The sea coast echo., 1913-08-02


@ ouer have been afforded a
new and thrilling form Of en-
tertainment in Glacier National park,
which Uncle Sam has thrown open for
the benefit of those who like to climb
glaciers.
This glacial wonderland, which was
only created by act OF congress In
1910, has been practically unknown.
Americans have spent many thousands
of dollars visiting Switzerland and the
Canadian rockies, in the belief that
America had no glaciers worth the
attempt to conquer. Yet in Glacier
National park there are more than so
glaciers within an area of five square
miles, not to mention snow-capped
peaks without number, rising to an al
titude of from 1000 to 10000 feet
above sea level The principal gla-
ciers in the new park are Blackfoot,
Harrison, Pumpelly, Red Eagle, Sper-
ry and CLANCY. In these great ice
fields there are many wide and deep
crevasses. Ice avalanches come thun-
dering down the slopes in warm wealth
er, and under the chill coverings trick
le chill waters, which form hundreds
of beautiful cataracts at the head
waters of rollicking mountain streams
where trout are to be found in abund-
ance.
Adventurous Trips.
The summer of 1911 was the first
- OF Ylx
but the fame of the land of glaciers
had spread. and hundreds of pleasure
seekers turned to the new national
playground which Uncle Sam will
keep unspoiled through the years to
come Many women visited the park,
and most of them refused to be left
behind when parties were organized
to scale the nearest glaciers. 1t is
strenuous work climbing even the
most accessible of the glaciers. and
some of the women were compelled to
give up before the ice slopes were
reached, but most of them gained the
ice in safety and returned so enthu-
siastic over the new sport that more
trips to the outlying gla-
ciers were planned.
81 have climbed glaciers in Swift
zerland and the Canadian Rockies
said one tireI but enthusiastic wom
an who had spent most of the season
in Glacier park, "but nowhere is there
finer sport than right here. There is
such a variety of glaciers, and the sur
youndings are so beautiful that any
active woman will find a whole sum-
mer of inspiration right here In Gla-
cier park-and in addition she will
benefit her health past all computa-
ton, for there is nothing else quite
so beneficial as mountain climbing, in
particular.
The woman who resolves to explore
this land of glaciers should be pre-
pared to rough it." There are good
hotel and cottage accommodations at
Lake Mcdonald, a few miles from Bel
ton, the entrance to the park, but
when one strikes toward the noun
tains she Is plunging into wilder
ness. with few trails and entirely in
Locent of wagon roads. 1t is thi pri-
mevaI aspect of the new park that
proves one of the greatest charms.
Generally parties of climbers are
formed and horses and guides are en-
gagged, the individual expense thus be-
ing reduced to minimum The trip
to Sperry glacier, nearest the hotel,
can be made comfortably in two days.
Camp is made at the foot of the gla-
cier the first night. Here the saddle
horses are abandoned. and the climb
to the glacier is made on foot All
supplies for the trip have to be pack
ed on the backs Of horses. 1t requires