River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1896-08-06
THE ASCENT or MI. RANIER.
A Snow-eapped Peak Towering More
Than 1900 Feet Above Sea-level.

of its crest, and occasionally puffs of
smoke. But the reports in some of
the eastern papers at times within
the past twelve months, that flames
Of fire were frequently seen issuing
from the summit of Mt. Rainier. were
without any foundation whatever.
That it has been very active volcano
in past geological ages, is evinced by
the great lava beds near its summit
and along its sides.
The people of Tacoma insist upon
calling this peak Mt. Tacoma, and so
in some Biographies, and descriptions
Of the mountain, the name Mt. Taco
maappears, but the generally accepted
name is Mt. Rainier.
Rainier is about fifty miles south
east of Tacoma If the distance is
measured upon straight line, but it
can not be reached short of siXty-five
or seventy miles by stage. Its base
covers a territory probably thirty-six
miles square, while its crest is not
more than a mile in circumference.
Its height is ii, 444 feet above the sea-
level. or more than thousand feet
higher than twice the height of the
highest peak, Mt. Mitchell, of the
mountains in eastern part of the
United States.
On clear DAY, one can look to the
southeast from any favorable point
along the Sound between Tacoma and
Seattle, and see Mt. Rainier standing
majestically above and beyond a range
of mountains. apparently but few
miles inland.
The snow with its winter scenes,
the wholly new experience of climbing
a famous mountain and studying its
fora, and geological aspects, are in
ducements which lead many to make
a trip to Mt. Rainier during the sum
mer season.
The base of the mountain can be
reached from Tacoma by stage in two
days. 1t does not take the stage long
after leaving Tacoma TO come TO the
limits of civilization, for it soon
plungeS into the dense forests which
are found in the valleys and on the
tops and slopes of the lower noun
tains of Washington. An occasional
cabin surrounded by huge black
stumpS, or massive trees which have
been cut down to prevent them from
falling upon the building, and one or
two small villages are passed on the
road. The traveller, when he finds
himself in the midst of a truly pri-
meval forest of some of the largest
trees that can be found upon this CON
tinent of ours, forgets that he is being
thrown from one side of his seat TO
the other, and that his most intimate
acquaintances would hardly recognize
him because of his dust begrimed
face and clothes. He cares very little
for his dfscom fort as the four-horSe
stage coach is hurried over an almost
continuous road of corduroy, around
sharp angular turns, along the sides
of precipitous bluffs, up steep hills and
down again. He discovers himself
trying TO estimate the size of the big
trees which appear to bid defiance to
the advance of civilization. He finds
by guessing and inquiry from the
driver who is quite an intelligent
frOntiersman, that the trees in the
best timber are on the average from
four to eight feet in diameter and
from two-hundred-fifty to three-hun-
dred-tifty feet high, while many can
be found that are from thirteen TO
fifteen feet in diameter, and four
hundred feet high. So dense is the
can not penetrate il for more than
two or three hundred yards. 1t would
be difficult to estimate the value of
these forests if they were within a
favorable distance to market
As it is, they are held by actual set
tiers, railroad companies, or specula-
tors for future markets. Those who
have taken timber claims are not
attempting to clear the land in order
TO make farms; il is next to impOSsi-
BILE to clear such land, and it would
be a burning shame to waste this
valuable timber when there is so
much good farm land to be had else
where. The trees of these forests are
cedar, fir, hemlock, and some pine.
After leaving the big timber the
stage route runs fifteen or twenty
miles through narrow valley with
precipitOuS mountains on either side.
This valley has been plowed out by
the Nisqually glacier which comes
down from Mt. Rainier, and can still
be studied. The Nisqually river is a
glacial stream which runs the full
length of the valley, and as the stage
coach rolls along by the side of this
river, the traveller has a splendid OPP
portunity to observe the action of
such a mountain stream upon the
terminal moraines which have been
made along the road by the glacier.
Two days from the time the stage
leaves Tacoma it pulls in at Long
mire's Springs, the terminus of the
stage route from Tacoma to the noun
tain. Here pack-horses are taken,
and the strange experience to one
unaccustomed to mountain climbing,
of riding little pony across raging
mountain streams, tottering bridges,
and up nearly perpendicular hills,
comes to the traveller. The danger is
more apparent than real, and the
grand sights which greet one on every
side fully compensate for all imagine
airy dangers. Along the pack traily
which is about seven miles in length,
the traveller is greeted by the widest
mountain streams, and several water
falls of rare beauty,-one in particu-
lar may be regarded as a fair rival of
Niagara, namely, the Narada Falls.
The NaIada Falls are fed by stream
which is probably forty feet wide and
five feet deep. This volume Of water
falls peTpendicularly over a rocky
preciplce a distance of 226 feet, and
before il strikes the rocks below it is
broken up into spray forming broad
white sheet of water grano beyond
description.
Long before reaching the end of the
pack-trail snow appears at an eleya
tion of about 5000 feet. Later in the
season the snow limit is two OF three
thousand feet higher.) What sight
to greet the eyes, and what delight TO
breathe the cool air of winter. and
hear The winter birds and winter
sounds under a scorching July sun.
The traveller instinctively stops, and
thinks, and wonders, and enjoys him.
self in the midst Of such surround
ings.
After travelling for nearly half day
no the pack-horses, the Camp of the
Clouds at an elevation of 5000 feet,
situated in Paradise Valley, is reached.
From the Camp of the Clouds the as
cent must be made on foot.
The Camp of the Clouds is managed
during the summer by Capt. Skinner
of Seattle, kind and cOnsiderGte old
sea captain who has been forced to
leave the water, and to try to regain
his health by taking up his abode in
the mountains. 1t consists of a half
dozen or more tents suitably furnished
with all necessary supplies. Here
many tourists. scientists. and tired
professional and business men and
women come TO spend few days or
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