The Carlisle independent., 1917-07-05
MOUNT M'KINLEY
 IS REAL MONSTER
Central Feature of Uncle Sam's Newest Park Presents Amaz-
 ing Spectacle.
SEEMS LOFTIER THAN OTHERS
Abrupt Rise of More Than 17,O00 Feet Makes Mass Appear Higher Even Than Taliest of
 the Himalayas.

Uncle Sam'S new national park In Alaska is one of the monster specta- cles of the world. To say that it rises 20,300 feet above sea level and that it is the loftiest peak in America is to convey no idea whatever of its gran deur. There are several mountains in the Himalayas which materially exceed it's height-one which rises more than 25,000 feet above sea level-and yet Mount Mckinley, to the observer, is loftier than any of these.
 The reason is that the greatest Him. alayas are seen from valleys 1000 to 10000 feet in altitude, while Mount Mckinley rises abruptly from valleys 5000 feet and even less in altitude. The visitor to the Mount Mckinley Ma tional park will look up more than IT, 900 feet to the double peak, the upper 14,000 feet of which are covered with perpetual snow.
 This enormous mass is the climax of the same Alaskan range which ex- tends roughly east and west across southeast central Alaska, separating the vast northern inland from the more populated country whose shores are the Gulf of Alaska. The range par allels the mighty Yukon many miles to it's south.
 Titanic Alpine Scenery.
 The reservation contains 2,20C square miles. Its northern slopes, which overlook the Panama watershed with it's gold mining industry, are broad valleys inhabited by enormous herds of caribou. Its southern plateau is perpetual water wilderness through which glaciers of great length and enormous bulk flow into the valleys of the south. In this national park, which the railroad now building by the government into the Alaskan interior will open presently to the pub lie, America possesses Alpine scenery upon titanic scale.
 From the stormy south, Mount Me Kinley is wholly inaccessible But from the plains of the north, valleys of easy grade lead one from another to its foot.
 Tt is an awe-inspiring region of mas sive mountains and ice-capped peaks" Belmore Browne of the Camp Fire club, testified before the senate con- mittee on territories. "The Piedmont plateau that follows the range affords a beautiful roadway direct to Mount Mckinley, and when you reach the plateau all difficulties vanish and you see a view that is unique on this earth. You see the huge mountain line of perpetual snow, rising like a great wall on the southeast. You can ride pony to where Mount Me Kinley rises 17,00O feet above you in a glittering wall of snow and ice. It is fianked by stupendous mountains which make a wonderful setting fer the monster"
 Enormous Herds of Caribou.
 North of the vast mountain. how ever, is a rolling country dotted with beautiful lakes and forests and inhab- ited by enormous herds of caribou In fact the special reason why congress set apart the region at this time was to conserve the wild animal life in ad- vance of the invasion of hunters which the neWgovernment railroad will bring into Alaska, the road as projected run ming within twenty miles of this great est Of natures spectacles.
 Charles Sheldon of the Boone and Crockett club told the senate commit tee that several times he has counted as many as 500 mountain sheep in a single day of ordinary travel, and that herds of caribou numbering from 1,200 to 1,500 are frequently seen.
 AS game refuge and breeding ground, the new National park con- serves Alaskan game which elsewhere is rapidly disappearing. As in the case of Yellowstone National park, the reservation serves as a perpetual cen ter of game supply for large neigh boring areas.
 These animals do not greatly fear man, because they have never been hunted. One can approach the great herds of caribou. There are also many Alaskan bear of great size.