The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-03-11

over the range. Tho ascent is frauglt
with great danger, and sew
eral lives have been lost in
tho perlous undertaking. In some
places the south side of the mountain is
almost perpendicular and in others huge
glaciers obstruct the way. We expect to
be about 30 days in crossing the divide
and will have to make At least dozen
trips up and down the mountain to get
our outfit to tho top. On our first trip up
We will pack about 80 pounds strapped on
our backs. After this the number OF
pounds will be gradually increased as we
become more accustomed to the work,
and along towards the last VIC will probi-
bly, be enabled to pack up to the summit
about 90 or 100 pounds each. This side
of the mountain is SO steep in places that
VIC will have to crawl on our hands and
knees and in others we will have to cut
footholds in the solid ice. The descent
can be accomplished easily, quickly and
safely by means of sleds, as the other
side of the mountain slopes gradually to
the lakes, where the Yukon river has its
source.
Upon reaching the Yukon we will
whIpsaw lumber and construct a small
mackinaw boat, aud begin our voyage
down the river to our destination, about
100 miles from the lakes at the foot OF tho
divide. For the first 20) miles the river is
full of dangerous rapids, and several par
ties have had their boats swamped in
shooting the numerous falls. The White
Horse rapids in the canyon are the worst
in the river, and no boat could shoot them
without being wrecked. No person TO my
know ledge has ever undertaken to go over
these rapids, and our party will certainly
not attempt the perilous task. We Will
take our boat out of the river about a mile
above the rapids and pack it around.
"Once out of the canyon the balance of
the trip will be comparatively easy and,
barring accidents, we will reach our desti-
nation on Forty Mile creek about the 18th
OF June. 1t is our intention TO tunnel INTO
bed rock, so that when winter comes we
will not have to cease work.
"As you are probably aware, the days
and nights of the polar region are of six
months duration. In the valley of the
Yukon, where we shall stop, the sun dur
ing the longest days in the summer sea-
son only disappears from view about one
hour out of the "a, but in the winter sea-
son the shortest days are hardly one hour
in length. The winter season, however,
is by no means one of intense darkness.
The sun Is never more than AZ degrees
below tho HORIZON and the greater part of
the time IL is within a few degrees of it.
Hence much of the time there is very
strong twilight. Besides this long twi-
light the aurora borealis appears like
great bows or arches in the sky, giving a
brilliancy TO the long winter night of the
| Arctic region seldom seen even in Mon
tana, where tho northern lights some
times light up the heavens and outshine
in splendor the beautiful queen of night.
The natives of the Yukon valley are
the Eskimo and Sticks Indians and are
very peaceable, but will probably become
somewhat hostile when the whites begin
to increase in numbers. Tho region
abounds in reindeer, moose and both
black aud polar bear, while tho streams
are full of beaver and salmon. The chief
occupation of the natives is hunting and
| trapping. The Alaska Fur company does
| n great business with the natives and has
established fur trading post about l 500
miles up the Yukon, where blankets,
guns, ammunition and traps are ex-
changed for furs and hides.
"Ihe vegetation is limited to MOSES,
lichens and evergreen forests, the frost
seldom getting out of the ground except
along the banks of the streams.
"The climate is dry, and in the summer
time the skies are as free from clouds as
/ are those OF sunny Italy. IL never gets
very warm in the Yukon valley, but IN the
winter time the cold is intense, and all
the streams, except the Yukon river,
| freeze to the bottom. Snow does not fall
in large quantities, but many of the win
ter days the air is filled with n kind of
white frost which sometimes covers the
earth to the depth of two and three
| inches"
The party will have no means of COM
munication with the outside world except
once year. Mr.. Ennis has prep ,rcl
himself with several blank books in which
| he Will jot down the events of the trip and
| n brief description of the Yukon valley,
| together with a short account of the
party's mining experiences while washing
out gold in the land where tac sun sleeps
! SIX months at time. He has promised
| 10 send this account of the trip back to
! civilization at the first opportunity. Tue
| book will be directed To r \. Smith o:
/ tins city and will probably reach here next
/ fail.
Try want adv. IA thu N.aui arc.