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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (June 11, 1911)
TIIE SUNDAY OREGOMAX, PORTLAND, JUNE 11, 1911. MAZAMAS ONE OF AMERICA'S GREAT MOUNTAIN-CLIMBING ORGANIZATIONS PorUaad Society Em Planted Record Box on Bammlt of Xearly Every Enow-Capped Peak From California to British Colombia. Trip Tbi Year Will Ba to Glider Peak. Near Lake Chelan. TTT x I -.V. v X ft. . . V 3 1 i .1 It" " '-;. a. -x--.. ' i . , r 2. , - "- . . -1 , j... A. - . i .tr- 2 ;v -- -. . c j - BT UiWARD H. RinutLL. EACH 7ar lnrate InlirW la ! lac ft rrt mountain v. ooniia throuah lb tat of Or(oa ad Wuklmm. Tba wondr h.antf rmnJar of tho mass t pMtl that rcn ltilr sammll far ooov th Hn of Truo now p- poal to grrtr lumMn of poopi mm u-r k of manntmln. but dimly nndr- too4 ojid apprllol bT thooo who 4;i vltMa th i(M of tnir lortr plrca. 8arehra for boaitli. trnt!i aaa in)orMI. fait t understand all . . i oa wif kim in.ir i r n I. mna roa di. t . . m K r.l am t m Un ajlortna p.uM at rt ditancM. T Oraoa mountain tutfi ar aa jn nn un known. But tw praoa ponvirai into k!nat aummlia. Tba llna of trl aiwar ak tt lowt paas. Tilt Tlw IO OO inun pwiBS M a mt Idaa of what to Waatara moun- talns rai;y ar. Distant Tlcw Not Aljoaw. To acanir aa accarat eoocaptloa of tha Crasoa moantama. with IHflr ac roispanimant of foraat. arraao. lak and K'.Mctrr, an rauat aat awar from tha trava.ad road and eftlmaa ar.n tralla It ta nary to climb to tha Sumtnar now.llM f aoRO ono of th parannlai pak. and tfcara. or from Ihelr ana. mil, obtaia th laatle; tmpraaalon and ral an4aratand1a; of what th moun tain actuail? ar. The who obtain lf-lr knowladc and undvrvtandtn; from k paaalea; ear window, or from a di:aot . howarar obtalnad. kara only lb baaatifol plctnra of tba a;rat rhtt ona at In a vroand of uri ma. Thar ru aaa tba distant play a( colar. aauaad by unMa and shadow on th mow falds and th contrast lth sky and tha foraat ara. blandad by dlataaaa: bat thr rnnnat appraetala " aa.iin. . . a i . ii i at U. tuouniaial rant, risln" tir upon tier until thr culiatnat In a (rand uplift that pierce th cloud and bear on It back vast aaow Holds and lc roaaaca. from which mountain stream find vource. Th tonlo air of tha tilth Lands I un known ti Mm who elects to remain kalow. and tha wonderful play of color. tha arlorr of sunset, red as ttr. and all th thousand and ono elamanLs of beauty, and majesty of th mountain remain a eealed book to all but thus who ek th uplands tn person and sea and feel for tbemlve what a beautl ful and wonderful land Is ours. Only these ran see and understand th amax las; effect of srreat snow-crowned and laoler-clad peaks, set hlb abov th mantle of Urine; .reen wltb which their lower slop ar clotr.ad. th myriad of lesser peaks, their sharp spire of dun-colored rock prolactins; shharp ly Into th skle. and ail tha in- deacrlbaMe combination of mountain. skr. and forest that tills tha horlion with a pictured expanse of beauty and rrandeur that la beyond th power of wrtttea Ian suae adequately to portray. All this must ba seen and experienced to b appreciated. Nature Ixrrcra- Welcomed. Th Mass ma comprises men and woman -who iova th mountain. They find pleasure and enjoyment ta thread ing dim trails throuch th forests, and campina- at th now Una. They 1ot to climb oer crass and now field to th topmost mountain peaks. Their record cairns ar erected on th hlKh est summits from e'hasta to Kulahaa. They lo nature, and th wealth of th forest, lak and stream amid which th arest peaks arts. Each Summer season finds their fire burning; bright ly at th timber Un of some a-reat mountain. They welcome others who lo Nature, and show the way to th mountain fastnesses, where "Good di gestion wait on appetite, and health on both." The Oreron Alpln Club, was th first mountain rlimblnc society In this state. After several years tb organisation of th Masamas was planned to lak Its place. In list th oigaaisailon of tha llamamaa was first effected on the sum mit of Mount Hood, one hundred and tui.ttf'-f.uux parsons mad tb asvent oil) that day and became th charter mem bars. Th seen where tb charter list was sinned and tb officers elected was unique in th extreme. Tha meetlna- plac was a snow bank. The chairman stood besld a lara- rock that form th highest point In Orearon, and used a pleco of lava for a RareL On every side th mountain walla dropped sheer to dlxxy depths; whlla