43 THE MOUNTAINEER 



Observations On the Olympics 



By J. B. FLETT. Tacoma 



IN the northwest corner of our state lie a nearly eircuhir mass of rn<ijied 

 mountains. Their serrated and jajij^ed foi-ms have defied exph)rations. 

 True, several pai'tii^s ha\e invaded the more accessible parts, but the in- 

 terior is a terra incognita. The rivers have cut deep channels often to 

 nearly sea-level. 



The mountains often form on their sides talus slopes from base to 

 summit. In climbinti- many of these peaks the loose stones will start down- 

 ward, giving the climber a free ride. He has to step lively so as not to 

 get his feet caught between the loose stones. 



It does not seem possible that the northern ice sheet ever passed over 

 these mountains. The writer believes that these mountains were raised 

 after the glacial period, but at a time when the climate was still quite cold, 

 and that local glaciers from the summits of these peaks moved down the 

 river valleys for some distance, making their upper courses U shaped. The 

 softness of the rocks makes erosion go forward with great rapidity. These 

 mountains lack the granitic formation so common in the same latitude in 

 the Cascades, hence the time necessary to cut deep river valleys is short. 

 Everything goes to show that these mountains are young. 



The precipitation is greater in these mountains than that of any other 

 part of the state. There is evei-y reason to believe that the same conditions 

 existed during the geological periods. This fact together with the softness 

 of the strata would account for eroding deep river channels in a compara- 

 tively short period of time. We will leave the geology of these mountains 

 to the geologists and hasten to give a brief account of the plants in the 

 region of Mt. Constance and along the Quilcene and Dungeness rivers. 



There is nothing more beautiful than the large areas covered witli 

 Rhododendron Califomicum which grows to the highest perfection about 

 Hood's canal and extends (juite a distance up the mountain slopes. Grow- 

 ing with it are nuiny plants characteristic of low altitude, such as salal. 

 psoralea, alder, willows and madrone. The common forest trees extend 

 to about 2500 feet, when the forest becomes mixed with the lovely fir, the 

 noble fir and the white pine. The underbrush is very dense along the lower 

 course of the rivers. The Devil's walking stick is by far the most trouble- 

 some. These disappear in the higher altitudes and the forest is covered Avith 

 the little bramble (Rubus pedalus) aiid other small plants found in corre- 

 sponding altitudes in the Cascades. The ferns are also abundant growing 

 very tall and beautiful. The sword fern, the maiden hair and the deer fern 

 are the most conspicuous of the family. There are many graceful radiate 

 tufts of the lady fern (Athyrium cyclosorum) growing in rich moist places. 

 At an altitude of about 4500 feet the plants above mentioned give place to 

 other forms nmch smaller. The forest becomes more open and distinctly 

 alpine. The principal trees are the Alaska cedar, the alpine hemlock, the 

 alpine fir and on the very summit are a few scrub trees of the black pine. 



The deciduous trees in the lower forest are covered with a dense growth 

 of mosses, liverworts and the licorice fern (Polypodium falcalum). This 

 gives the forest a semi-tropical appearance. As we approach the alpine 

 trees this green appearance gives place to the dull gray forms of lichens. 



