Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-07-06

cent snow cliff glistening in the sun
lSht like some fairy castle. Just above
this rock are the famous snow cups
and honeyCombs-the bette noir of the
mountain climber. These queer for
nations IN the snow are the result of
the heat radlatod directly to the frigid
upper neves which suffer n loss by
melting in the sun even while the air
remains below the freezing point. The
manner in which the sun affects the
snow at this point is peculiar Instead
OF reducing the surface evenly II melts
out many close set cups and holloWs
out holes foot or more in diameter
which arc separated by sharp spires
and CrestS. No water is visible any,
whore either in the rills or pools. evan
Grafton keeping pace with the deduc-
ton. If the suns action is permitted
TO continue uninterrupted for many
days rs may happen in a hot, dry
summer, these snow cups deepen by
degrees until at length they assume
the aspect OF gigantic bee cells several
feet in depth They are most exas-
peratinE to the climber after fresh
snow fall as he is apt to sink In waist
deep in the honeycomhs.
il must be remembered that NJ.
Rainier was once volcano. and the
rims of the crater are now covered
with snow and ice, and from the crater
rim to the bottom are great snow cas-
cades which help to feed tho glaciers.
AVaianchos, however. are nothing like
as numerous rs they are in the Alps.
Insect Life in the Ice
Another Interesting thing about the
Rainier glaciers is the insect inhabi-
tants of the ice. One is a species of
flea, commonly known as Spring
tails" so small that they will escape
the eye Of the average tourist. If one
looks closely, however, he will soc
myriads of these tiny insects wrig-
Cling in the ice cavities. They pre-
fer ice to human beings and never mo-
lest tho visitor There is also n little
dark brown worm that feeds on the
organic matter which is blown on the
glacier in the form of dust. They,
too, arc fond Of the ice and when the
sun IS hot they will go into the ice for
several feet, remaining there until
sunset. The "rcd snow is found on
the Rainier glaciers This is due to
n plant of pinkiSh color which
thrives under the ice. Before the
cause of red snow was known noun
tain climbers regarded the finding of
it an i'll omen.
Paradise Glacier is the tourists de-
light, as glissades may be made here
in perfect safety owing to the absence
of crevasses. Indeed, this glacier can
be traversed in perfect safety from
Paradise Park to Cowlitz Rocks with
out the slightest danger of assures
Snow-shoeing and Alpine sports can
be held here, and in summer the
tourist may have his old fashioned
slide and land safely in the level snow
at the foot. This glacier is best
reached from the Paradise Park
camp.
Some OF the glaciers contain ice
caves. a particularly fine one being
found at the lower end OF the Carbon
Glacier from which the Carbon River
issues. Many times the ice caves have
sheltered mountain climbers during
sudden snow storms which are apt to
occur at any time. Tho majority of
persons who have persisted on these
mountains have been overcome by
these blizzard-like storms which are
always attended by fierce gales against
which 1t is impossible to hold ones
! footing.