152 I. C. Russell — Expedition to Mount St. Elias. 



strange forebodings of coming changes filled the air. Long, 

 waving threads of vapor were woven in lace-work across the sky ; 

 the white-robed mountains were partially concealed by cloud- 

 masses drifting like spirits along their mighty battlements ; and 

 far, far above, from the topmost pinnacles, irised banners were 

 signaling the coming of a storm. 



We made rapid progress, but early in the day came to the 

 base of a heavy cloud bank which enshrouded all the upper part 

 of St. Elias. Then snow began to fall, and it was evident that 

 to proceed farther would be rash and Avithout promise of success. 

 After twenty days of fatigue and hardship since leaving Blossom 

 island, with our goal almost reached, we were obliged to turn 

 back. Hoping to be able to renew the attempt after the storm 

 had passed, Mr. Kerr left his instruments on the snow between 

 two huge crevasses and we returned to our tent, where we passed 

 the remainder of the day and the night following. The snow 

 continued to fall throughout the day, and the storm increased 

 in force as night came on. When we awoke in the m.orning the 

 tempest was still raging. We were in the midst of the storm- 

 cloud ; the dense vapor and the fine drifting snow-crystals swept 

 along by the wind obscured everything from view ; the white 

 snow surface could not be distinguished from the vapor-filled 

 air ; there was no earth and no sky ; we seemed to be suspended 

 in a white, translucent medium which surrounded us like a 

 shroud. The snow was already more than three feet deep al^out 

 our tent, and to remain longer with the short supply of provis- 

 ions on hand was exceedingly hazardous, as there seemed no 

 limit to the duration of the storm. A can of rations had been 

 left at Rope cliff, and we decided to return to that place if possi- 

 ble. Resuming our packs, we roped ourselves together and began 

 to descend through the blinding mist and snow which rendered 

 the atmosphere so dense that a man could not be distinguished 

 at a distance of a hundred feet. AVith only an occasional glimpse 

 of the white cliff around to guide us, we worked our way down- 

 ward over snow-bridges and between the crevasses. Our ascent 

 through this dangerous region had been slow and difficult, but 

 our descent was still more tedious. All day long we continued 

 to creep slowly along through the blinding storm, and as night 

 a]3i3roached believed ourselves near the steps cut in a snow-cliff 

 during the ascent, but darkness came before we reached them. 

 Shoveling the snow away as best we could with our hands and 



