The Alaska daily empire., 1921-11-23

Abounding in almost unsurpassed scenery, the natural home of caribou, moose and mountain sheep. remark able for it's mountains and us no less wonderful valleys, Mt. McKin- ley National Park will at no great distant date be the magnet that will 6raw thousands of tourists to At9ska, in the opinion of Woodbury Aohey, U S. Cadastral Engineer, who had charge of a party surveying a DOT ton of the parks, boundaries curing the past season. A closeup view of much of the park is given by MT. Abbey in describing his summers experience
 Physical Aspects
 i Mt. Mckinley National Park con miles and is approximately 120 miles from its southwest to northeast cor uer with an average width of over 20 miles, he said "The highest DOT ton of the main Alaskan range of mountains is in the southern part of t0S Ndl anu Ut Ahl hCN NluiCy. III he south central part, reaching an altitude of 20,300 feet, the highest neak on the North American con tineat
 Striking Contrasts Seen From the range the mountains fall away quite abruptly to the, Mckinley River on the north end and at dis .ance of about 15 miles from Mt Me Knley the altitude is less than 2,000 feet at the river. The snow line is, therefore, very abrupt and well de- fined. and the timber and tundra of the lowlands present striking con trast with the high, icy mountains behind. From the river to the noun tains is strip of low, rolling hills of about 5000 feet elevation which extends northeast and southwest. Over this strip wander many caribou with sheep back toward the high lands and moose to the westward where there is more timber and brush Across the Mckinley River, the Kantishna Hills of about 5000 feet elevation afford excellent range for the caribou and in this section north of the park boundary most of the hunting for the Kantishna min ing district is done.
 Mountains Are Impressive
 ''The survey of the boundar yof the park was discontinued for the year 1921 at Mckinley River. Next sea son it will be projected beyond there and carried southwesterly across the vast. timbered lowlands north of the Alaska Range to a point about 25 miles further for distance of 40 miles beyond Mckinley River. Here the boundary turns and runs for about 30 miles to the summit of Mt. Russell in the main range. Mt Rus sell is 11,600 feet above sea level and is about 30 miles southwest of Mt Mckinley. J About half way be- tween Mt Mckinley and Mt Russell stands Mt. FDraker, 1000 feet, which is wonderful and impressive mountain itself. These three noun tains stand out to view as do the pyramids of Cheops in the surround ing desert.
 Over Impossible Country
 "The southeastern boundary of the park from Mt. Russell is over the glaciers and icefields of these great mountains and for almost 100 miles runs over almost impossible country with but few points, such as the west fork of Chulitna River and Wondy Creek, which even pack horses can cross. NU,N
 From Mckinley River on the northwest boundary. the line runs northeast for about 30 miles to the head of Stony Creek, thence almost north for 19 miles to the lower forks of the Toklat River, and thence east for nearly 40 miles to a point about four miles southwest of Healy on the Government Railroad.
 Natural Game Pasture "The country embraced by the | northwest and northern boundaries is a natural caribou and moose pasture and after the middle of July the caribou are very plentiful there. Be I fore that time. the mosquitoes and flies are too thick in the lowlands for comfort to the animals and they naturally keep to the higher hills where the wind keeps the bugs away.
 Canyons Are Difficult
 'The northern slope is crossed by the Toklat, east fork of the Toklat Knight Greek. Teklinika River, Sane tuary River and Savage River. all o which cut through the foothills 1T deep canyons of slide rock Witt the exception of Knight Creek. 1t ii virtually impossible to get througi the canyons to the upper passes be tween the lower hills and the mail
 Alaska Range. Knight Creek canyoi
 is passable but very rocky and dif
 ficuh. From Sanctuary River east
 ward, the boundary rises gradual
 and the country south is from 500 feet high. with very rugged peaks
 Tn these hills many sheep are seel
 and they are very abundant on Ew
 Creek, where. at it's confluence wit
 cavaua pivar iE large sheen lie