The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-06-03
MONSTERS OF ICE.
The Glaciers of the High
SierraS.
SOME CURIOUS PHENOMENA.
Scenery More Grand Than Can Be
Found in SWitZer.
land.
SOME CURIOUS PHENOMENA.

reason Tor this is the fact that the attrac-
tions Of California are just beginning to
be known. The idea has held in the East
for years that California was place to be
avoided in the summer and the only coun-
try to visit was Europe; but this has gone
by, and the fact that California has more
summer than winter attractions to offer is
now recognized.
This same delusion has for long time
injured the interests Of the southern por-
ton of the State. Said a distinguished
physician of Los Angeles recently: at is
a singular thing. but 1 have had much diff
ticulty in persuading patients that the
summer is the best season in California.
Il esteem the winter in San Francisco to be
one of the most enjoyable climates in the
world; and so with our southern resorts.
The time when look for the most gain to
lnvalids in Southern California is the sum-
mer. Our towns and cities then are not
so uncomfortably warm as those of the
East, while our seaside resorts are simply
perfection"
So far as the tourist is concerned, Cali
fOrnia is certainly at its best in summer,
and year by year there is a gradual in
crease In the number of visitors here.
Many who were in the habit Of running
over to Europe every summer now come
West to make the trip TO the American
glaciers, beside which those of SwiiZer-
land are as snow banks, or to the glaciers
in The Sierra Nevadas to see the wonders
OF Kings River Canyon, that rivals the Y0-
semitic, and to climb Mount Whitney.
others who have assembled he MatterhOrn
wish 70 stand upon the crest of Shasta or
Rainier, while the charms of Monterey
and Santa Cruz in summer are found to be
as great as those of TrouYille, the Isle of
Wight and many of the European resorts.
The result Of tins is lot beneficial alone
TO California but to the country at large.
As a nation we need all the gold we can
get In these days, and the expenditure of
hall million or a million by westbound
tourists from April to October on railroad
fares, hotels and bOaTding-hOuses in the
various California towns ana cities is an
important item TO the State.
Among the many attractions which Cali
fOrnia offers TO strangers and her own
people are the glaciers that lie in the high
sierras that constitute the backbone of the
State. The glaciers of Switzerland attract
thousands to that region every season, and
II would be interesting TO know how many
OF these American glacieT-seekers are
aware that some Of the most remarkable
glaciers in the world are IN America. The
California ice rivers found In the Sierra
Nevadas are not remarkable for their
size, but are, nevertheless, typical glaciers,
and taken with the fine scenery of the
necessary to observe them.
If one could ascend IN balloon from
the summit of Mount Shasta most inter-
esting series of glaciers would be observed
radiating from the central peak; and even
while standing on the cone three may be
followed with the eye, one being about
four miles in length with an average
width of three or four miles. Imagining
ourselves posed above the Deak we see
below the sharp summit, 1851 feet high.
ana on the left, Shastina crater. In old
times, geographically speaking, Shasta
has been a terrific volcano, and the can
yoBs of its TANKS are cut into the lava de-
posts of ages The greatest glaciers seem
TO reach to the north and east. Reaching
down into the ShastiDa crater is the Mount
Whitney Glacier, that winds away from
the summit to the west, sending a small
glacier TO the south, encompassiDg the Red
Rocks, near the SissonS trail. From the
ridge that reaches down southwest and on
the north side are seen six or eight small
glaciers. The Whitney turns to the north,
and after throwing spur to the " est ex-
tends along, sklrting the Shastlna crater,
ending in a moralne al about $50 feet
above the sea.
This glacier is three-quarters of a mile
long, and covers an area of about 1000 600
square yards. 1t is an interesting fact
that in nearly all the old descriptions Of
Shasta the writers appear TO have taken
that lie in the deep canyons and so last.
But such is not the case; they are true
glaciers, exposed 10 the sun for three
quarters OF the year. The view up Whit
ney Glacier is grand and impressive. show
ing great assures and crsvasses deem
enough to be extremely dangerous in
crossing, aud requiring no little Alpine
climbing to surmount.
Crossing a ridge to the east of Whitney
Glacier we see the Bolam Glacier reaching
down from the summit in a northerlY
direction. At the summit it appears sepa-
rated by snuous ledge of volcanic rock,
and below is pierced by numerous jagged
peaks. 1t is particularly noticeable for its
terminal moTalDe-a mass of rocks heaped
up, the result of the crushing force of the
ice river. There is one extremely deep
crevasse at the altitude of 10000 feet-a re-
markable assure reaching down deep into
the heart Of the glacier. Below this there
IS succession of deep chasms. The entire
glacier is about one and a half miles in
length, and has an ice area Of about
100000 square yards. It's terminal
moraine lies about 10000 feet above the
sea. From the slopes of this glacier an
idea of the grandeur of Shasta may be de-
rived. To the northwest il stretches away
IA a majestic slope for sixteen miles. To
the south west the descent is 10000 fee: in
eight miles.
Passing over dividing peak, II, 05S feet
above the sea 10 the east, HOtlum Glacler
Is reached. which extends in northeast
direction from the summit. 1t is wide
and fan-shaped, its foot ending in ter
minal moTaine 10 500 feet above the sea.
At night all is sim on the glacier, but at
MONDAY, when the heat of the summer
sun IS felt, myraids Of streams fud their
way down, cutting the glacier and making
passage often dangerous.
Inc neye of Hotum or the upper por-
ton mas two conspicuous ice streams that
no" through il. One in particular is
forced between two rocky buttresses and
SO shattered that the ice assumes the ap-
Peafauce OF lofty pinnacleS fifty or sixty
ieet IN helght. These are typical of glacial
Ice, assuming rich opalescent blue colors
well worm the climb to enjoy. The
cTeYasses here are deep and dangerous,
nhu from them issue strange sounds,
caused by the melting and downward mo-
Eon Oh the icy monster. Hors are the
famous glacial wells. filled with blue
noted water. Hotlum is about a mile and
quarter In length, and has an area of
100000 square feet.
FolIoWlng around Hotlum Glacier we
come 10 the southeast tongue, which is
called Wlntun Glacier. and which appears
to reach down farther than any OF the
others, sending a narrow limb into deen
canyon. From its lower end rushes a
glacial stream, forming Wintun Falls
about 5000 feet above the level of the sea.
OF all the Shasta glaciers Wintun is per
haps the most remarkable. Here are
5000, 900 square feet OF ice-a gigantic fiat
berg reaching to an unknown depth, thee
quarters of mile wide and nearly two
E