from tha depths of th crater below th sulphurous smoke of Hood's unquenched fires curled up towards them. All thoso who mad th ascent on that day w-i ar dent lovers of th high mountains. They labored for tha formation of a society that would exert a useful Influ ence In th community for the preser vation of th natural scenery, the pur ity of the streams, and all those nat ural features that will benefit and give pleasur to th people of Oregon. The officers choeen were virile and active. They outlined a course that ba kept th Maxamaa In th forefront of socle tiff of this nature. The alms of th club ar to promote scientific Invest! fra'lon of th mountain ree-ions. to ex plor th unknown mountains, climb th highest pes nd Blv Pleasur to all who enjoy Ufa In th open. Few Peaks Are I'nM-aled. Th purpose of tfie Mnuraas belnc to explore, tb hl(h mountain peaks, ss well as the pleasure to be had from the encampments around the snow line of these mountains. It was to be expected that frequent csmplnx expeditions would be conducted to th many snow covered mountains within reach of Port land. In fact, the aim of the club. definitely outlined In the course of Its organisation., and purposefully followed since, ha been to make ascents of all th irlacler-covered peaks from Shasta to th British line. Seventeen annual ramp, conducted by Cie organisation. have placed th alasama record boxes on th extreme summits or every peak of consequence In the states of Oregon and Washington. Including Shasta In California. excepting. however. the peaks of th Wallowa Mountains. This range la a spur extending from the main range of tha Blue Mountain east to tha canyon of tha Snake, often spoken nt ss the Posrrter Kiver Mountains. It la to be hoped that th more approprl- at and fitting nam of Wallowa will be retained, on account of th euphony of the nam as well as the associations surround In a; this old snd beloved noma of th Nes Perce Indiana The permanent camp la usually lo cated In a grassy and heather-clad glade, as near th snow Un as 1 found convenient for the comfort of the mem bers of th party, and where good water abound, and ample ahade Is furnished by dumps of Alpine trees, that compos th forest cover of the high mountains around th upper limit of timber. Clump of painted hat and other flow ers afford a brilliant contrast with th dark green of th firs. Th tents ar scattered bout among th tree wher ever taste and inclination require; but always within easy distance from th dining tables and cooks headquarter. a place where Interest always is can tered. Each Follows Own Bent. On reaching permanent camp, a few days pas In getting comfortably settled and In exploring the nearby giaslers and point of interest; available trout streams always attract th attention of th devotees of th sport mad classical by Ixaak Walton. Others ar about with camera and sketch pad. Making to pra- aarva soma of the beauty to take home. while . others collect specimens 01 flowers, heather and shrubs, and still others, who have fled'the city for rest, snd believing In making It - literal, dlspos themselves about and tak things easy; but always arousing them- i elves to eager action whan th oook a gong (usually a cow bell) aouna u call to a meal. Whenever a Masama ascent Is mad up a now peak, a record box or cop per or enameled metal Is deposited In a suitable cairn In which a record book Is placed, with a oonclss account or th climb, th dat and name or tn par sons reaching th summit. A Massma ascent Is an Interesting event. Due ear Is always mad to eliminate those I persons who have not th physical strength to make tn climb witn safety. Careful-watch Is kept to ascertain If any of the party develope any tendency to heart trouble, aa the exertion In th rarefied atmosphere of th heights might prove unsuitable for any ona whose heart Is unequal to the extra train. Careful preparation Is made la seeing that the footwear Is strong; boot sole ar atudded with conehead calls or steel calks; actors grease paint Is provlief as a shield against the sun burn of the reflected light from tha snowflelds, and smoked glasses are pro vided to protect the eyes from . ths glare. Early Start Is Made. Th start Is made at an early hour. If the climb Is very arduous, and re quires more time than can be included In a day. a start Is made th evening before and a bivouac mad at th ex treme timber line. Here as comfort able a camp as la possible