MOUNT HOOD. Mount Hood, as seen from Portland, appears to terminate at the summit in a sharp point. Such, however, is not the case, as the present summit is the irregular north rim of a crater that once existed in a complete circle to the south, making a mountain of form similar to St. Helens. In the course of time the south, east and west portions of this rim disappeared, leaving a long, irregular, jagged portion to the north, at right angles to Portland. After the southerly walls of the crater disappeared, a rock several hundred feet in height was left near the center of the old crater, now known as Crater Rock. As the volcanic heat decreased, snow accumulated above this rock, formed glaciers and moved slowly down the mountain to the right and left, thus forming a sharp ridge, now called the Devil's Backbone, the Hog's Back, or the Big Backbone. As these glaciers moved down, they left the north wall of the original crater, thus forming the Great Crevasse, over which it is sometimes impossible to pass. Hood is located in latitude 45 degrees 22 minutes and 24.3 seconds; longitude 121 degrees, 42 minutes and 49.6 seconds, and is one of the very few snowcapped peaks in the world that stands alone, rising directly from sea-level, and is visible from a city of nearly 100,000 population. It was known among the Indians as Pat-to (accent on the last syllable), a general term, signifying very high. On October 29, 1792, Lieutenant Broughton, of Vancouver's exploring expedition, discovered it, and named it int honor of Lord Hood, of England, a personal friend of Captain Vancouver. During the 40s there was an effort made among Americans to fix the names of presidents on the various high peaks of the Cascades, and to permanently designate them all as the Presidents' Range. At this time Hood was known as Mount Washington. On several occasions since the whites occupied the country it is said to have been in eruption; especially in 1846 and 1865. At the present time it constantly emits steam, and at times black, sulphurous smoke, in limited quantities. On the south side numerous caves are formed under the glaciers, caused by the heat from the sides of the mountain, which melts away the ice. On Friday morning, August 4, 1854, the following party left Portland, with the published determination to “make a scientific examination of this hitherto un explored mountain, to measure and get the relative height, location, etc., of this and all the other snow peaks. For that purpose the necessary instruments have been procured and will be taken with the party": T. J. Dryer, Wells Lake, Captain Travaillot and Captain Barlow. General Joel Palmer was to have joined them, but failed to materialize at the last moment. Judge Olney went by way of The Dalles, where he was joined by Major Haller and an Indian guide, and together they came in from the east, joining Dryer at the timber line. Several days were spent examining the mountain, and on Thursday, August 8, they crossed White River canyon and ascended from the southeast, along the dark ridge, so plainly seen from the south, and which leads, not to the summit of the mountain, but to the top of Steel's Cliff. As it is impossible to reach the summit from this point, it is unnecssary to say Dryer never reached the summit of the moun tain. Of the entire party, Dryer, Lake and the Indian only, succeeded in scaling Steel's Cliff. While returning from the climb, a novel measurement of the mountain was made by the scientists of the party. It is described by Dryer as follows: "When descending we found Captain Travaillot, Major Haller and Judge Olney making observations, triangulations and distances for the purpose of ascertaining the height of the mountain. It being impossible to use the barometer, calculations were made by taking the table of the line of perpetual snow on the principal mountains of the globe, as laid down by Baron de Humboldt. By keeping a rigorous account of both the latitude (44 degrees 30 minutes), the temperature given by the thermometer and the exposition of the side by which we made the ascent, we took as the height of our encampment, 11,250 feet; the snow at the edge of the snow-fields being 28 inches within 30 feet of our camp, and the meltage only three hours in the afternoon. From that basis Captain Travaillot and Mr. Lake took several distances, and obtained by calculation 15,442 feet, or two miles and a half to ascend under an angle of 35 degrees to reach the pinnacle; which distance gave the height of 7,111 feet, which, added to the basis, makes a total of 18,361 feet as the height of the mountain." To students of modern science this may seem somewhat complicated, as Mr. Dryer neglected to say just how deep the snow was 31 feet from camp in the dark of the moon. On August 23, 1867, Colonel Williamson, with a government party, ascended the mountain, made numerous scientific observations, and, among other things, secured a careful barometric measurement, which showed the elevation to be 11,225 feet. Future investigation may change these figures slightly, but they are very nearly correct, and the most reliable of any now in existence, manufacturers of souvenir