The Snowbound Expedition to Find a Cascade Pass

John Cryderman, the state road commissioner, called at the Reveille office yesterday and is not at all confident about the success of the trail proposition, if success depends upon the present expedition. He thinks the time is too early. He says there are from two to three feet of snow on the mountain above Lake Whatcom, a lower altitude than that of the divide between the North Fork and Beaver Creek; that with snows constantly falling a party without snowshoes (and snowshoes could not be used in the brush) would have difficulty to get through on a macadamized road. He thinks that Austin and party will do all possible, and hopes the weather will change and help them out.

Banning Austin was seen and feels that there will be from six to eight feet of snow on the summit of the Baker Pass, but will do his best to get through. He thinks there will be no difficulty in finding a pass under favorable conditions. He differs with Mr. Chase as to the time required for making the forty miles of unexplored country under any circumstances; one can go when anybody else can. If the weather improves by the time the base of supplies is established, conditions may be more favorable.

The commissioners expect that it will take some time to get a supply camp established. The situation at present is, as far as the Reveille is able to ascertain, this: The state road commissioners will, as soon as their commissions are received, organize and formally notify the county commissioners of Whatcom, Stevens and Okanogan counties that they are prepared to go to work and put the trail through; and they will not accompany the expedition which goes out Saturday.

The county commissioners of Whatcom County will, to be prepared for the state road commission, at the earliest moment practicable, ascertain if a pass exists over the Baker range to the Okanogan, north of Mount Baker. The Austin-Chase expedition will not be limited as to time and will be given a fair opportunity to make a correct report; which, if favorable, will be followed by an appropriation, and the state road commission will be met in a business-like way.

And here we are! The county commissioners will do a little prospecting for themselves, and then the state board will take up the work for the state and put through the trail. It may be possible that Okanogan and Stevens counties will also desire to investigate; but it is to be hoped that their investigation will be concluded when the main question is decided—the existence of a pass suitable for a trail between Mount Baker and the boundary.