Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1942-07-16
News From The
Victory Front

would be interested in a trip we
took up to Mt. Rainier June 81. Back
in May the chaplain asked if we
would be interested in taking trip
up to Mt. Rainier. Several boys said
that they would. On Sunday, June
IA, he announced that if he could
get bus load of 40, they would 60
the following Sunday. The cost was
to be $3.50 round trip. Well, the
boys really took advantage. Six bus
loads signed up for the trip, about
24O boys going. Having the mess
sergeant put up lunch for us, we
left about z o'clock on the 145-mile
trip.
We travelled on surfaced road all
the way, passing through wooded
country, some of which was logged
off. Some was burned over. At times
the road was on the hillside with a
valley below. It was up hill most
of the way, the bus having to shift
down to low gear.
We entered through the big arch
which is the entrance to Rainier Ma
tional park about 10 o'clock. On the
way to Park inn the country re-
minded me of Jay Cooke state park
near Duluth and the rocky river bed
near the road, the same rugged sky
line, the same over-hanging trees
but which here were much larger.
We stopped at the Park inn and
piled out. Camera and kodaks were
surely busy for a while. We had a
wonderful view of the summit. Some
boys walked across the road to the
museum. Here was a miniature
model of the mountain with all its
glaciers, valleys, streams and peaks.
The building also contained many
stuffed wild animals which are
found in the park. The building is
maintained by forest rangers who
were on hand to tell about it and
answer any questions.
Church services were held at II
o'clock in the open air.. After church
we boarded the buses and with a
forest ranger in the lead started up
the mountain toward Paradise inn.
The road wound around with many
hairpin curves. We went about six
miles and stopped at a stream and
got out to go on by foot. In the
stream were many large rocks and
more rocks. We went up stream on
a foot path, on the side of which
were many over-hanging cliffs. Up
stream we came to the glacier. The
glacier is about $50 feet wide, 100
feet high. This glacier keeps melt
ing in the summer time and carries
with it rocks and gravel. It moves
down about Is inches a day. Here
the forest ranger told about the gla-
cier and its action.
We ate our lunch and were ready
to go on our way. Still going up
hill we wound around and finally
got up to Paradise inn. BY this time
there was snow along the road. The
inn is about 5000 feet above sea
level. Leaving the buses, we had
picture taken by a movie camera.
The boys were throwing snow right
and left.
Some of the boys were skiing here,
some in shorts. We walked through
the snow over to the edge of the
canyon that we had been in below.
Going back to the inn the forest
ranger showed some movies. After
the show the group wandered around
and six of us got deer cornered
and took several pictures within Is
feet of it. I also took pictures of
a grouse three feet away. The inn
itself wasn't open. It was prepar-
ing to open on June q. It only opens
two months during the year.
At 4 o'clock we left for "home."
On the way down, the brakes had
plenty of work. We stopped at the
Park inn again both for ourselves
and the buses and after 15-minute
rest left for camp.
I know the boys will remember
the trip for long time. It was
worth many times over the amount
we paid for it and the pictures taken
will be well worth keeping.
PVT. F. c. BECK.
Co. F, 1873 Engrs.
A. P. o. 800,
r