MOUNT RAINIER 



dian style, and trudged on through the wood. After- 

 wood exchanged blanket with Lachalet for Ouvrie's 

 capot, which has been on almost every Indian at Nus- 

 qually. However, I found it more convenient than 

 the blanket. Our course lay up the river, which we 

 crossed frequently. The bed is clayey in most parts. 

 Saw the sawbill duck once or twice riding down on a 

 log and fired twice, unsuccessfully. Have been flanked 

 on both sides with high, pineclad hills for some time. 

 A short distance above encampment snow can be 

 seen. It having rained almost incessantly, have en- 

 camped under shelving bank which has been under- 

 mined by the river. Immense stones, only held in 

 situ by dried roots, form the roof, and the floor is very 

 rugged. Have supped on berries, which, when heated 

 with stones in kettle, taste like lozenges. Propose 

 tomorrow to ascend one of the snowy peaks above. 



Sept. 2. Summit of a snowy peak immediately 

 under Rainier. Passed a very uncomfortable night in 

 our troglodytic mansion. Ascended the river for 3 

 miles to where it was shut in by amphitheatre of moun- 

 tains and could be seen bounding over a lofty precipice 

 above. Ascended that which showed most snow. Our 

 track lay at first through a dense wood of pine, but we 

 afterwards emerged into an exuberantly verdant gully, 

 closed on each side by lofty precipices. Followed fully 

 to near the summit and found excellent berries in 

 abundance. It contained very few Alpine plants. 

 Afterwards came to a grassy mound, where the sight 

 of several decayed trees induced us to encamp. After 

 tea I set out with Lachalet and Nuckalkut for the 

 summit, which was ankle deep with snow for ^ mile 

 downwards. The summit terminated in abrupt pre- 

 cipice directed northwards and bearing N. E. from 

 Mt. Rainier, the adjoining peak. The mists were at 

 times very dense, but a puff of S. W. wind occasionally 

 dispelled them. On the S. side of Poyallip is a range 

 of snow-dappled mountains, and they, as well as that 



