The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1909-11-30
KING OF THE NORTHERN CAS-.
CADES IN WASHINGTON
STATE CONTAINS MORE THAN
A THOUSAND GLACIERS.
BY c. f. RUSK.

fOurtn among the great snow
J clads of Washington stands rega
Glacier Peak, ice king of the north
ern Cascades Remote from the usua
lines of travel it is scarcely known
even to mountain lovers, yet it Is thu
dominant feature of that region o.
mighty, glacier-girl peaks surround
ing the upper end of Lake Chelan.
There are more glaciers in the state
of Washington than in all of the RESI-
of the United States, and the Lake
Chelan mountains bear the greatest
number of these. There are at least
1000 glaciers in the state. OF the
isolated glacial cones Rainier and
Adams are the greatest, for they are
supported by no considerable number
of attendant spires reaching above
snow line In fact, the Cascade range
in the southern part of Washington,
does not attain the rugged, broken
| character that it assumes farther
north and aside from the great VOL
canoes it's snow-capped peaks are few
Farther north, however, the minor
/ peaks are more prominent and stand
in clusters, thus giving opportunity
for the collection of vast snow and
ice fields.
At Glacier Peak
Glacier peak stands 40 or so miles
west of Lake Chelan in Snohomish
county 1t is an extinct volcano and
at the summit is an old crater filled
with snow. Its elevation is given at
little over 10,4OO feet. but this is
undoubtedly too low.
In aspect it resembles Mount Baker
and the two have many features in
common. but the latter has an active
crater from which rolls sulphurous
smoke.
From the southern slope of Glacier
peak high ridge sweeps toward the
southeast, its crest broken into aquil-
lated spires and its slopes burdened
with immense snow fields which
merge into glaciers lower down.
Leading from this ridge to the east
is a range of sharp, abrupt peaks
having many minor glaciers.
Where Vast Glaciers Lie.
Between these mountains and Gla-
cier peak, in a vast ampitheatre form
ing the head of Suattle river canyon.
lie two of. the largest glaciers in the
state. With common neve on the
east slope of the ridge they form a
mighty horseshoe. with a sweep from
calk to calk of 10 miles or more In
the head of the Suattle canyon. in the
space not occupied by ice, are beauti-
full parks and charming waterfalls.
Here the wild goat is in his element
and successive generations have worn
their trails into the very rocks of the |
cliffs.
Scores of Ice Rivers.
There are three large glaciers on
the east side Of Glacier peak proper. |
and there are probably 10 or IL on |
the different slopes of the mountain |
Together with its attendant peaks it |
perhaps has so glaciers, some of |
them of great size.
Grafton EiIIod with S,o,.-
The crater at the summit is from a
quarter to a half mile in diameter
and is filled with snow. The rim of
rock, however, is bare in the summer
season and is broken down in places.
number of rocky eminences,
Dne Of which on the southwest side.
is the highest spot on the mountain.
From this point of vantage may be
seen Rainier Baker, Shuksan and
hundreds of lesser peaks. It is like
y that on a perfectly clear day every
prominent mountain in the state
nay be seen.
Few View Glacier Peak.
Glacier peak has not been often
listed. Professor Israel G. Russell
climbed it years ago and wrote of it's
glaciers. 1t has been assembled by
members of the geological survey,
'ut there have been few other as
ents '
Mr.. Rusk Tells on An Ascent.
The writer, in company with A. L. s
?Ool of Lucerne, Wash, made trip
c this interesting region in 1906. '
With two pack horses We left Lake
fhelan at the mouth of Railroad !
reek August Is and proceeded up {
hat stream to Cloudy pass on the I
ummit of the Cascades This took
IS through the fine scenery of upper {
Railroad creek and North Star park, {
me of the finest camping grounds to !
re found any place, and in many re- t
poets equal to the famous Paradise
ALLEY on Mount Rainier. t
From Cloudy pass we proceeded by
way of the east fork of the Suattle to S
place in Snohomish county near the t
'ead of Buck creek. Here we camped !
n a fine park, where there were i
hic hoar axal1