208 Geology and Botany of Northern Pacific Railroad. 



Tertiary ages, of which figures and descriptions will be- published 

 by the U. S. Geological Survey. 



Modern Glaciers of the Sierra. 



From the Willamette Valley and Puget's Sound, splendid 

 views are obtained of the great snow-peaks of the Cascade Mount- 

 ains, — the Three Sisters, Mt. Jciferson, Mfc. Hood. Mt. Adams. 

 Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Tacoma and Mr. Baker. Of these. Mr. 

 Hood has an altitude of 11,225 feet, Mt. Adams 12.250, and Mr. 

 Tacoma 14,400. In Colorado and California sire a number of 

 summits of equal absolute height, but they have nothing like 

 the relief above their surroundings that these have, carry far less 

 perpetual snow, and are in every way less impressive. In Wash- 

 ton Territory, the permanent snow-line on the west side of the 

 mountains is about 6,500 feet, on the east side several hundred 

 feet higher. Mt. Tacoma carries, therefore, abour 8,000 feet of 

 snow. Below this it is covered with a dense forest. Its foot- 

 hills nowhere rise to the height of 2,000 feet above the sea, and 

 hence are invisible at a distance ; so from many places about the 

 Sound, practically the whole of the mountain is seen in one 

 view, — a gigantic cone 14.000 feet in height, apparently rising 

 directly from the sea-level ! Mt. Shasta has the same altitude, 

 and as seen from Scott's or Strawberry Valley, is wonderfully 

 impressive ; but it is situated further inland and further south, 

 its base is higher and it has less snow, and it is therefore some- 

 what less imposing. Mt, Hood, as seen under favorable circum- 

 stances from Fort Vancouver, especially when reflected from the 

 lake-like surface of the Columbia, is as beautiful but far less 

 grand. It is not too much to say then, that no other mountain 

 on this continent, and none in Europe, rivals in grandeur and 

 beauty Mt. Tacoma ; and it is doubtful whether in the world 

 there is any that produces a greater impression upon the be- 

 holder. 



Though appearing in the distance so symmetrical and smooth, 

 Mt. Tacoma has been found to be a ragged and compound mass 

 consisting of three conspicuous summits, and many subordinate 

 peaks, with precipices of 2,000 to 3,000 feet in height, and deep 

 gorges which make the ascent difficult and even dangerous. It 