is mad and th climb commenced at the first dawn. Th party proceeds In single file, un der the direction of a leader, who is experienced In mountain climbing. Each member of the party has sn alpenstock or Ice ax. Ropaa of braldd hemp ar carried to use tn crossing glacier sur faces where crevasses are apt to be found. In crossing such expanses the party Is usually roped together so as to s'fford ample freedom of movement to each and 'o provide safety for any one who might step Into s , crevasse concealed by a thin 'covering of now. FTquent stops are made f"r rest, and th party progresses steadily until the summit Is reached. The view unfolded and spread before the eyes of the climbers Is such ss-to beggar descrlp- Uon. Tha play of light and shadow over the expanse of now fields Is rar- ly beautiful. On th glaciers ths tints ' of color In the deep crevasses, cold white, pea green, lavender; ultra ma- rln and all tb colors of the rainbow In numberless combinations, fascinate th observer, while the distant moun tains slop forest clad, and ths many peak, and great mountains aoftenad by distance, present a kaleidoscope of scene that repays one many rimes for all th labor and exertion undergoes to nabl tt all to b seen. Th descent la made In less time than Is required to reach - the summit, as greater speed can be made In going down than in climbing. Camp is al ways a very good place to reach on the return; and the good nourishing dinner that is always in readiness for the returning climbers. Is something to b remembered forever. Glacier Peak Is Goal. Th camp of 1111 will be the 18th sine th organisation of the club. It ill be In a wonderful region of high mountains, serrated peaks and massive glaciers. Glacier Peak, the objective point of th trip, and at the base of which the permanent camp will be made. Is perhaps th leaat known of th great uplifts of the Cascade Range. It Is situated Just to the west of the main divide of the Cascades In Northern Washington, snd Is reached by a trail from Stehekin at the head of Lake Chelan. Lake Chelan is a wonderfully beautiful sheet of water, set between butting cliffs, and extends back Into ths mountains a distance of BO miles or more from the Columbia River. The Journey from Portland will b by train to Wenatchee, then by steamboat on the Columbia River to Chelan Falls, steamer ride up the lake will take the party to Stehekin, where a comfortable hotel will mark th last touches of civilization. Tbera suit cases will be left and outing garb donned. Stehekin Is a paradise for devotees of-the rod. The great trout of Lak Chelan, which swim in Immense schools, and the hard fighting cutthroats of the Stehekin and Agnes Creek, will furnlah such fishing as can be had nowhere else. By easy stages from Stehekin, the party will proceed up the Agnes Creek trail ta north Stark Park, and passing through the Suiattle Pass, will resch the per manent camp near the base of Glacier Peak. A qualification for membership in the Maxamas requires the ascent of a snow peak on which la. at least one living glacier, and the top of which cannot be reached by any other means than on foot. The annual camps are obviously not limited to members, but are open to all persons of proper character. Mem bership la recruited from those who qualify during these outings. The club outings make It possible for those to reach these mountains and enjoy th life In the open, who could not other wise do so. Poor Clabs in Country. Four mountain-climbing clubs exist in theUnited States. Three of these. the Mautnu, the Sierra Club of Cali fornia, and the Mountaineers of Seattle, are op .the Pacific Coast and within convenient distance of the mountains to which' they devote their attention. The Appalachian Club-of Boston is the Eastern representative of the organized mountain climbers.' .Recently the Trail and Travel Club has, come. into,, exist ence at Honolulu.. Last February a con vention of mountaln-cllmbingiclubs was held at Honolulu, ' where 'plans were Initiated for' united work along the ;eneral lines of endeavor common to the several organizations. Tine of the undetermined things Is the exact altitude of the higher peaks of the Wallowa Mountains. A conten tion hss been put forth that Eagle Cap Is above 12.000 feet high. Should this CRATER LAKE BEING MADE IDEAL RESORT FOR SUMMER TOURISTS Hotel Under Construction on Rim of Crater Overlooking; Water 1000 Feet Below and 40 Miles Distant Gor , eminent Appropriation for B gilding Boads to Be Asked. 