The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-05-30
ASCENT or MOUNT RAINIER.
Hints From an Old Mounfaineer on the
Route.

Ashford. May "a. 1saS-
To the Editor: As great many o. your
res,terx are a. least YhinssrE 81 a srsp 10
Mount Rasusar. perhaps few worfie
about the route, when and how 70 20, ana
what to take. by one familiar with ne
matter. will - ~ interest 40 10 TIE
route the only ore that can BE- treseie1
WITH any degree OF comfort T. via Lake
PARK and Eatonviiie. This consists % a
street car line from Tacoma 20 Lake
Park ten miles long. wagon ROAD ron
LAKE. Park 10 I>ongmiTe's Springs about
fsfy miles and from the springs 10 Para
Else park only pack trail. distance oi
about SIX miles. 4 greater portion OF the
wagon road n good. but SIS entire length
ts not ali that could he wished. How
ever. those intrusted with II are doing all
In their power 20 improve ~, and a. II
g. IL has been Travelled with all kinds OF
vehicles. From LonRmire's Springs one
must depend on walking or riding horse
hack and on pack animals 20 carry mas
camp outfit and other baggage. Tourists
ran use their own horses for riding ana
packing or they can secure at the springs
riding and pack horses that are secas-
TONED 70 the trail Those that have been
over the old switchhaek viii be PLEASED
10 learn that new trail Is being made
that will avoid that horrid swttchbark,
that dreadful river bar and that dismal
~.
must OF course be rough and steep, but
if you are alive 20 the beauty and gran
deur OF nature you viii. after you have
gone a couple Of miles, be forgetfnl OF
all except the scenery.
About two miles above Tongmire's
Springs the trail viii enter the valley Of
Paradise river at it's mouth. The valley
seems wide except at one or tao places.
where II narrOwa to n canyon. and is
quite level except for the descent or the
stream The valley fl covered with
beautiful forest OF Alaska cedar. From
the entrance OF the valley. at the mouth
OF the river. 20 where II opens out into
Paradise park. is about three miles The
fr~t mile the trail lies along ibe very
base OF the Tatoosh mountains. where IL
rises from the river bed nearly perpen-
dicuiariy 4509 feet. But who could de-
ssrrsbe that river A one view 81 SENS
rs green as absinthe. at another az blue
a. the sky 81 reflects AT another Il Is
churned into foam as white as snow. and
al another n Is as sparkling as liquid dta
monds. Here is the most fantastic cas-
cade. there headiong plunging torrent.
and 80 "a one ascends new scenes, each
more wonderful than its predecessor. are
continually presented. until finally. as II
nature realized that you are weary of
this hurry. this frantic tnmblng and
rushing. changes the scene. and here In
Narads falls. There Is speed without
rush or hurry Motion itself seems at
rest. larry here until your eyes as we'll
a. your limbs are rested for the stream
above IL still more rushing and foamIng
than below.
offer this brief description or this val
ley because ~ u unknown do not be
leye five people have beef through it,
perhaps only one. ! wish 10 offer few
words about how 10 go There will he
stages running from Lake Park 10 Long
mlre's Springs. which people coming from
afar will generally avail themselves Of
But for people living in reach / think 81
has been found most satisfactory To bring
their own conveyance. You can hire a
rig cheaper than to come on the stage.
n yours is a large party. Besides with
your own conveyance you can 20 where
you please or stay AZ long as you like
while IL you come on the stage you must
make arrangements beforehand what time
TO come for you. You can get your horses
kept on clover and timothy pasture at
not more than si.50 a week per head. or
In stable with grain and hay at reasona-
BILE figures
AS the season Ia about six weeks earlier
than last year. the park will he as free
from snow this June as IL was last July
II you intend TO camp out. bring plenty
OF blankets. as the nights are ALWAYS cold
And the ladies should bring clothes that
viii stand roughing H. Above all don't
forget heavy shoes. as there lis ALWAYS
snow 10 go through. And last but not
least, when you are making up your
party select the most forhearing. the most
conoiiiating. the most palliating. themost
forgiving OF all your friends. For. II Won
have the secret infirmity of losing your
temper. camping out viii bring il TO the
surface MoIrNTATNrE-r