The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1911-09-01
First Exploration Of
Mount Mckinley Region

by Cook Inlet. named after the
famous exl lorer Of the 18th century,
an embayment which penetrates the
mainland for nearly 200 miles. The
drainage basin tributary to Cook
Inlet is cut off from the Yukon and
the kuskokwim waters on the north
and west by a chain Of rugged
mountains known as the Alaska
Range, at the heart Of which towers
majestic Mount Mckinley, the high
est peak of North America, and its
sister peak Mount Foraker.
Previous to 1902 this region consti-
tuted a great block Of unknown
territory. When in 1893 the U. S.
Geological survey began its task Of
exploring, surveying and studying
the mineral resources Of Alaska, the
first work was Of necessity merely
exploratory, for until the larger
features OF drainage and relief had
been outlined it was impossible to
plan topographic and geologic
surveys. The demand of the pros
pector was for maps and information
to guide him in hazardous journeys.
From 1893 to 1902, therefore, the
Alaskan work Of the Geological
survey was largely series Of recon.
nlissances, covering wide areas and
outlining the larger photographic
f.atures-a skeleton to be gradually
filled in by detailed mapping. But
the Mount Mckinley region remain.
ell untouched. Plans for its survey
had been considered as early as
1899, but it was not possible to put
them into effect until 1902.
The Mount Mckinley Region Of
Alaska" by Alfred II. Brooks, just
issued by the Geological Survey as
Professional Paper 20, describes
this work Of early exploration of q
vast tract OF territory absolutel.
unknown and incomparably wild.
Tie report is large volume des-
c.ibng the geologic. geographic,
and mineral resources Of the region,
but MIR. Brooks's brief description Of
the trip itself is tale of real adven-
ture. In los days the party. con-
sisting of men, penetrated SOC
miles Of an unknown wilderness with
almost impossible swamps, unforda-
be rivers, and lofty snow-covered
mountains. These men depended
largely on their guns for provender
but finally accomplished their
p ,rpose Of striking through the
Alaska range and coming out into
the interior Yukon valley, a feat
which was looked upon by the
n,tives as impossible.
Mount Mckinley and Mount For
aker, which in clear weather had
been visible for most of the time,
doomed large and majestic and on
August 4, camp was made only IA
miles in an air line from the summit
Of Mount Mckinley. Here" says
Mr.. Brooks, "a days delay permit
ted the writer to climb spur of the
mountain to snow line and to obtain
some clue to its geologic structure;
but satisfaction at standing on its
slope 9 miles from the summit, which
had never before been approached
by white men. could not but be
tinged with regret that there was
neither time nor means for reaching
higher altitude"
The position of Mount McKinle.
was accurately determined, as alst
its altitude, 1900 feet. Noun,
Foraker, some Is miles to the south
of Mount Mckinley, was also located
and its altitude Of 1900 feet deter.
mined. These observations were
made from number Of other peaks
varying in height from 5000 to H..
600 feet. The actual surveys of the
trip covered about 5000 square
miles.
As they pressed inland from
Mount Mckinley, Mr.. Brooks states
August "a was marked by an en-.
counter with white man and band
Of Indians, the first human beings
we had seen in nearly three months, u
and a few DAVIS later the MARI,