Page:The Overland Monthly Volume 56 Issue 2.djvu/6

 the summit of Mt. Rainier by afternoon, requiring only forty minutes longer in the ascent than the record establishd by two men who, a couple of years before, had traveled with the lightest possible equipment.

This last dash to Crater Peak, as the mountain's greatest height is known, meant an ascent of almost six thousand feet which, according to Mr. Curtis, is as much as should be imposed upon the human mechanism in one day. More than this change in altitude within a space of a few hours is likely to be too much for the system, which should have a reasonable time in which to adjust itself to the diminished air pressure.

With shouts of joy, the fatigued mountain climbers fell upon the snow-capped summit of the mountain, when the last eminence was conquered. The sixty-two wandered about the extinct crater, and warmed their feet in the heated earth a short distance below the dome. While Rainier has never been known to become

sible, considering the weights and nourishing powers.

violent, there are manifestations of inward activity, one of which is the heating of this patch of earth, so that the snow is melted away, save during the storms of railway. winter. Bleak and chill as the summit of Rainier is, those who ascend find comfort in warming their hands and feet beneath the upper crater.

A short distance below the dome is another crater, and a smaller party of mountain climbers discovered a third extinct vent in the mountain, while exploring the lower levels this season.

ward of the main dome of the mountain is a

like Rainier."

homa-Tahoma being the Indian name of other cities, but the smoke from forest the mountain, before Captain George Vancouver, sailing the British colors, visited Puget Sound more than a century ago, and named the mountain in honor of his friend, Admiral Rainier. Near the base of Little Tahoma was found this third crater, one of its sides carried away by the great Cowlitz glacier.

Marveling at the wonderful outlook from their great height, and contemplating a scene which many would never view again, the Mountaineers spent an hour upon the summit. Beneath the stars and stripes they buried in the snow a record of their climb; then started the descent. Making much better time than on the upward march, the party reached the temporary camp in good season, spent the night there, and joined their companions at the permanent camp the next day.

The route followed on the ascent was that mapped by the late Professor I. C. Russell, of the University of Michigan, one of the most renowned geologists on the American continent. Professor Russell in 1896 made detailed maps for the United States Government that have since served all those ambitious of Rainier's summit, and few changes have been found necessary in the geologist's work.

"Before we left Seattle, we knew exactly how many mouths we would have to feed, and for how long, so carefully had

our itinerary been prepared,"-so Curtis explained the preliminary arrangements for the Mountaineers' trip. "We made out a complete bill of fare, placing While upon it as great a variety of food as pos- Mr.

These provisions were packed into the main camp on the backs of horses, from the nearest point on the "Once at the camp, things moved like clockwork. Each person had his and her separate duties-each was taught what to do and how best to do it. While many had been in mountain climbing parties before, the greater number were virtually inexperienced in the tackling of a mountain

On this climb several members of the United States Signal Corps were of the

To the north-

great jagged rock, reaching a level of party, and with a heliograph they at- about 11,000 feet, known as Little Ta-

tempted to send signals to Seattle and

they were, who were lost in a storm on Rai-

fires prevented.

That mountain climbing in large parties is much safer than with only two or three was exemplified by the success of the Mountaineers as compared with two men, experienced mountaineers though nier while the larger organization was preparing to make the ascent. The trail of the lost men never could be found, and their hodies are thought to be at the bot- tom of some crevasse high up on the mountain's side.

Strange as it may seem, the Federal