34 



The National Geographic Magazine 



the overland route is taken, and thus 

 save his strength for the task of ascend- 

 ing the mountain. These extra horses 

 would, however, involve an additional 

 expenditure of $1,000 or $2,000. The 

 same holds true in regard to the trip 

 from the Tanana with canoes, where 

 the energies of the party would be 

 spent in portaging and in dragging the 

 canoes up against swift currents. Such 

 work is very hard and before very long 

 will have a marked effect on even the 

 strongest. It is possible, therefore, that 

 if the base of Mt McKinley was reached 

 by either of these routes, the energy of 

 the members of the party would be at a 

 low ebb and not at all equal to the task 

 of making the ascent. It should also 

 be noted that by the two plans proposed 

 the base of the mountain would not be 

 reached earlier than the first or middle 

 of July. The midsummer is very un- 

 favorable for reaching the summit, as 

 it is usually shrouded in clouds, and 

 clear days are very exceptional. The 

 clearest weather and most favorable 

 conditions will be found in June. 



In view of these facts, it is quite pos- 

 sible that even the best chosen and best 

 equipped party would not be successful 

 in the ascent of the mountain. It is 

 the belief of the writers that success 

 could only be assured by wintering a 

 part}- in the region and transporting 

 the provisions and outfits to the base of 

 the mountain during the winter and 

 early spring, when dogs could be used. 

 With such a plan it would be possible 

 to reserve the strength of the members 

 of the party for the actual ascent. The 

 writers would propose that a party be 

 outfitted with a year's provisions, which 

 should be sent to the mouth of the Ta- 

 nana by steamer, either by way of Daw- 

 son or St Michaels. From this point 

 a steamer should be chartered to carry 

 the expedition to the head of steamboat 

 navigation on the Toklat. This could 

 probably be accomplished by the first of 

 July, and the party could spend the re- 



mainder of the open season in boating 

 the outfit up the Toklat and in estab- 

 lishing the winter camp at some con- 

 venient point. 



During the winter, with the aid of 

 dog teams, an advance party would es- 

 tablish a camp at timber line near the 

 base of the mountain, and also cache 

 provisions at convenient points on the 

 lower slopes of the mountain. This 

 being accomplished during the winter 

 months, when transportation is easy by 

 means of dog teams, the party would 

 be prepared to take advantage of the 

 clear weather of June to make the as- 

 cent, which, as has been shown, is a 

 very important consideration. 



A modification of this plan would be 

 to take a steamer up the Kuskokwim, 

 which is known to be navigable as far 

 as the forks, and very probably above. 

 The objection to the Kuskokwim route 

 is that it involves a very long steamboat 

 journey, probably five hundred or six 

 hundred miles, up a river about which 

 very little is known. The mouth of the 

 Kuskokwim lies out of the usual routes 

 of travel, and the river is not easily ac- 

 cessible compared with the Yukon. 



The chief point is to obtain steamboat 

 navigation to as near a point to the base 

 of the mountain as possible, then estab- 

 lish a base camp, and distribute the sup- 

 plies during the winter months. It 

 probably would be advisable to take a 

 few horses for the winter trip, as they 

 could be utilized for transportation both 

 during the summer and winter. If this 

 was done feed would have to be carried 

 for winter use, though, time permitting, 

 it would be possible to cut grass for 

 hay. 



The winter plan does not necessitate 

 the entire parties spending a year in the 

 undertaking. It would be possible for 

 one section to prepare the way during 

 the summer and early winter months, 

 while another joined them in March or 

 April by traveling from Dawson with 

 dog teams. 



