New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-04-14
COOKS PATH IMPASSAB[E
Not a Trace of Alleged Camps
Found on Mount Mckinley.
DETAILS OF THE ASCENT
Many Photographs Taken-A
Peak and Pass Discovered
Flag on Summit.

Fairbanks. Alaska April l3.-The Fair
banks Mount Mckinley expedition which
reached the summit OF the peak started 70
follow the route which Or. Cook said he
took. but was obliged to abandon it. as IT is
impossible Thomas Lloyd. the leader. said
to-day that no traces Of Cooks camps were
found
Lloyd placed mis- crude notes of the jour
nev in the hands of a committee Of the
order Of Pioneers of Alaska, who win ar
range for their publication The party took
photographs Of the summit and of points
along the trail 9 They also established the
trail So well that it can be followed by
other parties next summer.
Aneroid measurements place the height Of
the mountain at eo.5no feet.
Ten men we're in the PARTY which left
Fairbanks. with dog teams, in December.
II was the theory OF the leaders that the
ascent would be less dangerous IN early
spring than later. when the snow began TO
melt. This theory was confirmed BY the ex-
perience Of the men.
The expedition. on reaching the base of
the mountain. went into camp. waited for
better weather and planned the ascent. All
we're familiar with the great mountain.
None OF the men has scientific education
and they took no special apparatus. except
cameras and = barometer They were
equipped for prospecting and travelled as
light as possible. with the food supply OF
an Alaskan miner.
When the ascent was begun the first
camp was made at the line of the willows.
the second az 800 feet. the third at 10000
and the fourth AT 16eao feet. From this
camp the final start for the top was made.
Four dogs went 10 the third camp ard one
TO the fourth Snowshoes were used most
of the Wav. and much time vas consumed
in carrying supplies TO the fourth camp.
the travel over the steep ice compelling
light loads and several trips In several
places crevasSes were crossed on bridges
Of poles brought from the timber slopes
below
The party did not set ont to disprove ~.
Cooks story, but to climb the mountain.
II found the SUBMITS utterly unlike those
pictured in Or. Cooks book. On the rock
peak the party left an American flag q
by u feet. attached to a t4-foot staff. but
tressed I'm rock. The flag was visible for a
long distance on the north side Of the
mountain. The view from the summit was
obscured by clouds. The building Of the
monument about the flagstaff was Difficult;
Tho snow was generally firm. and the
crevasses that were filed with snow were
easy TO cross, except in a few instances
Later in the season avalanChes ami treach-
eTous Crcvasses would have impeded prog
reSS.
The explorers discovered an unnamed
peak, 5000 feet high and a new pass
through the mountain range, which short
ems the distance 10 the coast by seventy
five miles. The pass is fldnked by males
tic perpendicular v ais.
Daniel Patterson. W. r. Taylor and
Charles McGonnigle remained at Kalishna
and only Lloyd came To Fairbanks. The
pioneers committee took steps TO verify
Lloyd's story before stamping it as gen
uine. Even now the committee is distin-
clined TO surrender Lloyds notes. although
satisfied that they amply prove the story
The return of Lloyd from the mountain ii
nine days was due TO the excellence Of the
trail made By the party while ascending
the mountain.