The Indianapolis journal., 1896-08-09


the Liberty Cap and the South Peak. stand
forth in their majesty. 9.245 feet above US
and six miles away. But such is the daz-
ziing clearness of the air that these glori-
distance In the morning and evening
iight We were treated 10 superb SYM
phony in brilliant colors. The cleaning.
massive dome OF purest white. broken only
by the black. rocky ridges OF the glacier
channels. at sunrise and sunset, takes ev-
cry hue and shade of color in rapid sue
cession. and the great mountain sparkleS
and flashes like a mass of Jewels. sight
OF such spiendor as this fully repays the
tourist. .. :
Following around the wooded hillside for
mile and half we reach the brink OF a
precipice POO feet high. In the depths be
low the milk white torrent of the north
branch of the PuyalIup tumbles over the
powders of the great terminal moraine OF
the north glacier. The scoriac and volcanic
rocks and powders that are piled UP in
chaotic masses hundreds of feet wide.
bring TO mind PoeS lines on the ScOriac
river that rolls from the Borean poles and
leaves a torn-up track behind. In winter
this stream is choked with ice masses
heaped high above the powders. and over
and under which the river finds it's way.
and when the ice breaks up the torrent
forces its passage through by many chan
nels. sweeping the huge masses of rock
aside II IL were but cork. Here are
volcanic rocks of all shapes and sizes and
colors and texture. Some weigh hundreds
stones. Some are tufa or honeycomb lava,
others a hard dolomite; there are basaitic
rocks of every kind and close gray
and of every other color. The volcanic
phenomena are of great interest TO the
scientific geologist while the juxtaposition
of glacial action and volcanic action can
be studied in few spots elsewhere in either
hemisphere.
AN IMMENSE GLACIER.
The brown face of the glacier is 1000 feet
across and one hundred feet high. The ice
rises gently from it for perhaps mile-a
tcnguelike flow which shows IN it's diverg-
ing crevasses the lines OF its movement
Above. where the glacier descends more
boldly, the ice blocks flash back the sun
light Pouring in an angry flood out Of an
arched tunnel, with walls of pure ice of
blush tint. rushes and roars the glacial
river. Too close proximity to the mouth
of this cave will subject the visitor to
BON bardment of stones. which ever and
anon shoot the top of the glacier.
-Four beautiful cascades fall from the high
crest of the canyon. of which is par
ticularly noticeable because it has grooved
channel sideways for itself at an angle
OF thirty degrees from the snow fields in
stead OF taking a direct plunge. The walls
or the canyon in many places are vertical
eEns; sometimes with tluted pillars of
prop them uo under the superintendent
masses Of snow and ice.
Ascending one OF the ridge-like moraines
which spread out like fingers at the foot
OF the glacier. and ciambering to a height
fnt G5 seYenty tp feet or ors you nr Lock % doTn t5
Puyallop: AT its upper end stands great
truneated cone of rock. zoo feet high; high;
pressed until its surface has become
smooth and polished by the friction. This
rock serves as a buttress which divides
| this part or the glacier. The Ice here Is
perfectly pure. of a greenish-blue color.
| yond this mass of rock, at the head Of the
| second canyon. there Is an area of ice-
bergs, 2.OO0 acres in extent, and ranging in
| height from twenty TO 100 feet These ice
| pinnaeles scintillate beautifully in the sun
| light, and they are gradually pushed over
| the edge CT the cliff. When one falls Ii
| makes a crash that awalxes all echoes of
the mountain, and its shattered bulk, per-
hapS weighing thousands of tons, adds to
| the great ice pile at the foot of the cliff
which feeds the tumultuous stream of the
| South Fork.
| tanned from Vista Peak 4.GO0 feeD. the
eliminating point of a long ridge. running
| north and south, about twelve miles 10 the
| westward of Tacoma From this elevation
also some other snow peaks of the Cascade
/ range are viSible-St. Helen's, Adams and
| Hood as we'll as Mount Baker and other
| white-robed colossi Of the Olympic chain
| The waters OF the sound. near the city OF
| Tacoma and the wide plains Of the Mis-
| cuaily are also in view. the whole present
| ing pictures in magnificent contrasts-pe-
| culiar TO this region. Skill has been shown
| in laying out the trails already in use
but many more are needed. Even some OF
| those which exist could be greatly. i'm
| proved TO enable women and tour
| lists of ordinary strength TO enter and en-
| Joy the pure air and splendid views of Ia
| coma's upper slopes. either on horseback
or in light vehicles. In suitable places also
suitable mountain inns could obtain tolera-
| mountain made easy II would be certain 10
| attract thousands of visitors.