3. y r - J f . x- - , rc- -V ' - aax-v. " ll1' "xi,X - Ee.-- Oifcsassi aV - ; ' . ; " I I - V - ' f- ' " ? -v!!. vx-s jr''i I "iV r ' ' - i 1 p".. i'I - - f - - ill 1 ' , 'v! -xrt3x-;- " -x S " ill 1 v vf V -S&V!- 1 - r- . -xfinr rpuv RATER Lak National Park la rap- entirety, with all the high peaks sur- idly taking position with the great became a National park by act of Con gress, approved May 22, 1(01, but for several years nothing was done to pro- ride accommodations for visitors. Sev eral years ago Will G. SteeL of Port land, organised a corporation, known as the Crater Lake Company, through which a great deal has been and still is being accomplished. Mr. Steel has visited Washington sev eral times and has succeeded in get ting the Government to undertake tb construction of a comprehensive sys tem of roads, equal to anything of the kind In the country. The main feature of this system will consist In one road circling the lake, from which roads and trails will diverge to all portions of the park. Work Soon to Be Done. Last year he succeeded In getting an appropriation of 110.000, to be used to locate, survey, plat and prepare speci fications for this work, and engineers were placed In the field, but too late to complete the task before the season closed. However, Just as soon as they can work to advantage, they will re turn to the park, and expect to get through this season, so that a bill may be prepared and submitted to Congress, with the approval of the Interior De partment, asking for a sufficient ap propriation to build - every road and trail contemplated, the money so ap propriated to be available as it may b neeoed. Construction wui require sev era! years, as th season for roadbulld- lng is short. Tn th meantime the southern pa cific's main line from Natron to Klam ath Falls is being constructed, and will be completed during 1912, so that it will then be possible to leave Portland In the evening and lunch at Crater Lake next day. Medford raised a large amount or money last year, with -which that por-tlon-of tha Rogue River route com monly known' as 'Tummy Hill" has been ' eliminated, and the run from Medford ' by automobile will hereafter be made easily and with entire com fort. Because of this fact a large num ber of Portland residents are planning to drive through this season In their own cars. - , Hotel to Be Built. The Crater Lake Company maintains a betel at Camp Arant. five miles from the lake, at the Junction of the road leading from the old Jacksonville and Fort Klamath wagon road, to the lake. and Is constructing a cut stone building on the rim of the crater, for hotel pur poses, to be known as Crater Lodge, which It Is hoped will be finished tnis season, or at least oy in opening 01 the season next year. It will contain four massive fire- prove true. Mount Hood will take sec- I places, besides one on the outside, which ond plsce as the highest point In Ore gon. No accurate measurement has ever been msde of Esgle Cap or Its sister peaks. The Maxamas are plan ning to have this work done and also to press on the Geographical Board apt and fitting names for some of these mountains which sre as yet unnamed, and to preserve the ancient Indian names born by tb pesks of tbis region. will be used for trnmpflres. The cen tral portion will consist of a "great hall." 0x0 feet, with a lofty ceiling. The north wall will consist of glass throughout, opening on a 15-foot ve randa. 115 feet long. The view will be inspiring. So close Is the building to the rim that one can sit on the veranda ind look directly down Into the blue waters 100 feet below, and by one weep of the eye behold the lake in its rounding It, Mount Thlelsen and tha Cascade Range to the north, and to the south can see Mount Shasta, Mount McLoughlln, Union Peak and the Klam ath region. Including tha Klamath Lakes. At midday the steamer Klamath may be seen 40 miles distant, without ths aid of a glass. The main hotel will be located on a high plateau of the easterly rim. from which the scene will be equal to that of the lodge, and from which a broad, sweeping view may be had of Eastern Oregon. including Klamath Marsh, Tamsay Mountain and the waters of Upper Klamath Lake. From this point to the railroad, 15 miles distant, the General Government will construct an ideal automobile road, which will not only connect Crater Lake with the