spoons to the contrary notwithstanding. Those interested in such matters will find Colonel Williamson's report in the Oregonian of September 24, 1867. In Armstrong's "Oregon and Washington" may be found the following choice contribution to history: "The loftiest of the snow peaks is Mount Hood. It was ascended by Mr. Belden, in October, 1854, and found to be 19,400 feet high. They ascended as high as they could travel, first with snow shoes, then with ice hooks and spikes. When they reached a point some 18,000 feet high respiration became very difficult, owing to the rarity of the atmosphere. At length the blood began to ooze through the pores of the skin like drops of sweat their eyes began to bleedthen the blood gushed from their ears. Then they commenced their downward march. At the point where they commenced the ascent, they had left their pack-mules and two men to guard them. The men went out hunting, and when they returned found that the cougars had killed two of the mules.” Mr. Belden's first name is not given, but it was probably Ananias. On July 11, 1857, the first actual ascent of Mount Hood was made by Henry L. Pittock, W. Lyman Chittenden, James G. Deardorff, William Buckley and Professor L. J. Powell, of Portland. Since that time it is probable that more persons have stood on the summit of this mountain than any similar one on the American continent. Many years ago the idea was suggested of illuminating it, and in 1885 it was seriously discussed, but not attempted until the following year, when several young men from Portland attempted the experiment with red fire, intending to set it off at the appointed time, tain. Of the entire party, Dryer, Lake and the Indian only, succeeded in scaling Steel's Cliff. While returning from the climb, a novel measurement of the mountain was made by the scientists of the party. It is described by Dryer as follows: "When descending we found Captain Travaillot, Major Haller and Judge Olney making observations, triangulations and distances for the purpose of ascertaining the height of the mountain. It being impossible to use the barometer, calculations were made by taking the table of the line of perpetual snow on the principal mountains of the globe, as laid down by Baron de Humboldt. By keeping a rigorous account of both the latitude (44 degrees 30 minutes), the temperature given by the thermometer and the exposition of the side by which we made the ascent, we took as the height of our encampment, 11,250 feet; the snow at the edge of the snow-fields being 28 inches within 30 feet of our camp, and the meltage only three hours in the afternoon. From that basis Captain Travaillot and Mr. Lake took several distances, and obtained by calculation 15,442 feet, or two miles and a half to ascend under an angle of 35 degrees to reach the pinnacle; which distance gave the height of 7,111 feet, which, added to the basis, makes a total of 18,361 feet as the height of the mountain." To students of modern science this may seem somewhat complicated, as Mr. Dryer neglected to say just how deep the snow was 31 feet from camp in the dark of the moon. On August 23, 1867, Colonel Williamson, with a government party, ascended the mountain, made numerous scientific observations, and, among other things, secured a careful barometric measurement, which showed the elevation to be 11,225 feet. Future investigation may change these figures slightly, but they are very nearly correct, and the most reliable of any now in existence, manufacturers of souvenir spoons to the contrary notwithstanding. Those interested in such matters will find Colonel Williamson's report in the Oregonian of September 24, 1867. In Armstrong's "Oregon and Washington" may be found the following choice contribution to history: "The loftiest of the snow peaks is Mount Hood. It was ascended by Mr. Belden, in October, 1854, and found to be 19,400 feet high. They ascended as high as they could travel, first with snow shoes, then with ice hooks and spikes. When they reached a point some 18,000 feet high respiration became very difficult, owing to the rarity of the atmosphere. At length the blood began to ooze through the pores of the skin like drops of sweat-their eyes began to bleedthen the blood gushed from their ears. Then they commenced their downward march. At the point where they commenced the ascent, they had left their pack-mules and two men to guard them. The men went out hunting, and when they returned found that the cougars had killed two of the mules." Mr. Belden's first name is not given, but it was probably Ananias. On July 11, 1857, the first actual ascent of Mount Hood was made by Henry L. Pittock, W. Lyman Chittenden, James G. Deardorff, William Buckley and Professor L. J. Powell, of Portland. Since that time it is probable that more persons have stood on the summit of this mountain than any similar one on the American continent. Many years ago the idea was suggested of illuminating it, and in 1885 it was seriously discussed, but not attempted until the following year, when several young men from Portland attempted the experiment with red fire, intending to set it off at the appointed time, |