122 /. C. Russell — Expedition to Mount St. Elias. 



vionsly recognized, which are formed at the bases of mountains 

 by the union of several glaciers from above. Their position sug- 

 gests the name of Piedmont glaciers for the type. They differ 

 from continental glaciers in the fact that they are formed by the 

 union of ice-streams and are not the sources from which ice- 

 streams flow. The supply from the tributary glacier is counter- 

 balanced by melting and evaporation. 



If the reader has become interested in the vast ice-fields about 

 Blossom island, he may wish to continue our acquaintance and 

 go with me into the great snow-fields on the higher mountains, 

 where the ice-rivers feeding the Malaspina glacier have their 

 sources. 



Life Above the Snow-Line. 



, Early on the morning of August 2, all necessary preparations 

 having been made the day previous, we started in the direction 

 of the great snow peak to be seen at the head of the Marvine 

 glacier, where we hoped to find a pass leading through the moun- 

 tains which would enable us to reach the foot of Mount St. Elias 

 or to discover a ]3racticable way across the main range into the 

 unknown country toward the north. 



All of the camp hands were with us at the start, except Stamy 

 and White, who had been despatched to Port Mulgrave to pur- 

 chase shoes. All but Crumback and Lindsley were to return to 

 Blossom island, however, after leaving their loads at a ren- 

 dezvous as far from Blossom island as could be reached in a day 

 and allow sufficient time to return to the base-camp. Kerr and 

 myself, with the two camp hands mentioned, were to press on to 

 the snow-fields above. We took with us a tent, blankets, rations, 

 an oil-stove, and a supply of coal oil, and felt equal to any 

 emergency that might arise. 



The morning of our departure was thick and foggy, with occa- 

 sional showers, and the weather grew worse instead of better as 

 we advanced. All the mountains were soon shut out from view 

 by the vast vapor banks that settled down from above, and we 

 had little except the general character of the glacier to guide us. 



Our way at first led up the eastern border of the Marvine 

 glacier, over seemingly interminable fields of angular debris. 

 Traveling on the rugged nioraine, some idea of which may be 

 obtained from plate 17, was not only tiresome in the extreme, 

 but ruinous to boots and shoes. On passing the mouth ' of the 



