OUR GREATEST NATIONAL MONUMENT 



26; 



which the wind sucks with terrific vio- 

 lence, whichever way it blows. 



Curiously enough, it is not on the wind- 

 ward, but on the lee side of the pass 

 where the heavy "williwaws," or "wool- 

 ies," as the boys called them, are ex- 

 perienced. Thus, while the northwest 

 winds are unendurable on the Pacific side 

 of the pass, it is the northeasters that are 

 dreaded on the valley side. 



We were blown out four times before 

 we finally learned our lesson and moved 

 camp to a safer, if less convenient, loca- 

 tion. Fortunately, these storms came in 

 a series of increasing violence, so that 

 each time we were better shored up 

 against trouble than before; otherwise 

 they would have been even more dis- 

 astrous than they were. 



ATTEMPTS TO OBSERVE THE CRATER OF 

 MT. MARTIN 



One of the plans, which stood first 

 among the intended projects of the ex- 

 pedition, was the exploration of Mt. Mar- 

 tin. This volcano, the existence of which 

 was first made known by the expedition 

 of 191 5, being much the most active vent 

 in the whole district, challenged our in- 

 terest from the first. But it had always 

 stood as a sort of hoodoo which had re- 

 sisted our efforts (see pages 248-249). 



As it is located in the most inaccessible 

 part of the range, to get within striking 

 distance was somewhat of a problem in 

 itself. Moreover, it is so placed that it 

 is the last peak to clear up and the first to 

 cloud over in bad weather. Worse yet, 

 the very strong updraft created by the 

 ascent of its tremendous column of steam 

 sucks up from the lowlands a body of 

 warm air whose moisture promptly con- 

 denses into dense clouds when it reaches 

 the heights. 



Thus, while it is frequently clear for a 

 little while morning and evening, it is 

 often swathed in clouds during the middle 

 of the day. One very often starts out in 

 the morning with the best of prospects, 

 only to find his labor wasted when he 

 scales the heights. 



Knowing something of these difficulties 

 in advance, we planned to make the ascent 

 early in June, when the weather is the 

 most favorable. But here again we were 

 balked, for we found that the snow per- 



Photograph by W 



GIANT RAINBOW TROUT FROM NAKNEK 

 RIVER 



The fishing is such as would make Izaak 

 Walton turn green with envy. We never had 

 to cast more than once or twice before we had 

 a strike that kept us busy. The trout average 

 about 24 inches long, but some are much 

 larger. Our largest catch measured a full 32 

 inches (see page 290). 



sists longer around the head of Martin 

 Creek than anywhere else in the district, 

 so concealing those features whose study 

 was our object that a climb at that season 

 would have been fruitless. 



WITHIN A FEW MINUTES OF SUCCESS 



Accordingly, it was not until August 

 that we camped at its foot, waiting for a 

 chance. The crater was clear early in 

 the morning of the first day after my ar- 



