56 YEARBOOK, PUBLIC MUSEUM, MILWAUKEE [Vol. II. 



The South Tahoma Glacier heads in a large cirque, immediately 

 underlying what seems, from this point of view to be the summit of 

 the mountain. No ice descends to it from the summit rim, it being en- 

 tirely fed by snow falling directly from the clouds or blown upon it 

 by the wind. It is exposed to the full rays of the mid-day sun, but 

 nevertheless attains a length of nearly four miles. Altogether the 

 panorama from Indian Henry's Hunting Grounds, is an exceedingly 

 impressive display of rock and ice, and one such as can be seen from 

 only a few points on this continent. 



From here the party proceeded partly on horseback and partly on 

 foot, across and over the side of Pyramid Peak to a point from which 

 a view of Pyramid and Kautz Glaciers was had. Pyramid Glacier is a 

 little triangular slope of ice and snow heading under the protection of 

 an enormous mass of rock extending out from the summit of the moun- 

 tain. It has not eroded deeply into the surface of the lava, and in that 

 respect differs exceedingly from the neighboring glacier, the Kautz. 

 This heads at the extreme summit of the mountain, breaks through the 

 crater wall and descends in a deep and narrow box canyon. In fact, 

 the Kautz Glacier is the narrowest of all the glaciers on Mt. Rainier 

 averaging only about a thousand feet in width throughout its length 

 of over four miles. At its lower end, it is confined in a deep box 

 canyon, scarcely three hundred feet in width, through which Kautz 

 Creek carries the waters from the melting ice. A little to the north 

 of the center of this ice-stream, a fine medial moraine is carried upon 

 the back of the glacier and very conspicuous lateral moraines are found 

 at each side. 



However, the existence of the canyon at the lower end of the glacier 

 made it impossible for use in our panorama. In the first place, it is 

 very difficult to reach the moraine existing in the canyon, and the walls 

 of the canyon, itself, cut off the extensive panorama of the mountain 

 which is essential in this work. The party then retraced its steps to 

 Longmire Springs and on the following day departed for Paradise 

 Inn, distant four miles and a half in a straight line but about eight 

 miles by road. This is the only automobile road within the park, and 

 in its upper course is limited to such narrow proportions by the cliffs 

 of lava that it can only be used as a one-way road. 



In order to control the traffic, the Park Service has established 

 three checking stations, one at the crossing of the Nisqually river, an- 

 other at the crossing of Paradise river and a third at Paradise Inn. 

 Cars are allowed to leave the first and last of these stations on the 



