28 The Mountaineer 
THE ASCENT OF MT. RAINIER 
BE. M. Hack, D. D.S. 
Oh fateful, oh unhappy, tearful Friday ! 
From Glacier Basin, Rainier National Park, on August 
second, nineteen hundred twelve, at three o’clock in the after- 
noon of that most direful of all days in the week, was begun 
the climb of Mt. Rainier. 
Glacier Basin has an elevation of approximately six thou- 
sand feet and the climb of thirty-seven hundred to Camp Curtis 
was made by six o'clock. The wood brigade, preparatory to 
the big climb we all expected to make, had ascended two days 
before, consequently a goodly supply of fuel awaited our band 
of nine and right welcome it proved, for a biting wind swept 
the camp. As protection in such emergencies small stone pens 
have been erected. The one which comes distinctly to the 
writer’s memory was intended for two persons. Four slept 
therein, with the agreement that the first position would like- 
wise be the last, and there was forced home to him who rests 
upon his back the conviction that a brilliant moon very effec- 
tually dispels the sleepy phalanx of darkness. 
We arose next morning at half after three, in season to 
behold a most wonderful sunrise. Far below a thick canopy 
of clouds shut out the nether world, and in the dim and mystic 
light of early morning, vast mountain ranges were seen sud- 
denly transformed into wondrous cataracts, whose phantom 
waters rushed downward to break on airy rocks and be trans- 
muted to lovely fairy forms clothed in the rose and gold of 
the rising sun. 
From Curtis the route lay entirely over snow and ice, some- 
what softened by the sun at lower elevations, affording an easy 
footing, but hard and treacherous on the steep slopes at higher 
altitudes. Considerable dust was noticed on its surface until 
a point fifteen hundred feet below the summit was reached, 
when the snow gradually assumed a dazzling whiteness varying 
in deep crevasses through shades of green to a deep emerald, 
according to light absorption. Some very good pictures were 
