Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1904-08-11

Mazamas last week for the ascent of
Mt. Shasta. 1t was the eleventh an
nual outing of that organization and.
having on previous trips conquered the
high peaks of Oregon and Washington,
the mighty landmark of northern Cal
ifornia was this year selected as the
scene of the climbers operations.
The Courier party reached Sissons at
6 O'Clock Sunday morning and joined
a party who were just starting for
Wagon Camp by team. The main body
of the Mazamas had been in camp for
several days making side trips on the
mountain and developing their mus
cles for the big climb ON Monday.
Wagon Camp is some ten miles from
Sissons and the road thereto leads east
and south through an experience Of
pumice dust that makes the pleasure
seeker wonder fol- time why he came.
The ascent begins at Siss5ns and it is
uphill all the way to Wagon Camp.
The way from Sissons follows the
we'll beaten McOloud.thoroughfare for
about two miles and from that point
it follows the route of an old aban-
doned logging road. From this point
there is no monotony to any rider in a
vehicle. 1t is a succession of stumps,
brush and bitches and vehicles rock
along over it like ships IN distress.
The last few miles of the road were far
more pleasant than the first. The
dust became less deep and the timber
more dense and just before Wagon
Camp was reached the road entered
one of the beautiful meadows which
sometimes occur on the slopes of
Shasta, where the water from the
melting snow, pcrcolating through
long distances Of the loose rock of the
mountain, finds its way to the surface.
The grass gsows luxuriantly, flowers
bloom and the air is filed with but
terfies.
At the upper end of this meadow
Wagon Camp is situated in very
pleasant and picturesque spot. When
the later comers arrived here they
found the main party just about TO de-
part for Timberline Camp some fonr
miles farther up the mountain. All
the wayfrom Sissons the party had
been cheered by the prospect of the
"good dinner" which rumor said was
waiting at Wagon Camp, but, alas,
dinner was thing of the past when
they arrived there, and the "chef''
had departed for timber line. The
hungry men solaced their vacant
stomachs by munching bread and
cheese ana drinking water and con-
soled themselves with the prospect OF
the good supper which they could get
at timber line.
From Wagon Camp to timber line
the trail is much sleeper and there Is
quite taste of climbing in the trip.
The luggage was placed on horses,
under the supervision of Col. Hawkins
of Portland while the whole party
travelled on foot to the upper camp.
Every one carried an alpenstock and
nearly every one canteen. Cameras
were carried by fully half of the
crowd. There were four ladies in the
party, bloomer clad. and trudginp
bravely upward through the deeI
pumice dust aud volcanic sand of the
trail Timberlne Camp is a very
picturesque spot but is not too com
Portable as camping place. The site
selected was just the e1ge of the scat
terlng timber, in depression between
two of Shasta's ROCK ribs, where lit
tie stream of ice cold water tricklet
out from beneath a long snow bank
The camp arrangements were simple
A big pile of canned goods were de
posted at the foot of tree about II
i feet up steep slope although Their
was plenty of room ON the leve
ground. On little fire Just at tn,
foot Of the slope simmered "Dutcl
oven", containing boiled tea. Sup
per had been announced for o'clocl
aud at that time the cook piled a cal
opener with zeal and served pork ant
beans to the hungry crowd. The con
tents of the first can we-e warmed il
a frying pan; the rest Of the six can
of pork and beans devoured by tn,
% hungry people were eaten cold.
No guide was with the party. Tn
guides about Sissons. apparently rec
ognizing the chance Of life time t,
make stake, had demanded the sun
of sl5 from each Of the party to shoy
them the way to the top of the mou q
tain. This offer was rejeced witt
scorn by the Mazamas who determines
to make the ascent without a guide
There was also an attempt by one o
the livery stables to create a monopol.
on livery rigs but this attempt was
decided failure, after mauy Of tn
Mazamss showed their independents
by walking the 10 miles to wagoi
Camp.
The leaders Of the Mazamss ha
made reconnoit'ring trip on th
previous day and selected the route b.
which they proposed to reach the sum
nit They had climbed some dis;anc
up long, rocky ridge until they sup
posed they commanded a fair view o
the way to the top Of the mountain
1t looked all clear sailing with I'll
exception Of few little rock pinnacle
which doubtless woBld be easily sur
mounte1. Those who had climbed Mi
Hood and ether peaks looked wit
some contempt at the apparently mil
slopes Of Shasta, and remarked that
was fuqre1v an earir ruorufuu climb