On Pinnacle Pass Cliffs. 141 



Mr. Ken* endeavored at first to occupy a station on the crest 

 of the rocky ridge, but as the steepness of the slope and the 

 shattered condition of the rock rendered the station hazardous, 

 the snow-ridge, wjhich was covered with dust and sand and 

 nearly as firm as rock, was occupied instead. The clouds part- 

 ing toward the northeast revealed several giant peaks not before 

 seen, some of which seem to rival in height St. Elias itself One 

 stranger, rising in three white domes far above the clouds, was 

 especially magnificent. As this was probably the first time its 

 summit was ever seen, we took the liberty of giving it a name. 

 It will appear on our maps as Mount Logan, in honor of Sir 

 William E. Logan, founder and long director of the Geological 

 Survey of Canada. 



The clouds grew denser in the east, and shut off all hope of 

 extending the map-work in that direction. While Kerr was 

 making topographic sketches I tried to decipher some of the 

 geological history of the region around me and make myself 

 more familiar with its glaciers and snow-fields. 



Even more remarkable than the mighty peaks toward the 

 north, beheld that day for the first time, was the vast plateau of 

 ice stretching seaward from the foot of the mountains. From 

 my station what seemed to be the ocean's shore near Icy bay 

 could just be distinguished. Beyond the bay there is a group of 

 hills which come boldly down to the sea, and apparently form a 

 sea-cliff at the water's edge. Beyond this headland there is an- 

 other vast glacier extending westward to the limits of vision. 

 The view from this point is essentially the same as that obtained 

 from the cliffs at Pinnacle pass a fcAV clays earlier, except that 

 it is far more extended. It need not be described in detail. 



The clouds becoming thicker and settling in dark masses about 

 the mountains, we gave up all hope of further work and started 

 for our camp. On the way down the ridge between the crest of 

 snow and the crest of rock we found a stratum of sandstone filled 

 with fossil leaves, and near at hand another layer charged with 

 very recent sea-shells. Collecting all of these that we could carry, 

 we trudged on, finding the snow soft and some of the bridges 

 which we had easily crossed in the morning now weak, trem- 

 bling, and insecure. We crossed them safely, however, and, reach- 

 ing the level floor of the amphitheatre, marched wearily on to- 

 ward Point Glorious. This time we passed along the northern 

 base of the butte at an elevation of two or three hundred feet 



20— Nat. Geog. Mag., vol. Ill, 1891. 



