EXPLORING THE MOUNTAIN AND ITS GLACIERS, 1896 



Glacier was full of interest, as it revealed the charac- 

 teristics of a great region, covered with a dense forest, 

 which is a part of the deeply dissected Tertiary pene- 

 plain surrounding Mount Rainier. The rocks from 

 Carbonado to Carbon River crossing are coal bear- 

 ing. Extensive mines are worked at Carbonado, and 

 test shafts have been opened at a few localities near 

 the trail which we followed. At Carbonado the river 

 flows through a steep-sided canyon about 300 feet 

 deep. Near where the Willis trail crosses the stream 

 the canyon broadens, is deeply filled with bowlders, 

 and is bordered by forest-covered mountains fully 3, coo 

 feet in elevation. On account of the dense forests, 

 the scenery throughout the region traversed is wild and 

 picturesque. At a few localities glimpses were ob- 

 tained of the great snow-clad dome of Mount Rainier, 

 rising far over the intervening tree-covered foothills. 



The forests of the Puget Sound region are the most 

 magnificent on the continent. The moist atmosphere 

 and genial climate have led to a wonderfully luxuriant 

 growth, especially of evergreens. Huge fir trees and 

 cedars stand in close-set ranks and shoot upward 

 straight and massive to heights which frequently ex- 

 ceed 250 feet, and sometimes are even in excess of 300 

 feet. The trees are frequently 10 to 12 feet or more 

 in diameter at the height of one's head and rise in mas- 

 sive columns without a blemish to the first branches, 

 which are in many instances 150 feet from the ground. 

 The soil beneath the mighty trees is deeply covered with 

 mosses of many harmonious tints, and decked with 

 rank ferns, whose gracefully bending fronds attain a 

 length of 6 to 8 feet. Lithe, slender maples, termed 

 vine-maples from their habit of growth, are plentiful, 

 especially along the small water courses. In many 

 places the broad leaves of the devil's club (Fatsiahorrida) 

 give an almost tropical luxuriance to the shadowy 

 realm beneath the lofty canopies formed by the firs 

 and cedars. 



M 161 



