68 THE MOUNTAINEER 



five fingers to the north of West peak. Retracing our steps a short dis- 

 tance we swung around to the north side of the proper peak, up which we 

 made our ascent. There was some real climbing here, every climber having 

 to be extremely careful not only to keep from falling, but also not to loosen 

 and start rock on the people below. Slowly, steadily, surely we moved on, 

 and, at last, we reached the summit that so many have tried for and so many 

 claim to have reached. After a thorough search for traces of former ascents 

 we came to the conclusion that we were the first to reach the summit of 

 the highest peak in the Olympic mountains, West peak, 8.250 feet, as well 

 as the first large party to reach the next in altitude, IMiddle peak, 8,150 feet. 

 With a mighty cheer and then a song we started our task of cairn building, 

 record writing and picture taking. 



The record contains the names of the party, which was comprised of the 

 following: INIiss Anna Hubert, the first woman to reach the summit of 

 Mount Oiympus, L. A. Nelson, W. Montelius Price, Prof. Henrv Landes, 

 Prof. Charles Landes, Prof. T. C. Prve, Prof. F. ]\r. Plumb, Prof. Weaver, 

 Prof. J. B. Flett, E. E. Richards, A. W. Archer. 



We were soon on our way back to camp. The descent was a great deal 

 faster than the ascent and we quickly reached the snow, making good time 

 for Middle peak, which we ha:l to climb again to reach the Hoh glacier. 



The summit of IMiddle peak was soon reached and then a glorious coast 

 down the slope that took so much energy to surmount, it taking over twenty 

 minutes to ascend and one of the party coasted it in ten seconds. 



From this point it was a case of travel and we surely did that, reach- 

 ing camp in two and one-half hours, or one-half the time it took to make 

 the same point in the morning. Twelve and one-half hours after leaving 

 camp we were back again and found a warm dinner awaiting us. 



The writer found two da.ys later that West peak could be reached by a 

 shorter and easier route without the ascent of Middle peak, leaving an easy 

 trip up Middle peak on the return to camp. 



