The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-08-09

the Hofasnes. We ssoppe1 % rest and Eax9
On the scene
To receive an idea of this glacier a. IL
appeared TO me. imagine yourself IN an
immense canyon or rasine. on both sides
OF which high mountains Of Irregular VOL
cansc rock tower ZOO feet above. s<yrne
portions Of the mountains ara covered
with trees. where the Slopes are gentle
enough 70 admit % their growth Then
IN places the vegetation f. scarce. ana
only few scruoby frs and moss~s are
seen Frequently the mountain side ts
covered with talus or rock slides support
ing no dfe. while close 20 the glacier xs9r-
p~ndfcriar walls Of bare rock are the con-
lines through which the frozen strcarn
flows. At one place small stream mar
De seen disappearing by the side CT the
glacier. while away In the distance on the
bosom or TIE wooded mountain SIDE a ST.
yer thread iH discovered ard followed by
the eye until It disappears In the forrsr
beneath This Is the cataract falling al
most vertically into the invisible stgearn
whence II wends it's way 10 the gizs Ter
along paths which the eye fails 70 dis
csyer.
The canyon Itself varies In width from
one-cazrter OF mile at It's foot to one
and one-haf miles Al the point where the
nnorsine merges into ice and snow.
IN our immediate vicinity IL appeared as
though ali the brick and stone buildings
OF Seattle, Tacoma and Portland had reen
demolished and leyeisd OF in the ravlue.
ouf three huge burrows 10 feet or more
In depth had been plowsd through this
debris. making one great central valley
with one high ridge on either side called
lateral noraines. and then a smaller val-
ley between each OF these ridges and the
side OF the ravine. All these ridges and
valleys run together ~ the foot Of Abe
glacier. making a terminal moraine wnfse
a nd asSH
gradually disappear. Above ali this az a
great distance we could see the vast snow
heids. the great hanging glacier, n great
sheer wall OF sce and snow many feet
thick and above All the Liberty Cap.
which. with the western side Of the noun
tain, was now glowing In the rays OF the
setting sun. enseloped in a beautiful sal
mon coiored light. exquisite far beyond
my powers OF description. The grandeur
OF this scene amply repaid the fatigue We
had experienced thus far In our ascent
Three hours hard climbing the mo-
raiues and we al last reached the camp.
Mr.. Wills had established on Phtlo creek.
just Off OF the west side Of the glacier.
Here we enjoyed a supper OF hard tack,
coffee and bacon and were soon rolled up
In our blankets before big camp fire Tor
the night Our next move. when our sup
plies had been carried up from the camp
below, was across the glacier, along the
western edge of the Eiyslan Fields, over
the divide which separates the tnthfop
from the Carbon glacier. to a pretty spot
near the Winthrop glacier, at an elevation
OF about 1850 feet. wish 10 say tnat IN
my estimation this PARK between the taf-
bon river and winthrop glacier, part OF
which Is the Eiysian Fields. Is perhaps
the choicest spot for summer camp oh
the mountain. Its only drawback Is the
difficulty OF access
I'D NJ
on Thursday morninv. July ., ave OF US
shonldered our packs. containing three
DAYS provision. made UP OF boiled nam,
hard tack. tea coffee. sugar and chocolate;
an alcohol lamp. a coffee pot. our blankets
and oil coats. Each member or a noun
tain climbing party should have, In addi-
ton 10 warm wooden clothing, the toi-
lowing articles: A good stout alpenstock.
shod with pointed iron: pair OF very
dark blue spectacles or goggles. warm
can an oiiskin coat, a pair OF heaVy Doots
or high laced shoes, in the soles OF which
are ioggers' corks. or large hob mans;
pair OF gloves, and II a night on the noun
tain top is contemplated. pair OF blank
cts with a wide canvas bed sheet The
whole party should be connected by a
staut rope. long enough TO allow a space
of about fifteen or twenty feet between
each member. Such was about the equip
ment OF our party. as we set out lof
point OF rocks between winthrop ara
White river glacier. known as saw Iooth,
distant ABOUT three miles az the crow Mes
from our camp. but II took US from IN
the morning until 3 In the afternoon TO
reach t. so baffled were we by the innum-
cradle creyassss. As far as the eve could
reach were vast fields of snow, broken
here and there by crevasses OF varying
sIze and which took strange forms IN
some places. in one instance n number
n 80 10y
OF concentrlc circles. "a though the surface
OF the glacier had been disturbed by a huge
weight dropped on it. as a stone Is dropped
IN a calm pool OF water. sending out little
waves In A circle. There were also huge
square blocks OF snow. dazzling white, iike
pieces OF marble, ready and Inviting the
sculptor's hand. Looking over the edges
OF some OF the large crevasses one could
see the snow OF three seasons. $50 rect
thick; then below this could be seen the
pure blue ice. as clear and beautiful as
wall of sapphire We would walk along the
snow, hoping 10 reach our destination IN
an hour or so. when suddenly we would
discern a crevasse just ahead. We would
skirt along the edge OF this for perhaps
half a mile. al last finding crossing on
a very narrow snow bridge, and then re-
turn on the other side OF thu crevasse ind
Ing ourselves at the end ~ half an hours
hard walking only about loo feet or so
ahead Our path az times was along or
across a steep snowy incline or possibly
~ or IS degrees 81 the bottom OF wh.eh
would be a creyasse. The heat OF the
sun made the top Of the snow very SIP
merry. 50 We would ali group together, the
last three on the rope planting their alnNn-
stocks firmly IN the snow. wnile the hTst
two advanced cautiously the length OF
the rope. where they would secure tnelf
alpenstocks, while the others came up %
their position. repeating the operation IN
al .l,e incline was passed. on one occa-
sian I was next 10 the last man on the
rome Three had gone ahead anu Sec~te1
themselves. and Il was my turn TO start
has faken about four or I'VE steps when
sliyned ana fell. rolling down The slope.
Al thn same time the last man haa Just
trken his alpeaStock out OF the snow -
tina; when fell he was dragged on ms
feet and came rolling down after me.
Fortunately Ter Us the other three nsa
their alpenstoc well SECURED Nhen the
rope tirhtened I was halfway 20 tae
esre az me ,revasse. hu; Mr.. Williams
went on over. and hung suspended over
the lev ABYSS below. I soon scrambled 20
nv feet. ard up the slope, Williams qulek-
lv pulllrg himself up the rope ont OF tao
erevaSsa and following me. neither OF u
The worse for our fall. Williams lest Ms
afpenstock. however. which be said ne
could hear as u ratified down the creNasse-
We reached saw Tooth At about O'Clock,
where We had a cup OF good hot tea, and
where we cafnped FER the night
The following morning. leaving our
hlankets behind. and only taking food Tor
two meals ant our spirit am7 and OH
skins. as We intended returning thaf same
day. ne started fer the top, ana as We
- .......z tb. s~.,uV eteDa< very care