Reports. 



49 



to reach it we were destined to travel nearly, if not quite, forty 

 miles, descending the Carbon River to Fairfax, and thence 

 ascending the Mowich River Trail to the lake below the park, 

 where we left our horses. Going through Kapousen on our re- 

 turn, we completed the circuit of the peak, an excursion which 

 had afforded many and assorted experiences of discomfort soon 

 to be forgotten and of delight to be long treasured." 



It is obvious that this strikingly fine excursion should be reh- 

 dered feasible for all who would enjoy the park in a large way. 



At present there are no trails by which the twelve or twenty 

 glaciers, according as great or lesser bodies of ice are enumerated, 

 may be visited in succession. In order to reach them long round- 

 about journeys have to be taken through the woods, where there 

 is no feed for horses, and forced marches are often required to 

 arrive at places suitable for the stock at night, and in some in- 

 stances grain must be carried for their sustenance, since in the 

 woods there is too often nothing whatever for horses to eat. 

 Trails should be opened from one glacier to another, and permits 

 granted to the proper persons to provide houses of entertainment 

 at suitable places for travelers. At present accommodation of 

 this sort is offered at Reese's Camp in Paradise Park only. 



The glaciers are of commanding interest, and are destined 

 within a few years to be visited by great numbers of people from 

 all over the country. Trails opening these to view could easily 

 be constructed at a tithe of the cost of the Government road 

 from Longmire's Springs to Paradise Park. Trails of this nature 

 would give views of mountain scenery unique in this country to 

 such as are not afraid of an excursion in the saddle, and would 

 be a boon to travelers greatly to be desired. 



In laying out such trails advantage would naturally be taken 

 of the meadows which are found in many places near the foot 

 of the glaciers, so that proper feed would be afforded to stock. 

 By the creation of these trails the great opportunity for the en- 

 joyment of scenery on this grandest of American mountains 

 would be for the first time placed within the reach of all. 



Private Holdings in the Park. 

 There are few private holdings in the park — but one to the 

 knowledge of the Committee. This one, however, contains the fine 

 mineral springs near the Nisqually River. This holding or claim 

 should be extinguished at the earliest possible date by purchase 

 or condemnation proceedings and a good hotel erected here, 

 either by the Government or by such lessee as would provide 

 adequate and suitable accommodations for the public. This claim 

 and its crude betterments, if bought at a fair compensation, would 

 cost but little, and thus could the way be opened for proper treat- 



