cas) 
The Mountaineer 
We first visited the Paradise Basin, whence we started the 
climb of Hammond last vear, and where our Recording Angel, 
Mrs. Emerson, performed the rather remarkable celestial feat 
of coasting down into Paradise. But the North Fork of Toby 
Creek, somewhat farther on and about eighteen miles from 
Athelmer, the head of navigation on the river, was the scene 
of our first real work. We intended not only to climb, but to 
size up the country topographically and otherwise as well as 
time would permit. We were our own guides, packers, cooks 
and dish-washers—no trouble with the servant problem! Mrs. 
Emerson, besides acting as Recording Angel of the expedition, 
planned to do a little botanizing; Mr. Emerson, who is an en- 
gineer, carried a light transit, and we had ice axes and rope 
and the best procurable aneroids. Incidentally, better measure- 
ment and aneroiding showed that our estimated altitudes of 
last year over-shot the mark; but it still remains true that the 
southern Selkirks equal the northern in height and surpass 
them in Alpine grandeur. 
A few minor tramps and serambles about Paradise Basin 
and our North Fork camp put us in fairly good condition. We 
had planned a second ascent of Mount Hammond—first as- 
cended last year by Mr. Ellis—by a new, and it seemed to me 
more interesting, route, which I had then observed as a possi- 
bility. Mr. Ellis was anxious to join us on this second ascent, 
but was ealled from camp by business, and while awaiting his 
return the Emersons and I packed on our backs our sleeping 
bags and provisions for several days and made a trip to the 
head of North Fork. The magnificent glacier scene here 
afforded from the high eastern slopes of the Fork, I referred 
to last year. A summit above us, to the east, which seemed 
to offer a magnificent view-point, attracted our attention, and 
this summit furnished us with a splendid day’s climb and a 
first ascent. The combined snow gully and sharp rock arete 
work gave us a good try-out and test of condition. 
Mount Catherine, as we named the peak, is from 10,000 to 
10.300 feet in height, subject to later calculations, bears on its 
north face, overlooking Boulder Creek, a series of splendid, 
precipitous, hanging glaciers, and offers one of the finest Alpine 
panoramas imaginable. Not far away, to the east, was Mt. 
Hammond, while to the west, tier on tier, rose the magnificent 
peaks of the main southern Selkirk range, with some of which 
