The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1906-10-25

Perils Encountered by Member Of
the Cook Party In Effort to- Eind a
Way Up the 10000 Foot Mountain.
Alaska Visited During the Summer
ture Expedition.
DR.. Herschel G. Parker, professor Of
physics in Columbia university, is back
In New York after four months trip
with DR.. Frederick Cook among the
glaciers and mountain peaks Of Alaska,
full of enthusiasm for his next. trip to
that country and perfectly satisfied
the northern regions this past summer,
says the New York Post He accom-
panied the exploring expedition this
year for the sole purpose Of making
observations Of Mount Mckinley, the
highest mountain peak on this CONT
nent, with the intention of returning
another year, when, by means Of this
years knowledge and experience. he
expects to scale the peak. which towers
more than 10000 feet above the sea
level.
He had no intention Of attempting
the ascent this year, aiming solely at
Informing himself thoroughly as to the
best method Of attack and purposing
to return with Alpine guides next year
and make the trial. His knowledge Of
the conditions and the obstacles Of the
undertaking Is now almost complete,
and the few details that must be filed
into his plan will be added by DR..
Cook, who remained in the country
after DR.. Parker's departure and who
will endeavor to investigate thoroughly
the base Of the only approach to the
mountain which DR.. Parker considers
at all pregnablc.
With the record of daring mountain
climbs In the Alps and Sierras to his
credit, DR.. Parker Is regarded by
many as the best American climber
and Is more than keen on the subject
of Mount Mckinley. He was one Of
the founders of the American Alpine
club and Is a member of several 9TH
ers 1t was ut the instigation Of the
Appalachian club that he consented to
accompany DR.. Cook this year and
study the possibilities Of scaling Mount
Mckinley.
He compared the trip with DR.. Cooks
expedition In 1903, which came to a
rather unsuccessful termination.
II had no thought Of scaling the
mountain and expected only to reach
the base," he said, but instead we
managed to reach an elevation Of H.
600 feet. from where we got perfect
observations OF Mckinley, which is
more like small range than single
peak. On the way up by steamboat
we passed Mount St. Elias, just across
the Canadian border, which was seal
ed by Prince Luigi Of Italy and report
ed as. the highest peak in Alaska.
While It Is high one-1SOOO feet-it
IL not quite as lofty as Mount Logan
and lies several thousand feet below
Mckinley, which lies far In the In
terror and Is very inaccessible, stand
ing In the worst section Of Alaska.
There isn't q pass through the Alas
kan range, Of which Mckinley Is q
branch. for 200 miles along the noun
tains. and, as 1t takes weeks to cover
the distances. 1t is essential to deter
mine early In the trip whether an ex-
pedition Ii to attempt 1t from the
south face. which fronts the lower
ocean. or to 60 through Brooks pass
and try It from the other side.
ION the former expedition DR.. Cook
went up Cook inlet. across Brooks pass
to the back of Mckinley and worked
his way over the difficult country to
the northeast OF the mountain. He had
made his first landing on the southeast
side and In consequence made almost
n cOmDlGtc C'rcr;t II flr Daak without