Greene County herald., 1921-07-29


(Prspsrsd by ths National Geographic So
ciety. Washington. d. CO.
As the famous japanese mountain,
Full, dominates Its section Of Japan,
so the great white cone Of Mount
Rainier dominates the Pacific North
west, a landmark and beauty-spot from
the populous cities Of Puget sound,
from the prairies Of eastern Washing
ton. and even on clear days from far
at sea. 1t Is the glacier mountain
without peer In the United States.
and is estimated by one authority to
radiate a greater volume and area of
ice than any other one mountain in
the world. Its area of glacial surface
is estimated at $1,000 acres.
To the stranger In Puget sound 1t
appears to be less than ten miles away,
but on further inquiry the tourist
learns that 1t Is more than forty miles
distant In a direct line from sea-level
at Puget sound, from where mountain
survey measurements are made and all
Rainier park travel starts.
Studying 1t more In detail, he begins
to comprehend Its size and rugged
anatomy. But the scene Is beginning
to change; the sun Is low In the west !;
the lower end Of the glaciers, white
a few minutes ago, become graded
tint Of rose pink the blue has changed
to a purple, but the summit Is still
white, for 1t is 1000 feet higher than
the snow-line and projects up into the
white rays of the setting sun. The
red rays are slowly moving up the
mountain; the summit has changed
to rose hue, the last coloring Of day,
which 1t holds for some minutes after
the sun has left the landscape, and
then changes back again, finally, from
warm to the cold purple afterglow
that generally precedes q summer
night on Puget sound.
Its Cap a Weather Sign.
Viewing Mount Rainier after the
weather has been fair for some days,
1t is common to see the summit
covered with cloud. This cap is very
interesting and Is always looked at
for q forecast of change Of weather,
especially when it forms Immediately
In contact with the summit, hugging
down closely like an inverted saucer.
When the cap forms suddenly, like
the sudden drop Of barometer, the
change of weather is not long coming.
The cap does not always touch the
mountain top, but Is occasionally some
distance above and holds Its shape
during a whole day or more.
From far distance this cap appears
to be still cloud with no motion. but
In studying 1t from close range one
will observe that at the west edge the
cap develops rapidly, dlssOlving to in
visible condition at the east edge.
Evidently it is a stationed point of
condensation. but not stationed &C
cumulation of moisture.
The crater Of Rainier, concerning
which many questions are asked, is
not dangerous, but rather a life-pre-
server, and has been so used during
storm. There are no openings within
the crater large enough to be danger
GUS. The whole circle of 1000 feet
diameter Is filed with fallen black lava
and covered with thick pack of snow
the year round, except at the edges
near the crater's rim. The main crater
was the mountains principal vent OF
eruption, but there is one other place
called the little crater; 1t and few
other spots near the top are also
warm.
The first parties to the summit al
ways made the crater their inn. where
they stayed at night, warmed by the
steam that issues from the small
assures just within the crater's rim
but Of late the plan has been to reach
the summit from Camp Of the Clouds
elevation, $500. starting about / a
m, reaching the summit just after
noon, and, after some hours rest, re
turning to camp the same evening.
Hot Steam Of the Crater.
In making trip to the mountain,
summit, August, 1911. the writer tool
along a thermometer to ascertain tn,
steam temperature. and found the
steam Of the main crater in places {,
be about $50 degrees F. There ar
other places where the heat Is abov'
boiling point
The steam Ii evidently snow waite
that see2s down and comes in con
tact with the internal heat. returning Il
vapor through the same general open
ings. It seems to contain no gas o
fumes, and IL Of feeble force and littl
volume. soon disappearing in the high
dry atmosphere. It Is not seen fror
far distance and is not factor Il
producing the cloud cap that forms o