A Seattle Expedition Sets Out to Map Mount Rainier's Glaciers—and Find a Hidden Volcano

The advance guard of the party that proposes to make the ascent of Mount Rainier left the city last Monday morning for a three weeks' stay on the mountain. The rest of the party will leave tomorrow and next week. Those who left last Monday were: Maj. E. S. Ingraham, H. E. Holmes, Dr. L. M. Lesser, George Wright and his brother James M. Wright, Roger S. Greene Jr., E. S. Smith, Miss Holmes, Miss Parke, Miss Annie H. Hall and Mrs. E. S. Ingraham, who will act as chaperone to the young ladies.

This party went to Tacoma by boat, from there to Lake Park by street cars, where they took wagons to within a few miles of the camp in 'Paradise Valley.' These few remaining miles will have to be made on foot, owing to the steep and rugged nature of the trail, and the party should have reached camp by Tuesday evening. 'Camp Paradise Valley' is at an altitude of 4,700 feet, being a series of well-sheltered plateaus on the east side of the mountain, one of the largest of these plateaus being the actual camping ground. The next camp above that is 'Camp of the Clouds,' located 1,000 feet higher, which brings the explorers to the edge of the eternal snow line. From 'Camp of the Clouds' an unobstructed view is had of the route to the summit.

Supplies were taken along in large quantities and will be divided between the two camps which will be made the headquarters of the party during their three weeks' stay, some remaining in camp while the more hardy and daring ones make the ascent and explore unknown regions.

Maj. Ingraham is the veteran of the party, having made several ascents of the mountain, and he is anxious on this trip to locate a number of glaciers that have received special attention, but have never been properly named. There is also a small volcano on the main range and a little north of the east side of the mountain from which smoke has been seen issuing by people living in the foothills and at Ellensburg, and which has never been reached or definitely located. Maj. Ingraham will endeavor to enlighten the scientific world on this and other questions of the summit.

Longmire's Springs is another interesting point at an altitude of 3,500 feet, being the first point reached. Some of the party will remain there to test the virtue of the eighteen different kinds of mineral springs, sulphur, soda and others. Several of these spout hot water and the sulphur springs are fitted for bathing. E. S. Smith will make a brief stay at this point.

According to the programme arranged before leaving Seattle, last Wednesday was the day set for the party to make the circuit of the mountain at an altitude of about 6,000 feet. Those who will take part in this tramp are Messrs. Ingraham, Holmes, Lesser, the two Wright brothers, Greene and a professional sketch artist. This circuit, together with the various daily tramps, will inure the party to the rugged nature of the mountain, and by next Wednesday or Thursday those best fitted physically for the undertaking will make the ascent of the mountain, Miss Hall and Miss Parke having signified their intention of being of that party.

This ascent will take two days, starting from 'Camp of the Clouds.' The start will be made early in the morning and the party will sleep the first night at 'Gibraltar,' a large jutting rock on the east side of the mountain, the last on the road to the summit and affording a splendid shelter from all storms. This brings the party to within 3,000 feet of the summit. The final start from this point is made by daybreak, or about 4 o'clock, and a steady tramp and climb kept up until 2 o'clock in the afternoon is necessary in order to reach the top, where the balance of the afternoon will be spent, snowstorms permitting, in gathering rich stores of knowledge in and about the craters.

The summit has three distinct points, two of which are craters, the largest being about a quarter of a mile across, with steam jets of sulphurous gases constantly arising, melting the snows out, keeping the rocks warm and comfortable for the benighted strangers if they decide to pass the night in the crater. The following morning after having made full notes of everything seen and done and taken photographic views of all interesting and important points, the party will make the descent, camping at Gibraltar as before, and reach Camp of the Clouds the following day.

Leo Daft, Ira Bronson and Everett Smith will leave the city tomorrow to join the party, and next Monday Rev. D. C. Garrett will also leave for the camp. The party is well supplied with sketching material, provisions, photographic instruments and firearms. The last are expected to be used on mountain sheep, bear, pheasants and whistling marmot, which abound throughout the mountain and afford glorious sport to a sure-footed hunter. The whistling marmot are especially numerous, resembling the New England woodchuck; their meat, however, is too strong for food. Water is plenty everywhere below Gibraltar, but above that point everything is perpetually frozen, and the party from that point has to carry water in canteens.