THE MOUNTAINEER 4fi 



from the pack hor.st's longer than twelve hours. It was not possible to 

 elinib the mountain in that time over the soft snows that eovered the ranjie. 

 The ascent did not appear to be very difficult and can undoubtedly be made 

 by all who wish to do so. The beautiful meadows east of the mountain at 

 the head of the Queets were covered with snow, but ridges exposed to the 

 warmth of the sun gave promise of the wealth of tiowers that would be 

 found later on all the mountain slopes. 



This group of mountains, the highest part of the Olympics, is little 

 known, more because it has been inaccessible than because of the real 

 difficulties of traveling through it. The only trails to the upper Elwha 

 have been the elk trails and the few who knew their way among the laby- 

 rinth of these to the headwaters did not wish others to share their knowl- 

 edge, so no trails were blazed. A few hours or days at most, and the calk 

 marks of their horses shoes were stamped out by other liands of elk and 

 the trail lost again. 



A slide and some fallen timber blocked even this trail and the only 

 way of reaching the upper Elwha was a trail over the high ridge between 

 Long and Goldie rivers. This crossed the divide at 5,900 feet and the sleep 

 grades make it impossible to pack supplies enoiigh to acconnnodate a party 

 as large as the iMountaineers. Port Angeles came to our aid and opened a 

 trail for ten miles into Press valley and a new one for six miles at the head 

 of the valley into I]lwha basin. But for this work it would have been im- 

 possible for our club to have reached Mt. Olympus and because of it a 

 permanent way will have l)een opened into this region, one of the most 

 beautiful in the state. 



Comparisons of mountains are impossible, but not one of the camping 

 spots has atforded so many beautiful spots for side trips. There are four 

 peaks that can be climbed in a single day from camp, and from the sunnnit 

 of each the view is magniticcnt. Rugged mountains are all around one, 

 not distant and dwarfed as they are from the summit of the great volcanoes. 



FINAL PLANS. 



The first division will leave Seattle Wednesday morning, July 24th, at 

 7:30 taking a lunch to tat on the steamer. They will reach Port Angeles 

 about 1:30, where there will be stages to acconnnodate all who do not Avish 

 to w-alk to jMcDonald. This stage fare will be $1.00 each and those who 

 wish to be accommodated should notify the secretary at once, or when 

 making ajiplication to go on outing. The change in boat schedule makes 

 berths and meals on the boat unnecessary, and there will be no other 

 expenses on the trip in. The Outing Committee will begin furnishing meals 

 at McDonald. The distance from Port Angeles to McDonald is ten miles 

 and the walking good, so many will undoubtedly prefer to walk. 



The first day's tramp on the trail will be from ^McDonald to Ceyser 

 \'alley, a distance of eleven miles. The trail is through timber the entii-e 

 distance and is one of the features of the trip. Spi-ings break out among 

 the rocks and for miles ther(> is a mass of beautiful ferns, (iroups of frail 

 maiden hair ferns stand three feet high and they can be seen clinging 

 among crevices in the rocks high up above the trail. 



The second camp of the party will be at Geyser Valley and members 

 of the party will have the entire day to walk to this camp and will have 

 only their lunch to carry. This lunch will be issued to them after breakfast 



