Exploration* in Alaska. 35 
elevation, their nights could also be calculated. The stations 
whose position and elevation had thus been determined were made 
the extremities of new base-lines, from which sights to all the 
mountains in the region could be made, and the bights of the 
highest peaks accurately determined. 
• ' In addition to the ' dip angles, ' the bights of the stations oc- 
cupied were determined by means of a mercurial barometer. 
To aid in this work a 'base barometer' was read three times a 
day during Jul}' and August by Rev. Carl J. Hendrickson, who 
had charged of a mission at Yakutat. From this beginning the 
work of mapping the country was carried forward until the peaks 
to be seen from our line of march were located and their bights 
determined. Sketches and photographs were taken from many 
points of view ; these, together with the triangulation, will fur- 
nish material for an accurate map of the region visited. The 
map will embrace upwards of a thousand square miles. 
' ' As soon as topographic work was well under way a line of 
march towards St. Elias was decided upon. All of our rations, 
bedding, tents, etc., had to be carried, or 'packed,' by the men, 
the character of the country not allowing the use of animals. At 
first the trips from camp to camp had to be repeated several times. 
Profiting by experience we abandoned everything that was not 
essential, and as our work progressed we found that many things 
deemed indispensable at first could be left behind. Our line of 
march was toward the northwest, with the triangular summit of 
St. Elias as our guide. Fortune favored us in many ways. We 
found passes in the mountains leading in the direction we wished 
to travel and no insurmountable difficulties in the way, although 
great patience and judgment were required in treading the net- 
work of crevasses in the ice fields. Probably more than nine- 
tenths of our journey was across glaciers and snow fields. 
"On the first of August we were midway between Yakutat bay 
and St. Elias, but still at the base of the mountains. Our camp 
was in the last and highest grove of trees that it was practicable 
to reach. The timber line is there about 1,500 feet high, and all 
trees disappear a few miles to the west, An island of rock, sur- 
rounded by vast glaciers, but clothed with beautiful flowers, rank 
ferns, and dense spruce trees, furnished a delightful spot for our 
base camp. We named this lovely oasis in the deserl of ice 
