The Perilous First Ascent of Mount Meany
Three daring climbers have successfully reached the summit of the notoriously rugged peak in the Olympic Mountains after facing life-threatening conditions.
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SEATTLE, Jan. 12.—Mount Meany, a jagged spur in the rugged Olympic range, has finally yielded to the foot of man. The center peak presents an almost perpendicular precipice for the final 2,000 feet of the climb. Asahel Curtis, L. A. Nelson, and P. M. McGregor completed the ascent. Curtis described the climb as bordering on eternity, noting that the slightest slip would result in a fatal plunge. They planted an American flag on the pinnacle, though they fear the gales sweeping the top of the world will tear it to pieces. Experts familiar with the Alps and Himalayas have declared the Olympic peaks to offer greater danger and zest for the venturesome than many of the world's more famous mountains.
“Every step of the last few thousand feet was a step on the borderland of eternity.”
Mount Meany remains a challenging and remote summit in the Olympic National Park today. This report captures the spirit of early 20th-century mountaineering, where reaching the top was a feat of survival rather than modern recreation.
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