The Masama's Outgoing at Mount Rainier [pp. 114-123]

PANORAMIC VIEW OF
are familiar with its many attractions never
speak of it as a park, but call it simply
Paradise. No other name seems fit for a
spot so great in natural beauty. To the
north stands the grim old mountain peak,
so near as to seem like a neighbor. To the
west is the Nusqually glacier, that vast
seamed and scarred river of ice, bearing
away the thousands of tons of rock that are
showered down on it each year from Gibraltar's frowning heights. To the northeast and east are the Cowlitz cafion.
Southward from east to west stretches the
Tatoosh range, boasting a dozen peaks
more than eight thousand feet in height,
and looking down at its own reflection in
the small lakes at its feet.
To many the flowers of Paradise are its
greatest attraction. They grow in every
nook and corner not already occupied by
snow, and they follow it so closely that one
may pluck a handful of flowers with one
hand and with the other make a snow ball.
One collector has gathered and classified
over four hundred different varieties, and
his work is still incomplete.
On the day of our arrival in Paradise,
one of our party, an experienced, strong,
and able mountaineer, determined to attempt the ascent. The more cautious urged
116
him to give up the foolhardy project; but
his time was short and his self-confidence
greater than his respect for the dangers of
the mountain. Three o'clock the next morning found him on his way, without a guide
or a blanket, and with only sufficient food
for a light lunch.
About eight o'clock it began to rain.
That. however, is hardly the expression to
use, for it did not actually rain. The clouds
came upon us. They came from everywhere, and drenched us through and
through. Our party from below began to
arrive at eleven in the morning, and by four
in the afternoon had all reached camp. At
dusk that evening there was no sign of our
companion's return from the mountains;
and it was determined to send a party in
search of him. Everyone in camp firmly
believed that he had either lost his way, or
met with an accident. At half past nine a
party of six of us set out, followed by the
cheers of the entire camp. It was very dark
and the fog exceedingly thick. How our
leader found his way up the mountain is a
mystery; but he was familiar with the trail
and never lost his bearings. We expected
to spend the night on the mountain and
were fully prepared for it; for we recognized the fact that our quest was well nigh