The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-07-29


dams VIII prove OF grea, assistance II re-
covering par % The things. With long.
slender rods tipped with steel they feel
down q the snow and locate most o. the
larger Packages. which. WITHOUT them
and their feel rods one would never ma
Az Sheep camp the summit towers ABOVE
you :. 80 feet, but the pass - some >"
feet lower. No further progress can De
made until n clear day. and sometimes
the weather continues bad for two or
three weeks. the mountain TOP hidden IN
thick clouds. and icy wind hurting me
rev fallen snow in every direction, or
driving the sieet IN ;ha face or any one
bold enough 20 stir oct OF camp. ana peep
up a, the p-ecipiteus wall OF snow ana
ice But sunshine comes a last. ana the
winds grow still. Now comes the tug OF
war--.o get the outfit TO the summit. Tor
SO feet every step must be cut N the ice,
ard 30 steep Is II that person WIKI
pack on his back must constantly oeno
forward TO maintain his equilibrium Inc
first load landed on the summit OF the
pass. . shovel Is stuck in the snow 10
pack. ard fortunate is he who gets ms
whole outfit up in . single day Indians
may be hired to DO the pa skiing. and their
rates vary slightly, bur the regular price
has been S a hundredweighr from the sec
ond bench TO the summit. er 10 cents a
pound from Heaiy Il Wilson's TO tho
lakes. These prices have been shaded =
little the past season. and some outntS
were packed over to the lakes At Is
cents a pound The reasons for this cut
in prices are that many miners insist on
doing their own packing, ana that their
work has been seriously ahected oy
tramway device which was operates iase
season with more or less success by one
Peterson. whose inventive genius led MIN,
10 believe that a simple arrangement CT
ropes and pulleys would greatly he'p IN
getting outfits UP the sleeper places
small log is buried IN the snow. ana to
this dead man" q pulley IN attached.
through which a long rope Is passed 10
the lower end OF which q Yukon sleigh -
attached. and the empty box On the sieo
fastened TO the upper end OF the rope 10
then filled with snow until its weight De-
comes sufficient TO take it down tho IN
cline. thus dragging the other ono UP.
The snow was found 100 light. but with
three or four men a. ballast in place OF
snow II worked we'll. and saved good
deal Of hard packing. When the last load
has reached tie summit and the miner
stands beside his outfit looking down TO-
ward the ocean only twenty miles away.
he can feel that his journey has fairly
begun, and as he turns he sees the de-
scending slope melting away into the
great valley Of the Yukon.
The descent for the first half mile IS
steep, then a gradual slope to Lake Lind
derman, some ten miles away. But there
10 little time for resting and none for
dreaming. as the edge OF the timber,
where the camp must be made. Is seven
miles from the summit Taking the camp.
ing outfit and sufficient provisions Tor
four or five days. the sleigh Is loaded. the
rest Of the outfit is packed up, or buried
In the snow. shovels being stuck up 10
mark the spot. This precaution Is neces-
sary, for storms come suddenly and rage
with fury along these mountain crests.
The first half mile or more is made in
quick time then over six or seven feet OF
snow the prospector drags his sleigh to
where there is wood f6r his camp rire.
At times this is no easy task, especially
IL the weather be stormy, for the winds
blow the new fallen snow about so A. to
completely cover the track made by the
man but little ahead; at other times DUR
ing fine weather and with hard crust
on the snow, Il Is only pleasant run
from the pass dewn TO the first camp IN
the Yukon basin. In all except the most
sheltered situations the tent is necessary
for comfort. and the stove gives better
satisfaction than the camp fire az II purns
butt little wood, is easier to cook over.
and does not poison the eyes with smoke.
II is a noticeable fact that there are
fewer cases OF snow blindness among
those who use stoves than among those
who crowd around q emoking camp nre
for cooking or for warmth. Comfort In
making a trip Of this kind will depend. IN
a great measure. upon the conveniences
OF camping. suitable clothing. and light,
warm bedding. Yes. upon provisions. too.
though Outlines more depends upon the
cook than what is IN the larder. The
necessary articles Of food are -four, bacon,
A. 49,
rice, milk. butter, dried fruits and coffee
are usually taken also. although some ola
timers look upon them as luxuries only.
After the rest OF the outfit has been
brought from the summit the next move
Is 70 Lake Landerman. about three miles
distant. The route now lies seven miles
across the lake to its outlet. down the
outlet three or four miles IN northeast
erly direction to Lake Bennett. down TO
the foot Of this lake. twenty-five miles,
then down the river four or five miles
and Takou lake Is reached. This lake is
some twenty miles long. and empties into
Mud lake through an outlet three miles
long; Mud lake Is about ten miles in
length. and at the foot Of it open water
Is usually found In April. Open water
will probably be passed before reaching
this point in the rivers connecting the
lakes but firm ice at the sides affords
good shedding; but at the foot OF Mud
lake a raft or boat must BE- built Dry
timber can be found along the shores
with which TO build q raft, which will
take everything TO the Lewis river can
yon. about forty miles to The northwest.
The course down the lakes has been much
in the form Of horseshoe. and now Bears
to the west instead OF the east.
Before reaching the canyon. a high cut
bank OF sand on the right hand side will
give warning that 1t is close at hand.
Good river men have run the canyon
safely even with loaded RATS but Il Is
much surer 20 make q landing on the right
side and portage the outfit around the
canyon three quarters OF a mile. ana run
the raft through empty. The tameness or
the scenery on approaching the ceayon IL