The Sierra Club's Ascent of Mt. Rainier. 5 



tramped on steadily until a ridge of volcanic rock told 

 us that we had reached the rim of the crater ; for Rainier 

 once upon a time was a great fire-mountain whose gleam- 

 ing streams of incandescent lava and lofty pillar of ash- 

 laden smoke must have made its summit a much more 

 impressive sight than the silent white snow-fields that now 

 choke its smoldering fires. Only a mountaineer can ap- 

 preciate the sense of exhilaration with which we con- 

 templated the vast expanse of the crater and told our- 

 selves that we had conquered the kingliest among all the 

 mountains of the United States. 



It was then 9 130 a. m. The climb had occupied us 

 only five hours from Camp Muir, a fact upon which we 

 reflected with much satisfaction, since we had expected 

 it to take at least seven. It was impossible to remain 

 exposed long in the gale of wind that was sweeping the 

 summit, so we sought shelter behind some rocks, and 

 each made an onslaught on the lunch which a Sierran 

 always carries in a bandana handkerchief tied to his belt. 

 The leisurely disposition of the lunch was followed by 

 a postprandial tour of investigation around the crater. 

 Crossing half a mile of snow that filled the basin of the 

 crater, we reached the highest point on the summit. 

 Puget Sound, numerous valleys, and ranges of hills could 

 be seen extending for miles from the mountain. But on 

 the whole this view suffered by comparison with that 

 which we had enjoyed the night before from Camp Muir. 

 The height of the mountain is about 14,528 feet. The 

 timber-line is reached at about 5,500 feet. This leaves 

 a zone nearly two miles in width across which the eye 

 has to travel without the aid of objects that usually 

 furnish a sense of perspective. A slight haze also veiled 

 the distance so that this part of the trip left some expecta- 

 tions unreaHzed. Smoke still issues from the crater in 

 some places near the edge, and sulphurous gases are 

 emitted in great quantities. But the mouth of the crater 

 has been filled with snow, which forms an almost level 

 field across the center. 



