Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1910-03-16

that 1.-THE Selkirk range in
British Columbia surpass the
- Alps in the labyrinthine or
ganization, productive primeval
th1ckets and vast number of glaciers.
There are not only more glaciers than
in the Alps, but a greater variety OF
formations"
Into this wild region, rich in its vir-
gin beauty, explorers are pushing their
way farther and farther each year and
higher and higher up the peaks. The
majority of the peaks are still I'M
climbed, but each year sees more and
more of them conquered by the bold,
healthy, adventurous spirits, who
shake not only the dust of civilization
but the shoes of civilization from their
feet and buckle on the heavy, clumsy
brogans, made for scaling mountains.
One of those who are greatly inter-
ested in that region is Howard Palmer
of Boston, who has recently returned
from a summer spent in exploring the
Selkirks and in climbing some of the
peaks. With him most of the time
was Prof. Parker of Columbia uni
versity, who was at Mt. Mckinley
with Dr. Cook.
Messrs. Palmer and Parker went
into the Selkirks this year with the
expressed hope and purpose of climb
ing Mount Sanford, the highest peak
of the range, having rise of 1864
feet A year ago Palmer made par
tial ascent of Sanford, and became
convinced that the top could be at
tanned in spite of it's impossible look
ing sides.
In their mission last summer they
were not wholly successful as the pro-
tracted season and late snow and ice
made the climb very hazardous, but
Palmer assembled the peak to the dis
lance of $500 feet and is confident of
conQuering it next summer
In addition to making such an inroad
up the side of Sanford, Palmer made
first ascents of Mount Augustine, TO-
100 feet, and Mount Fitzpatrick, 1860
feet, climbed Mount Dawson from the
south side, unassisted, blazing a new
trail, and blazed a new pass through
the Purity range. With him, in these
accomplishments, were F. X. Buffers
and E. w. ID. Holloway, instructors at
the University of Minnesota.
Mr.. Palmer has returned with much
valuable information about the region
which he traversed and hundreds of
photographs which reveal a country
which imagination might people with
fairies below the snow line, and whose
expanse above the snow line reaches
out into a vision of grandeur with its
imposing peaks and wonderful gla-
ciers and snow formations. The coun-
try is rugged, wild, beautiful both be-
low and above the snow line, which
is about $500 feet above the sea
level
The nearest point to Mount Sanford
which may be reached by railroad is a
little place called Glazier. There
were ten In the party, including
woodsmen, guides, etc. They made
their way over land and water to
Beavermouth, short distance from
the base OF the peak. and then pre-
pared to strike into the toughest sort
of country. They left Beavermouth
June IA and reached the base Of the
mountain IL days later, and during
all that time they had gone but 13
miles. They had to hew their way
through a valley thick with under
growth, and progress was extremely
slow. They had made five camps
in that short distance.
Once they had reached the base they
fortified themselves for the ascent, but
they had gone but short distance be-
fore it began to look as though the
late snow that still chung to the noun
tain side, threatening every minute to
slide. would prove too serious a handi-
cap to their advance to the summit,
and so the trip thence on took on
more of the character of reconnoiter-
ing expedition. The party forced its
way to the height of $500 feet, and
it was then decided to turn back.
Palmer, who is an intrepid climber,
was 10th to give up the ascent, and
he started out alone one morning to
20 as far as he could, and he reached
the height of $500 feet unassisted.
Climbing an ice-cIad mountain alone
is dangerous business and Palmer
knew it would be senseless for him to
venture further because of the treach-
erous footing, but he is of the opin-
ION that If he had had another man
with him he could have reached the
top that day. In making ascents OF