Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-01-09

| or the United States; affiliated with
them are the most enthusiastic noun
taineers of Canada.
| They have all collected trophies of
notable ascents. many having done the
! great European climbs-not a few, like
| Henry G. Bryant heights as far as
Mauna Loa, in Hawaii. and the Bromo
and Papandajan volcanoes, in Java.
To these enthusiasts the grandeurs
and the beauties of the American
| Rockies, the enhancing loneliness of
Lakes Louise and O'Hara, the crystal
solitudes of the icy heights, the bloom
| ing expanses of varied flowers, have
appealed with an irresistible charm.
Every year has seen more pilgrims of
staff and camera, until there exist now
collections of photographs that are
rated all but priceless by their owners,
and in practical application actually
are priceless.
Probably the one American Alpinist
who has wrought most usefully fol
science and has achieved most richly
| in the way of exceptional photographs
| is a woman, Miss Mary NJ. Vaux, o
| Philadelphia. She owns so many i'm
mense glaciers. in the scientific mean
| ing of the word town," that she has
been rich enough to donate at least
one of them to Canadians. who are the
real owners when it comes down to
| possession of title.
Last year Miss Vaux. alone, carried
on the important, self-imposed task of
glacier measurement. Until 1908
there were three Vaux allies, for she
had with her her brothers, George
Naux, Jr., and the late William S.
Naux, Jr. George and Mary Vaux, af-
ter their brothers death, continued the
labor of love they had begun years
earlier; but when August neared for
the 1910 expedition the surviving
brothers business affairs detained him
in the east and the sister decided to go
alone.
1t was she who, after consultation
with her brother, consented to the pub
LEGATION Of some of the more striking
from among the 1000 photographs they
have assembled, and told of the de-
lights of the Incompatible American
Alps, while her expedition was being
planned this summer.
/ 1T lasts from six weeks to two
months" Miss Vaux said. This is my
sixteenth trip the chief work done be-
ing the measurement of the flow of
the glaciers. We have photographs of
the great Illecillewaet glacier, in Brit
ish Columbia, that have been regular
~ taken on August 20 since the year
1898, although our earliest photo
graphic record goes back to 1887. The
observations have demonstrated that
in British Columbia, as in other parts
of the world. all glaciers are receding,
the Illecillewaet having made a recess
sion of 1000 feet since our observations
began.
My brothers and !, after our intro
duction to that glorious country, made
| a return Journey in 1884, took more
| photographs and were so impressed by
| the comparison of conditions with
| those of our earlier visit that we re-
solved to take up the annual observa-
tions in the interest of science.
"Omitting now the imposing Yoho
glacier. at the foot of which a valley
stretches that is more grand than the
Yosemite. and with the Takakaw falls,
that are unfailng in their flow, we
| find that our work embraces four i'm
portant glaciers: Asulkan and He
eillewaet, in the Canadian Selkirks.
and Victoria and Wenkehumna, in the
| Rockies.
Last year, when I did the work
alone, the season was unusual. The
snowfall in the Selkirks is about forty
fleet. The exceptional warmth in the
latter part of the month of February
had precipitated numerous avalanehes
and there was naturally more snow in
the valleys than on the higher peaks.
| Difficulties appeared which are not
commonly encountered and it was hard
going, with the ponies, on the lower
tlevels through the forest debris.
! Hard work? Indeed it is, and as
! inspiriting and delightful as it is hard.
| carry, usually, a pack of about twelve
or fifteen pounds and my ice ak. "A
guide carries the heavy camera We
lconsider six miles out and as many
back to camp Il fair days work. in
Icludfng. as it does, climbs of 2000 or
5000 feet above the 5000-foot level that
| is, generally the point of departure.
For myself. after vainly trying to
adapt the skirt To such rough travel
ling, | have been compelled To use
Iknickerbockers for the actual climbs.
Puttees and hob-nailed shoes over two
pairs of wooden stockings, a WOODEN
lshirtwaist and an extra coat or sweat
er complete the clothing one needs
| There in the summer.
| Il have had some risks to take, like
the jumping of erevasses. But | have
been very fortunate as to accidents,
Immunity being due, probably. to the
taking of due precautions. | can hon
estly say that. since automobiles have
become so numerous, mountain climb
ling is safer than the crossing of good
many city streets.
THE valleys and the uplands are
tparadises of flowers. marvellous both
for number and beauty whole noun
tainsides are clothed in Alpine bios
SONS. Heathers. pink and white,
spread like fairy robes; the lowly yet
magnificent epilobium ranges from
the most delicate pink to gorgeous pur-
pies; anemones, in varied hues'
avalanche lilies, that resemble the dog
Crn1 lAf