The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-03-12

avoided. Extending from the basin arc
many foot trails that can b followed BY
the tourist easily and without risk. and
which lead safely over Slopes and along
the edges Of precipices that otherwise
could not b reached except BY the sever
ct physical exertion, and, in many cases.
actual danger. II Is tFua that these trails
do not attain any Of the higher peaks. but
in mountaineering. - in everything else
in this world of ours, il 10 possible as times
70 climb too high for pleasure, and be who
makes too much of = business OF what
should be pastims seldom nets the great
est enjoyment from his efforts. IL is bet
ter for the inexperienced to keep TO the
beaten tracks, and not, by attempting the
more difficult ascents, subject himself TO
dangers that are often Gil the more real
because Of their seeming absence
A mile southwest Of Glacier basin. and
separated from il by the high, rocky ridge
which begins at the face Of the glacier and
terminates In the Wilmans peaks. lies the
Seventy-six basin. This 10 not 90 large
as the one just described and the sur
roundings are rather less abrupt and inn
posing, but it is very beautiful. and Is con-
sidered By some more attractive than Its
greater nciRhbor.
1t 10 possible TO 90 direct from one to the
other by climbing the steep snow slope
leading from the top of Mystery rock
slide to the gap between the VIII
mans peaks and then descending .
gulch to Seventy-six creek but the
trip is one that few care to undertake and
il hiss only been accomplished. believe.
by those two expert mountaineers. George
Blake and Joe Pearsall. had the honor
Of seeing-from a distance-the former
OF these gentlemen make his second trip
over the 400 feet Of icy snow. which stands
between two narrow canyon walls AZ an
angle of sixty degrees. 1t was not pleas
ant sight, and We drew breath OF relief
rs he gained the summit OF the divide and
disappeared from our view.
The regular trail mp Seventy-six creek Is
less steep than the one TO Glacier BASIN
For about a mile il winds through the
woods at a comparatively easy grade, and
then. leaving the brush, crosses success
sion of rockslides that rise on either side
to meet the pfecipitous walls OF the valley.
and about two miles from town tho
basin is reached very similar TO the one
already described. with its somber glacier,
glittering snow slopes. lovely fora and
mysterious box canyons. These last are
peculiar feature of the place; at
least a dozen branch off in all
directions. some of them scarcely
twenty feet wide and with lofty perpen-
dicular walls that almost exclude the light
of day from their gloomy depths. From
near the foot Of the glacier steep trail
crosses the mountains by the pass through
which, scarcely five years ago. the little
band of prospectors first made their way
from the Silver creek district into the then
unnamed Monte Cristo region, and from
here began their memorable trip through
the wilderness and down the un-
known stream that was afterwards
identified as the upper Sank river.
A very interesting trip is to the gap be-
tween Wimans peaks. This point. which
IL only accessible from Glacier creek by
the periIous snowslids already described,
can be reached from the Seventy-six side
by a severe, though not NECESSARILY dan
gerous, climb up the steep, boulder
strewn canyon known as Glacier gulch.
This ascends from the valley at uniform
grade of thirty degrees to the temporary
cabin of the Wilmans Mining Company,
from which point it grows rapidly sleeper
and more precipitous until at one place
safety rope is necessary for . distance OF
200 feet.
Seventeen hundred feet above the valley
the gulch wldens out into the narrow.
shelf-like niche in the mountains, on
which are located the upper workings OF
the Monte Cristo mine. and then, contract
ing into mere cleft in the cliffs scarcely
fifteen feet wide, extends to the summit
ut so steep an angle that 1t can
only be assembled on hands and knees.
This is q risky place on account Of the
rockslides that are continually laundering
down the narrow Eay at a rate that
makes it highly interesting for an
ascending party. The vertical walls.
which are perfectly straight and
smooth, afford no shelter from the de-
scending bouiders. and In such cases the
only thing to do is to dodge TO the best OF
ones ability and trust to luck.
Fortunately this last stretch Is not long.
and after $50 feet Of laborious climb
ing the crest of the dividing ridge
is reached. and the view-par excel
lence-of the district lies at the
feet of the painting mountaineer.
This is a spot so sublime in its wild
grandeur that, standing upon it. the most
the inadequacy of pen or language to do 1t
justice.
Rising at the extremities of the dividing
ridge-scarce fifty feet long and so narrow
that IL can be straddled--two perpendicu-
lar obelisk-like shafts of weather-beaten
rock majestically face each other across
the narrow gulf of the descending chasm
and form gigantic portals to the Eastern
view. Looking down between these, 800
feet below. can be seen the green, park
like expanse of Glacier basin, with its
creek mcandering in silver threads among
the huge boulders. and 5000 feet above all
the great rugged wall OF the main range,
towering ridge on ridge, peak surmount-
ing peak, TO the mighty SUBMITS wreathed
in their eternal SHOWS. The view. framed
as ii is between the gloomy masses of the
overhanging pinnacies. has Wild, almost
unearthly aspect that is singulariy I'm
pressive.
Westward, the prospect is more ex-
tended. In an unhroken slope, glacier
bounded snowsIde descends for a distance
of 500 feet, and then gives place to
labyrinth of cedar-covered hills and
canyons ths; fall rapidly TO Seventy-six
creek, half a mile away. Across the preci-
pice-bounded valley q sea Of mountains
stretches in rugged confusion to the hori-
zou, rising aud falling in graceful slopes,
or towering in sen,inei-like peaks. that
contrast their jagged nakedness with the
| sombre green OF the lower hills. Numerous
| patches Of g.istening snow add variety to
combination already beautiful. and just
across the valley, scarcely mile distant,
10 q .sf a. aRa m