traveling world, but will open up to it the largest camp In the United States, If present plans of the War Depart men maeriallze. Maneuver Grounds Urged. It baa been officially recommended to the Secretary of War. to have many thousands of acres of land reserved In the vicinity of Klamath Marsh, for the benefit of .National and state troops, to be ueed for annual maneuvers, at which it is probable from 15,000 to (5,000 men will gather from the states of the Pacific Coast. ; The site of th main hotel will be selected this season, and all the sur veying and platting finished, but active construction will not be commenced until 1912, after which the work will be crowded as rapidly as possible, as It fs desired to have not only the ho tels finished but all the proposed roads and trails complete for the San Fran cisco Fair of 1915. It is probable an excursion of Port land business men will be organized about th first of August, to visit what Mr. Harriman termed "the great est wonder of the earth." There prob ably will be a special train to Klamath Falls and way points. At that city con nection will be made with the Crater Lake Company's steamer Klamath, for a trip over Upper Klamath Lake to Rocky Point, where automobiles con nect for Crater Lake. Two nights and a day will be spent at the lake, and every visitor will be given a trip en tirely around the crater, on one of the gasoline launches plying there. Fishing I9 Good. Besides this there will be a good supply of rowboats, and those so de siring can angle for rainbow trout, of which there are thousands of the fin est specimens In the world, the pro duct of a few minnows placed there , by Mr. Steel 23 years ago. Last year investigation of power sites was made by the Government, and as soon as matters can be satis factorily adjusted the Crater Lake Company will Install light and power plants for the hotels and Government offices. The United States Geological Survey has In press and expects to issue dur ing the current month an elegant re port on the Crater Lake National Park, which will also Include the new map of the park, altogether containing a great deal of information. - ACTIVITY IS MARKED IN CLATSOP BEACH POINTS Astoria Centennial Celebration Special Drawing-Card This Tear for North Oregon Coast' Watering Places Every Convenience Available. THE- North Oregon Coast, which ha come into prominence as a de lightful outing place, has been making marked advancement this year, the movement there being stimulated to ' great extent by the forthcoming As- toxia Centennial celebration.1 Activity at the various resorts south of Asto ria also Is due. to the improved rail road service that bas been Inaugurated by the Astoria division of the S. P. S. ' From Astoria the line crosses Youngs Bay and at Warrenton it extends south along the beach to Holladay, passing through Skipanon, De. Laura Beach, Columbia Beach. Glenwood, Carnaban, Sunset Beach, Clatsop Beach, Gearhart, Necanicum and Seaside. On account of the adequate rail facilities between Portland and this part of the Oregon coast, more people are attracted there at all seasons of the year, it Is said. than to any other watering place in the state. That Dart of the coast touched by the North Bank Road includes all of ClatsoD Beach. Here is to be found a symposium of broad strands, rugged cliffs with the roaring sea on one side and peaceful rivers a short distance inland; densely shaded forests in the background and miles of clear sands and surf. Many extensive and permanent im provements have been made at vari ous points along this stretch of beach to conform with the beauties which Nature has bestowed with a lavish hand. Here the tourists from afar as well as the week-end Portland com muters And a recreation place which charms and refreshes a resort of at tractive physical and wholesome social are several first-class all-year hotels In which all modern conveni ences are introduced. Golf links, ten nis courts, surf bathing facilities, au tomobiles, riding and driving horses are provided. Fine drinking water sup plied from mountain streams is con- . nected with the hotels and cottages. The railroad management announces that special efforts will bo made this year to handle the large crowds that are expected to flock to Astoria dur ing the centennial and to the various points on Clatsop Beach during the season. It is planned to place addi tional equipment in service this sea- sou. - -
