor.ed pinacles. and shut
out from all. save the most adventurous.
the mysteries OF the great unknown be-
yond.
II is impossible TO describe the simnte
loveliness of this peaceful valley, or the
Wild grandeur OF its stupendous surround.
ings. Never were two types of natural
scenery brought into closer contrast or
the difference between the grand and the
beautiful made more apparent
The trip 10 the basin. while irving
enough 20 wind and muscle, is over .
we'll beaten trail and cannot be termed An
experience In mountaineering. but from,
this point the seeker after Alpine adyen.
lures can branch out in any direction aud
ind ascents quite difficult enough Il
satisfy his greatest ambitions The dan.
gers are much the same as are met with in
al mountainous regions Snow slides are
prevalent and in the spring their awe-in-
spring roar IS al times almost continuous
b1t probably the greatest peril lies in the
iTeqaence OF rock avaianches In
The steep canyons the bdulders and
stones from above become .oosened by
snow aud frost. and breaking away with
out warning come laundering down be-
tween The narrow walls. threatening lie.
sifuctlon 10 all in their path. At such
times The position % climber is very
much akin 20 that Of soldier under fire.
snG the only safety lies in Godsing into
some friendly nook and watching the
stones ay pas; and dash themselves "a
.FaxgaentS MANY 81 tha soow sio,,..s ..