142 I. C. PiMsseU— Expedition to Mount St. Elias. 



above the glacier, and, taking a convenient slide down the snow- 

 slope, reached our tent. 



Soon a delicious cup of coftee Avas prepared, bacon was fried, 

 and these were put in a warm place while aome griddle cakes 

 were being baked. A warm supper, followed by a restful pipe, 

 ended the day. Kerr and I were our own cooks and our own 

 housekeepers during much of the time Ave lived above the snoAV- 

 line. We cleared aAA^ay the remains of the supper, and prepared 

 our blankets for the night. One of the huge ice pinnacles on the 

 glacier fell with a great crash just as Ave were turning in. Rain 

 began to fall, and the night Avas cold and disagreeable ; hoAV it 

 passed. I do not know, as I slept soundly. Scarcely anything 

 less serious than the bloAving aAvay of our tent could have 

 awakened me. 



Across Seward Glacier to Dome Pass. 



Stormy Aveather and the necessity of bringing additional sup- 

 plies from Blossom island detained us at Camp 14 until August 

 13. We rose at three o'clock on the morning of that day, and, 

 after a hasty breakfast, prepared to cross the ScAA^ard glacier. 

 The morning was cold but clear, and the air was bracing. Each 

 peak and mountain crest in the rugged landscape stood out 

 boldly in the early light, although the sun had not risen. Soon 

 the summit of St. Elias became tipped with gold, and then peak 

 after peak, in order of their rank, caught the radiance, and in a 

 short time the A^ast snow-fields were of dazzling splendor. 



The frost of the night before had hardened the snow, which 

 made Avalking a pleasure. We crossed a rocky spur projecting 

 nortliAvard from Point Glorious into the ScAvarcl glacier, and had 

 to loAver our packs down the side of the precipice Avith the aid of 

 ropes. Our course led at first up the border of the great glacier 

 to a point above the head of the rapids already referred to, then 

 curved to the westward, and for a mile or tAVO coincided with the 

 general trend of the crevasses. We made good progress, but at 

 length Ave came to where the Augusta glacier j^ours its flood of 

 ice into the main stream and, OAving to its high grade, is greatly 

 broken. Skirting this difficult area, Ave passed a number of 

 small blue lakelets and reached the western border of the ScAA^ard 

 glacier. We found a gently rising snoAV-slope leading AvestAvard 

 through a gap that could be seen in hills a fcAV miles in aclA^ance. 

 But little difficulty was -noAV experienced, except that the snoAV 



