The Washington weekly post., 1899-05-30
An Expedition to Explore the
Sierra Nevada.
WOMEN WILL BE IN THE PARTY
When the summit of n Nameiess Noun
tain Is Attained II VIII lie Given Title
Which the Government VIII Be Asked
to Confirm-scieniis,s Who Accompany
the Expedition viii Interest the Climb
er. with Lectures Around the Campfires.

tnat well repay the trouble Sl EeStSiNi
on the part OF scientists. without the
risk OF life that accompanies plunge
into the icy wilis of the north Believing
that they can be of use 10 the cause OF
science and at the same time engage in
a congenial and enjoyable occupation,
party o. experienced mountsin-climbers
has been organized for the exploration,
during the coming summer, OF the Valley
of the Stehekin and ihe surrounding
country. where are hundreds OF glaciers
and snow-clad mountains. about winch
so little is known that they are not even
named.
This neglect will be renedied TO some
extent by the mountain exploration party
which will start from Seattle ON Monday
evening. July 10. The Valley of the Ste
hekin will be thoroughly explored, and
the most important mountains selected
for especial study. meeting will be
held on the summit. and with appTopri-
ate ceremony the mountain will be
named. The government will then be
asked TO confirm the name and place Il
on all official maps
The plan for this Notwithstanding
trip is engaging the serious attention OF
many people prominent in this State, and
quite an imposing party Will start on the
journey when the word is given. The
climbers will include women as we'll as
men. and those who JON the expedition
will be instructed fully in what to bring
along, how TO dress, what the climbers
will be called upon to undertake, and as
far as II Is possible 10 arrange such
thing beforehand, the entire programme
OF the trip will be laid before them There
Is already a competition throughout the
State to be the first to provide an ac-
ceptable name for the mountain that
will be the subject of the expeditions
especial attention. and a committee on
names has been appointed. of which Miss
Fay Fuller. of Tacoma is chairman. to
receive suggestions and submit them
later to the members of the expedition.
Into Terra Incogniio.
The region which they mean to explore
is but little known to the scientific world,
chiefly because of the fact that it is SO
extremely rugged as to be very dificult
OF access, and, the impression having
taken root that it Is too rough a propO-
sition TO attempt, explorers have passed
II by, choosing other and lass painful
climbs for the subject of their investiga-
tions. For this reason there is much 10
be learned of the region that they are
going TO reach with this expedition. Some
adventurous spirits have penetrated 10
the little known parts of the Valley of
the Stehekin N search of data for the
information of scientists, and one of
these, Prof. w. ID. Lyman, wrote of what
he saw, as follows:
Three miles above the lake we passed
the marvellous Rainbow Falls, $50 feet
high. About twelve miles up the Stehe-
Kin is the junction OF the Agnes, and from
the height of 800 feet above is a view up
their canyons and also view of a mighty
group OF serrated and glaciated peaks,
from which the milky waters of the Ag-
mes issue, scene which, although there
Is no one in the group equal to Mount
RAINIER or Mount Adams, yet as whole
rivals any view OF either. A miner whom
We met said that from high peak near
Bridge Creek, on clear day. he counted
over 400 similar peaks. ranging from 1900
10 II,VO feet Beyond the Agnes the Way
is shadowed with dropping cedars OF
great beauty, and with giant ferns Of
almost tropical luxuriance. The noun
tains tower higher and more precipitousIy
with every mile, cataracts keep up a per-
petual music. traces of frequent avalanch-
es make footing seem precariOus, though
the horses pick their way cautiously and
surely. testing every step. On the south
side of the canyon, issuing from amid
peaks that rise apparently 500 or 5000
feet almost perpendicularIy from the
river, are falls and cataracts so numer-
Gus that the eye is wearied and the mind
almost sated in an attempt to follow
them. one or these we judged TO descend
all in one view, in perhaps a dozen leans
and slides, not less than 300 feet.
The Horseshoe Basin.
After about a dozen miles in this man,
Drama of wonders We perceive on the
north side of the canyon the beginning
or picture wilder, bolder, grandsr thar
any yet seen. one which from the de-
scriptions we recognize as the far-famei
horsesnoe basin, the special object OF
our quest 10 get its details one must
cross the river, which issues from It. and
then turn TO the right. I'D a rough. hard
trail. which leads to the basin Itself Tnon
the top OF the granite rampant on. NAV
pause and gaze down into the basin. and
there behold scene which surpasses
anything the writer has ever witnessed
IN a course or extensive mountaineering
a scene which is the crowning work of
this whole great gallery OF wonders
which no Yellowstone or Yosemite can
surpass- Though no, grander. nor in
fact so wildly terrible as the glacier peaks
Whlch head the canyon three miles be-
ychd' the Dasln has that inenabIe and in
oescrlbsoie sense OF perfectness which
impresses the behoder with the thought
that mere ne faces one Of the slpr- ne
WorKs or nature The outnost northern
rim OF the whole basin is a semi-circuIar
escarpment OF granite, stained TO deep
fed Dy iron deposits, rising perpendicular
Iy TO d height Of from 1000 20 3Ge fee,
above the inclOsed amphitheafer. two
miles across, which Is known as the In
per Basin. The western half Of The N.
per Basin Is filled with a great glacier
whose dazzling white surface covered
with green crevasses contrasts wander
fuliy with the towering spires Of red be-
hind- In front the basin breaks or Ia a
seml-circular descent. circIing opposite
10 the red towers on the north ov.y
whose perpendicular front OF apparentIv
200 feet the waters OF the glacier peur N
twenty-one waterfalls and catsracts
Piunging with a mingIing Of sounds
which run the entire gamut Of hvdrokfo.
etlc music, from the deep thunder OF tbe
largest 10 the soft swish OF the snray
from the smallest and highest. these ac-
cumuLateo waters join IN a snow bapk
bordered with vivid green. In the ,oys,
basin, Fastening thence In one impetu,us
torrent through a deepening gorge. rom
which they issue in one magnificent fsU
OF probably DO feet. the foaming water.
tnen hidden IN a great tunnel. which ,hey
have cut through an overhanging bank a.
SNOW" %
Plan Of the Expedition.
THESE oailying scenes Of grandeur vii,
Dot receive more tran passing attention
from the members OF the expedition Ne
Intend 70 climb above and beyond them
Our aim Is % explore the unknown an1
add new pages 10 the story OF American
mountain climbing
our plan ts 10 make the party a. ,arge
as possible, % go BY RAN 70 the point
Were the Iron road ends. thence BIZ con
veyanees Or on horsebaek as far as quad
repsds can climb. and after that with
alpine stock and ropes We shall scale ,b.
sides OF the mountain until the susauit
y reached. A. many a. reach the to,
VIII participate In the ceremonies that
VIII take place In connection with the
naming OF the mountain and will have
something % talk about In after life. I,