Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-12-28
Geographic News
Bulletins By the
National Geographic Society
HOW AN EXPLORER FEELS
Bulletins By the
Why Is an explorer?

\ venturing into unknown perils, en-
| during untold hardships, n bring
ing back neither gold nor silver, but
only precious bits of scientific in.
formation?
A chapter in the complete report
| of the National Geographic Socie-
| tvs Expeditions which discovered
| and explored Americas future great
| national park, THE Valley of Ten
Thousand Smokes" relates the per-
| sonal experiences of members of the
| expedition under Robert f. Griggs.
l.. G. Folsom, writing to DIR.
Griggs, says:
"You, and only you, whose COM
panion l was in the discovery, car
have an adequate conception of the
| emotions of one who knows he IS
the first of his fellows to look upon
| such a marvel of nature. In fact,
, the emotions of a discoverer must
bear some similitude to the emo
tons of a creator.
Pains of Protracted Exertion
ITO think again of what we had
already seen, to feel again the ex-
I plorer's urge, to suffer again the
pains of protracted exertion, to ex-
p~erience again the thrill and exulta-
ton of achievement, produces .
L bO2k Va OAqoAoAlC uoI WlliSJis
were it not that there is still so
much to do, one might wish to be
lasting.
THE thousands of little volca-
noes were almost a more magnid-
cent sight than the wonderful Kat
mai Crater we had visited the day
before. We were in danger Of be-
ing surfeited with world wonders
There comes in upon my con-
seriousness yet, occasionally, a sort
of startling memory of the expert
ence. 1t almost hurts. Then 1 fall
to dreaming of the causes and prob
able progress of such phenomena;
of the unusual opportunities for
study; the wonderful scenic display
of natural forces"
Striking Beauty of Spectacle
Paul r. Hagelbarger, Assistant
| Botanist: Bright sunshine bathed
| the valley when I first saw it. Ever
| though several miles away. / was
awe struck by the surprisingly large
| size and striking beauty of the spec
| tacle. There were so many more
| steam jets than I had even hoped
| to see that 1 could only gaze in
| silent admiration.
AFTER living in the Valley and
working among the fumaroles, my
| impressions began to change. MY
| amazement at the great area was
intensified by the knowledge gained
on many trips across the Valley
floor. The beauty of each individ-
| ual vent was even more than that
Of the Valley as a whole.
THE thing that stupefied me,
| however, was the ever-present
proof that some terrific energy or
force had only recently exerted it
self. Everything seemed on such
a huge scale. Our tents looked In
| significant amid the roaring volca-
mic vents.
"As 1 came daily to know the
area better, L was more and more
impressed by the Titanic forces that
had been at work here. Human en-
deavor and achievement seemed
| dwarfed to insigniicance by COM
| parison. 1 felt out of place and like
an intruder in this Land Of the
| Gods. This Valley appeared to be
on another planet that was in the
process Of formation"
Too Smoky for Surveying.
A humorous reaction Is given oy
| Clarence F. Maynard, to~pographer,
who wrote ~whimsically to DR..
4 SIlSSS allOI hlo SNaA -
| smokes did not impress me with
their grandeur or with their won
der as a natural phenomenon. Their
| ability to make surveying next to
| impossible did, however, make a
very decided impression on me. On
the occasional clear days when the
| sun was shining down the Valley
| they seemed to be always at their
best, as Griggs would put it, but to
my mind at their worst.
"On these, the few ARE days
when it was not raining and the
wind was not doing its best to 10
cur camp (rather good judgment on
the part of the wind, I should say,)
they would shoot forth jets Of steam
which soon took the form of clouds
and obscured the country we we're
trying to work.
II finally began to believe that the
smokes were out to buck me, and
became convinced of it when, on
one of the ARE fine days, I ascend
ed to a peak which Immediately be-
came enveloped in fog. This was
not unusual, but 1 was impressed ON
returning to camp to hear from the
more fortunate members of the
party that the whole Valley had
been clear with the exception OF
the peak I occupied.
When Tent Is Not a Tent
II am not a vegetarian; further
more, tea cooked in a steam pit is
not tea. A tent that never sheds q
drop of water is not a tent A WOO
, comfort placed on the ground which
!, is ITO deg. F. in the above tent vii
steam beautifully. 1t is a natura
phenomenon, but it is not a goo.
bed.
"I believe I mentioned that ] an
: not a vegetarian. I like bacon Il
the morning; 1 like it fried.
steam jet, in spite of it's being
t glorious and natural phenomenor
will not do this. I am from Ney
England and have decided ideas @
8 baked beans. Again the steam 1e
fell down. It needs New Englan,
training. Baked beans are beyon
s the limit of its capabilities.
II should say the coming Of tn
smokes ruined what might other
: wise have been a perfectly goo
country. My opinion however.
probably valueless, as being out G
tobacco always colors my views"