Vol. XXXIII, No. 2 WASHINGTON 



February, 1918 



TME 



ATEOMAL 

 ^AIPMD 



THE VALLEY OF TEN THOUSAND SMOKES 



An Account of the Discovery and Exploration of the 



Most Wonderful Volcanic Region 



in the World 



By Robert F. Griggs 



Director of the National, Geographic Society Katmai Expeditions of 



1915, 1916, and 1917 



Having achieved the distinction of being the first explorer to ascend Mt. 

 Katmai and study its active crater, the largest in the world, Mr. Griggs, in the 

 Geographic for January, 1917, gave a detailed account of the region in Alaska 

 affected by the explosion of this mountain, which was 1 the most tremendous vol- 

 canic eruption since the beginning of recorded history. In the present article he 

 makes known to the members of the Society the zuonders of the gigantic safety- 

 valve area adjacent to Mt. Katmai, which he has named the Valley of Ten 

 Thousand Smokes, discovered and explored by National Geographic Society 

 expeditions. 



WHEN the members of the Kat- 

 mai Expedition of the National 

 Geographic Society, looking 

 through Katmai Pass, first beheld below 

 them the Valley of Ten Thousand 

 Smokes, it was at once evident that one 

 of the great wonders of the world had 

 been discovered. The first glance was 

 enough to demonstrate that we had found 

 a miracle of nature which, when known, 

 would be ranked with the Yellowstone, 

 the Grand Canyon, and other marvels, 

 each standing without rival in its own 

 class (see also pages 131 and 147). 



But in spite of the certainty which pos- 

 sessed us of the magnitude and impor- 

 tance of our discovery, further investiga- 

 tion at that time was impossible. We had 

 been equipped for the definite task of ex- 



ploring Katmai and reaching the crater 

 of the gigantic volcano from which had 

 come the tremendous eruption of June 6, 

 1912, one of the most violent in history. 



For the accomplishment of this pur- 

 pose our outfit had proved adequate. 

 But the equipment was entirely insuffi- 

 cient to permit us to extend our lines 

 across to the Bering Sea side of the range 

 and maintain a camp in the Valley of 

 Ten Thousand Smokes. Moreover, the 

 time remaining to us was too short for 

 the task, even if we had been adequately 

 equipped. 



As recounted in the Geographic for 

 January, 19 17, we were compelled, there- 

 fore, to turn back, with only the scantiest 

 evidence to substantiate the story of our 

 truly remarkable discovery. However, 



