THE 



National Geographic Magazine 



Vol. X AUGUST, 1899 No. 8- 



SH1SHALDIN AS A FIELD FOR EXPLORATION 

 By Joseph Stanley-Bkown 



The areas within the boundaries of the United States yet 

 untrod by the geologist or explorer are rapidly becoming fewer 

 and fewer, while fields offering unique features of interest to 

 either class of investigators are indeed rare. Even Alaska, for- 

 merly shunned, is now much in evidence, and is being traversed 

 b} r private and governmental exploring parties to an extent 

 which promises soon to gridiron that northern wilderness with 

 mail routes and traveled trails, while from the systematic work 

 being carried on by means of river, land, and sea we may expect 

 at no distant da\ r far more satisfactory geologic and topographic 

 maps of the territory's vast and previously little known interior 

 than have heretofore existed. Leaving these broader areas to 

 those having special reasons and ample financial resources for 

 surmounting the great obstacles they offer, attention is asked 

 to a limited field of exploration whicli for compactness, accessi- 

 bility, economy of effort and expense, and probable richness of 

 returns stands unrivaled today within our borders. 



The route from Sitka to Unalaska has been one of continuous 

 travel by seagoing vessels for many years. While making this 

 journey hundreds of voyagers have looked on and exclaimed 

 over the majestic beauty of Mt Shishaldin, but so far as known 

 no white man's foot has yet trod the higher slopes of this splen- 

 did cone, which rears its snow-clad crest nearly 9,000 feet above 

 the adjacent sea.* The eastern half of Unimak island is occu- 



* Professor Pinart's claim that lie ascended Shishaldin is untenable, being evidently 

 baaed on a misunderstanding of the name of the mountain he climbed. The ascent 

 could qoI haw been made in the Limited time in which he states it was done. 

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