The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1911-09-20

IeNeryDOuy lett sure TOT. tHey went
over the ground and made their OBJ
servations thoroughly, despite the rain
railing most of the time or the mist
covering the mountain tops. 1t was
merely a matter of money, they de-
lclared, there not being any serious en-
gineering difficulties in the way If
building the road. Covering the sum-
nit from Carlton Pass to Bear Gap,
the party found that the most feas-
tible crossing places would be either at
Dewey Lake or Rainier Fork
"Peterson's" Road
The party left Tacoma in automo-
biles, riding over the magnificent
stretch of county road built under the
direction of Commissioner Torger Pc
terson, 55 miles out from the city on
Commencement Bay, and then over
twelve miles of government road to
Longmire Springs, where they were
compelled to stay until the following
Thursday because of the heavy rain.
The rain finally let up enough to en-
able the party to follow the pack train
that had gone on ahead to make camp
beyond the Cowlitz glacier. The pack
far as Narada Falls, branching off
there and skirting the north side of
the Tatoosh range, south of the big
mountain, while the party continued
on to the Camp of the Couds in Par
adise Valley.
Unable to Find Camp
Friday, one week ago, they depart
La Do 70
find their camp at the place designat
! ed, but because of heavy rain and fog
that settled down over them they were
una BILE for two days to locate the pack
train and supplies. Ben Longmire was
guide of the party, while Len Long
mire and Billy Stafford had charge of
the pack train. Stafford turned back
at the Camp of the Clouds with jane
son and Ross. For two days the par
ty was without food excepting grouse,
sleeping at night in the falling rain
beside camp fires built by the guide,
Ben Longmire.
Reconnoiter for Food
Longmire and Engineer White left
the party and went to Muddy creek
for food which they found at the home
of prospector and rancher. They
returned and soon after when the sky
had cleared enough to enable them
to do so they discovered the camp on
ridge beyond the Cowlitz glacier.
From this point, the members of the
party said the view was glorious.
Nearby they could see the north, east
and south sides fthe great mountain
and it's numerous glaciers. while to
the south Mounts Adams and st. Hell
ems, the whole range of the Cascades
was in plain sight a most glorious
panorama, and one that thrilled these
mountaineers who were not unfamil-
lar with such views.
Commissioner Peterson
Speaking of the route that could be
| followed by a road around the noun
tain, County Commissioner Peterson,
who was host of the party, said:
| From Narada Falls the road would
wind through at the foot of the Ia
toosh range, passing Reflection lake
and numerous beautiful water falls.
The route would take one in view of
the Stevens, Paradise and Cowlitz
glaciers, whose terminal moraines
would be to the left and in plain view.
Gradually rising from an altitude of
$500 feet, the road would reach an al
titude of about 5000 feet at Dewey
lake or Rainier Fork
Never to Be Forgotten Trip
"Our trip from Narada Falls to Gold
Hill, which on a direct route was
probably about twelve miles, but
ip1, 1,
er twenty, will never be forgotten by
any member of the party. We camp
ed Friday night without food, except
the two grouse shot by one of the
members of the party, and without
shelter, but Saturday night we came
up with our outfit, which consisted of
riding animals and a pack train of
five horses. Sunday the camp moved
to Muddy Fork and on Monday we
were at Fish Lake and from there on
until Thursday we followed the sum-
NIT of the Cascade range to Bear Gap.
When the Longmires turned back
with the horses to retrace their steps
home, snow was falling and it was get
ting cold. 1t seemed mighty good to
get under shelter at the camp of the
Elizabeth Gold Hill Mining company.
below Bear Gap.
"In my mind there is no question
but that good road can be built over
the route we travelled. and all the way
| it would have in view some of the
most wonderful scenery in the coun-
try. This is not project simply for
Pierce and Yakima counties but it is
statewide project, one that every
body in the state should work for. 1t
offers the most and greatest scenic
possibilities of any route in the state,
and would open up q country that
would make the state famous to tour
lists. Pierce county has expended $780,
| 600 on the road from Tacoma to the
mountain and the United States gov
eminent has put a quarter of a mill
lion dollars into the road connecting
this with Paradise valley. This is a
matter for the chambers of commerce
nd other commercial bodies through
out the state to take up and work for
as it means much to the state. giving
| it a highway that would be without
parallel"