Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-05-28
CLIMB THE CLOUDS
EXPEDITION TO EXPLORE THE
MOUNTAINS OF THE NORTHWEST.
WOMEN WILL BIZ OF The PARTY
when the summit Of Nameless
Mountain IL Reached 1t VIII he
Given n Title, Which the Govern
ment Will he Asked to Confirm.

Correspondence OF the Dispatch(
SEATTLE, WASH, May e.--Explora-
tions in the Polar regions are interest
ing enough. but there are vast heights
and depths of the unknown in this coun.
try that well repay the trouble OF re
search on the part of scientists, without
the risk of life that accompanies plunge
into the icy wilds Of the North. Believing
that they can be of use TO the cause OF
science, and at the same time, engage
in congenial and enjoyable occupation,
a party of experienced mountain-climb-
ers has been organized for the explora-
ton during the coming summer of the
Valley Of the Stehekin and the surround
ing country where are hundreds of Nv
ing glaciers and snow-clad mountains
about which so little Is known that they
are not even named.
This neglect will be remedied TO some
extent by the mountain exploration party
which will start from Seattle on Monday
evening, July 10th. The Valley Of the
Stehekin will be thoroughly explored, and
the most important of the mountains Sc
lected for especial study. a meeting VIII
be held on the summit. and with appro-
pirate ceremony the mountain Will be
named The government Will then be
asked to confirm the name, and place 1t
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 well as
men, and those who join the expedition
will be instructed fully in what to bring
oil
will be called upon 10 undertake, and, as
far as 1t is possible to arrange SUCH
thing beforehand the entire programme
of the trip will be laid before them.
There is already n competition through
out the State to be the first TO proVlde
an acceptable name for the mountain
that will be the subject of the eXpedl-
TONS especial attention, and commit.
tee on names has been appointed, or
which Miss Fay Fuller, of Tacoma, is
chairman. TO receive suggestions, ana
submit them later to the members or the
expedition.
The region that we mean to explore Is
but little known to the scientific world
chiefly because Of the fact that ii Is 50
extremely rugged as TO be very ulllcult
Of access, and. the impression haVlhs
taken root that II Is too rough a proPo,
sition to attempt, explorers have passed
V.
climbs for the subject of their invesugd-
tions. For this reason there is much 10
be learned of the region that we are go
ing TO reach with this expedition. some
adventurous spirits have penetrated "
the little known parts of the Naley OIL
the Stehekin, in search OF data for the III"
formation of scientists, and one or ines,
Professor w. ID. Lyman, wrote OF "hat
he saw as follows:
f1a-
the marvellous Rainbow Falls. $50 feet
high About twelve miles up the Stehe-
kin is the junction Of the Agnes, ahu'
from the height of 800 feet above Is
view up their canyons, and also we"
of mighty group Of serrated and giacl-
ated peaks from which the milky waters
of the Agnes issue, a scene WHICH, al
though there is no one in the group equai
to Mount Rainier. or Mount Adams YET
as a whole, rivals any view or elmer
miner whom we met said that from
high peak near Bridge creek, on a clear
day. he counted over 400 similar peaks
ranging in height from 5000 10 1l.OOO feet;
Beyond the Agnes the way is shadoWeu
with dropping cedars OF great peduty,
and with giant ferns Of almost tIopiCo'
luXurance The mountains tower hlgher ,
and more precipitously with every mir
cataracts keep up perpetual mus
traces of frequent avalanches make loot-
ing seem precarious, though the horses
pick their way cautiously ana surrey
testing every step. ON the south sue
OF the canyon, issuing from amid pe'Ns
that rise apparently 5000 or 6'VOO ieet az
most perpendicularly from the river, ar
falls and cataracts so numerous tha' w
eve is wearied. and the nina almost
stated. in an attempt TO follow tneM' Ohe
OF these we judged to descend, all III one
view. IL perhaps a dozen leaps anu silues'
not less than $500 feet. After apou'
dozen miles I'm this panorama OF "onuci''
we perceive on the north side or the can"
Won the beginning OF picture wilder
holder. grander than any yet seen' one
which, from the descriptions, we recos-
nize as the far-famed Horseshoe BASIN,
the special object of our quest. 10 sc'
it's details one must cross the river "hich
issues from II. and then turn TO the right
up d rough, hard trail. whlch leads W
the basin itself. Upon ms top Oh INC
granite rampant one may pause and saze
down into the basin. and there Dehoiu
scene which surpasses anythinS the
writer has ever witnessed In course
of extensive mountaineering-a scene
which is the browning work of this whole
great gallery OF wonders. which not yell
lowstone or Yosemite can surPass'
Though not grander-not In 1act' SO
wildly terrible as the glacier peaks
which head the canyon three miles be-
yond-the basin has that ineffable and
indescribabe sense Of perfectness when
impresses the beholder with the though
that here he faces one OF the supreme
works of Nature. The outmost north'
ern rim of the whole basin is a semi-cir'
cular escarpment OF minarets OF grant
stained to deep red by iron deposits
rising perpcndicularly 10 height ol
from 900 TO 1900 feet above the enclosed
amphitheatre. two miles across which Is
kngwn as the Upper Basin. The west,