New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-06
CLIMBS MOUNT MKINLEY.
Alfred IL. Brooks. the Explorer.
Tells Experience to Camp Fire Club.

At its first dinner OF the season. the Camp Fire
Club last uisht listened to several interesting
stories q recent adventure and exploration Alfred
Il Brooks. OF Washington. was the guest OF the
club and his account OF his daring exploration from
cook Inlet 20 the Yukon. 10y Mount Mckinley was
the feature Of the evening. Ar. Brooks is a mem
Der OF the United States Geological Survey and his
oacial title is GeoOgisJ IN Charge OF the DIVISION
~ Alaskan Mineral Resources. In introducing him.
the toastmaster. william T. Conn. aptly declared
THAI the members OF the Geological Survey are
ike the soldiers y the regular army. doing even
the most dificult and hazardous field work so
quietly that often the public has no chance 10
arr-eciate II until lcng after Il has been done
Mr. Brooks said that when he and his party
landed AZ Tvorek a. the head OF Cook Inlet 70
start ro-thward, they were told that no one ever
had made the trip they proposed. and that it5
accouulishrnenr n one season was utterly tmpos-
side Not only the way blocked by rugged
mountains and glaciers and innumerable rivers
that must be crossed. but also by vast tracts OF
svuupy forest through which neither man nor
pack horse could make way II was because OF
tire diFcultes to be surmounted that no Indians
were included u the party
TIE party whizh left Ty0nek June . 1902.
consisted OF seven men ard twenty pack horses.
TIE horses were vile and unused 10 carrying loads.
and az FIRST they made great deal OF trouble. The
first objective point the slope OF Mount
Mckinley. and as Tar toward the summit as time
would permit o. an ascent The struggle along the
base q the eastern foothills was besei with ex-
irene Gifculsies Miles Of read had to be cut out
bcgs had 70 be b-i6eed with corduIo y and swollen
rivers were 10 DC crossed. ali under q constant
plague OF mosquitoes There were times when the
parry's progress was only three miles day. Ere
c-eutiy members Of the party became lost in trying
~ search out practi-a bic routes
The crossing OF The wide tract CT swampv low
lands between the Suchftna Valley ard the noun
talns was long and arduous struggle but va,
finally accomplished TO the point OF boldly striking
through the mountains The course from the
u0llL ~ the Suehitna was northwest With In
1rlIe LABOR zee Alaskan Mountains were penetrated
uEt4 tAeiI western slope was reached. when the
direction o. the march was changed to northeast
ward.
The foot OF Mount Mckinley. the highest peak in
North America was reached on August 3 From the
or7ao. shallow valley Of The Piedmont Plateau the
great mountain seemed 10 rise almost sheer for
lIe9 feet Mr.. Brooks set out alone TO climb tow
arc us summit. and ascended until his progress
was completely barred by slopes Of smooth ice ter
m-1at-ns IN precipitous walls Of rock hundreds OF
feel M aeight Not daring 10 take the four or i've
DAYS tf1t Y oud have been necessary TO climb
Down, and attempt the ascent from some other
direction. Mr.. Brooks erected caIrn at his high
est point ascerIained his altitude 10 be about 75oy
:esr and returned TO his party.
Hls business was geological exploration, not
n1c-ltalle e-lnE NJ. BROOKS was the first white
man 10 set foot on the base OF Mount Mckinley.
It's. existence has been known for twenty years or
more. t-- II "-s nor until lesb Jh9t II was nrst
coed $500 tee- K Is tle culmLIla ting point Of the
great ALASKAN range, which extends from the
ALASKAN ie---su-a &c the Yukon from us base
tl- 81 .ll-Ia -0Ws s0uJn into the head of took
Inlet. and hl~Aohwln nyWs westward into BEARING
Sc. AKA -4-r-y--u several streams TOW into the
LGlaLa aLc the Yukon.
4l-gr .aa.l.- Noun sIcK.nley Mr. Brooks's party
e-Ow4. worked l.s Was through the western foot
his % me ALASKAN range, LUrtneastwarQ toward
Tie EEE-Wel River. On the CaurWeIl the smoke
q t-eiE campfire attracted 10 th=r camp soIitarg
W---e rllsp-l-0r. WHO. with dogs as pack
mails was exploring that region for precious /
metals Two Indians also - Jeared and hayin.y /
been led they told trail their village on ths
IaIaua, which village Was reached shortly after
ward
Between this village OF the Tanana and n.
r1-rys objective point the Yukon. RamDa-1 /
House Jay Woe tract q low. level country do
Ted with iluume-aaie lakes. crossed by marv