DISCOVERY OF CAMP MUIR, 1888 



cities completed the scene. Reluctantly turning from 

 this grand panorama of nature, I gave my attention 

 to an examination of the craters. There are two, 

 elliptical in shape, and from one-half to three-fourths of 

 a mile across. Their rims are bare outside, and in to 

 an average depth of thirty feet from the crest. This is 

 owing to the internal heat and escaping steam, which 

 issues from a hundred jets within the circumference of 

 the craters. The steam escapes in intermittent jets 

 from little orifices about three-fourths of an inch in 

 diameter. The walls of the crater in some places are 

 quite warm, all of which plainly indicates that Mount 

 Rainier is a volcano, not extinct but slumbering. 



The amount of steam that escapes from the crater 

 at any one time varies with the atmospheric pressure. 

 In fact, Mount Rainier is a reliable barometer, fore- 

 telling a storm with certainty. Everyone who has 

 noted the appearance of the mountain from time to 

 time is familiar with the peculiar white cloud that is 

 frequently seen suspended just above the summit, 

 while no other clouds are in sight. This peculiar 

 cloud, caused by the condensation of escaping steam, 

 is called "Rainier's cap," and is the forerunner of a 

 storm. There was considerable snow in the craters, 

 but it had the appearance of having recently fallen. 

 I believe, should it cease to snow for two or three 

 months, the crater would become entirely bare inside ; 

 but this is not possible, for it snows on Mount Rainier 

 even in midsummer. 



Our party spent about two hours on the summit. 

 We would gladly have tarried longer, but the clouds 

 were gradually approaching from all points, and we 

 did not care to take the chance of spending a night in 

 the crater. Our descent in some places was even more 

 dangerous than the ascent, owing to the falling rock. 

 I recall with a shudder the successful dodging of a 

 shower of bowlders on their way down from the top of 

 a cliff two thousand feet above. They were singing as 



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