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Mountaineer Bulletin, 1911-19

Mountaineer Bulletins, 1912

March, 1912, p. 4, Allen, Edward W., "A Trip to Snoqualmie Pass"

On Saturday, February 10, Charles M. Farrer, George E. Wright, Irving M. Clark and Edward W. Allen stepped off the train at Laconia Station in Snoqualmie Pass into ten to twelve feet of snow. "With a little practice all became more or less accomplished in the art of snowshoeing and the first camp was reached." They camped their second night near the foot of Chair Peak and made a trip over the divide into the Snow Lake watershed. They returned Monday evening, "having had a delightful three days' outing in the snow in a region which it is hoped the Mountaineers will some day visit." Will they ever.

Mountaineer Bulletins, 1913

January, 1913, p. 1, Hack, E.M. "Winter Outing of 1912"

The Tacoma Mountaineers, led by A.H. Denman, organized a winter outing to Longmire Springs from December 28, 1912 to January 1, 1913. Fifty people from Everett, Seattle and Tacoma attended. The article colorfully describes the trip from Ashford to Longmire, troubles with snowshoes, and sorties to Narada Falls. On December 31, L.A. Nelson, C.M. Farrer, H.V. Abel, Lulie Nettleton, Mary Hard and E.M. Hack ventured to Paradise in a blizzard. Harry Weer led a party to the top of The Ramparts, where the scenery was said to be "the most beautiful noted on the entire trip."

During the outing, Prof. Milnor Roberts edited the Daily Slush, which included a "consummately scientific" article entitled, "Erratic Movements Observed in the Constellation of Skis." There is no mention of who the skiers were. Dean Roberts was also master of ceremonies at the special program the last evening. The article includes a complete list of the participants.

March, 1913, p. 1, "Winter Outing"

The seventh annual winter outing of the Seattle Mountaineers was held February 22-23 at Scenic Hot Springs, led by P.M. McGregor. Forty-one people attended, leaving Seattle Friday evening on the Great Northern Railway. On Saturday, the main party tramped to Tye (formerly Wellington) along the line of the railroad and viewed the west portal of the Cascade Tunnel. A small party on snowshoes led by L.A. Nelson hiked up the west fork of Surprise Creek. On Sunday, other parties hiked up Surprise Creek and "many indulged in skiing and tobogganing" near the hotel, "while others derived amusement from watching the antics of the former."

May, 1913, p. 3, Weer, J. Harry, "Mountain Splendors Which Summer Visitors Miss"

Over Washington's birthday, the author and a few friends snowshoed to Paradise, where they dug out the rangers' cabin, buried deep in snow, and were "the first to spend a winter's night at Paradise." They spent three nights and one day tramped to McClure Rock (7,385 feet). The author describes a clear night at the cabin:
"The scene was beyond description--a panorama in white, sparkling in the starlight, dotted here by trees, streaked there by wind-swept ridges; the graceful Tatoosh Range on one hand and the majestic monarch of the region on the other. The numberless stars, seemingly nearer than ever, were soon joined by the great full moon, rising from behind Stevens Peak, intensifying the beauties of a scene already impressive beyond description, the recollections of which must always arouse emotions of reverence and inspiration."

October, 1913, p. 1, Bryant, S.V., "The Proposed Mountaineer Lodge"

At a campfire in the Elwha Basin, the members of the summer outing voted unanimously that a lodge should be built at some location in the mountains which would be usable throughout the year. A site has been proposed three-quarters of a mile northeast of Rockdale on the Milwaukee railroad near Snoqualmie Pass. The author describes the area, noting that Granite Mountain is "practically free of timber of the south side and should be ideal for snowshoeing and skiing in winter." He notes that "this sport could also be indulged in through the woods, as there is little undergrowth other than huckleberry, which would be covered up." He adds that, "There are few trails in this region, but by scouting and cutting new ones many places of interest could be rendered easily accessible to everybody."

Mountaineer Bulletins, 1914

February, 1914, p. 1, Denman, A.H., "Tacoma Winter Outing"

A party of twenty attended the outing at Longmire from December 28, 1913 to January 1, 1914. There is no mention of skis in this report. A party of thirteen University students were also in the area. On December 29, a party led by John Reese hiked to Paradise and stayed overnight, the men in Reese's cabin and the women in the ranger's cabin. The author calls these "the first women to spend a winter night in Paradise." Some of the party climbed to McClure Rock the following morning. Parties on snowshoes also hiked to the Nisqually Glacier snout and part way to Van Trump Park.

April, 1914, p. 1, Hanna, Ruth, "Winter Outing at Scenic"

The February announcement said that "there are enough skis and toboggans at the hotel for the free use of all." Eighty or more people attended the outing, and "through the efforts of the workmen, and the solid impact from countless spills, the two toboggan slides were in good condition and in demand for skiing or coasting all the time." It seems clear from this and the previous account that in 1914 skiing was more common at Scenic than at Longmire.

Mountaineer Bulletins, 1915

April, 1915, p. 1, Howard-Smith, L., "The Winter Outing at the Lodge"

The annual winter outing of the Seattle Mountaineers was held at the Snoqualmie Lodge for the first time, February 20-21, 1915. The author notes: "All trains on the Milwaukee are now routed through the tunnel, so it was snow shoes for the mile of uncleared track between Rockdale and the foot of our hill." About sixty people attended. One party hiked up the south fork of the Snoqualmie to near the headwaters on Sunday. On Monday, a snow festival was held on Big Lake, "a short distance below the Lodge, and had races of all kinds."

Mountaineer Bulletins, 1916

February, 1916, p. 2, Holden, Ferne, "The New Year's Outing"

The December 1915 bulletin announced: "Mr. Thor Bisgaard, Tacoma Mountaineer, and an experienced ski runner, will be in the party, and will gladly give instructions in skiing." The report of the outing does not mention skiing, but notes snowshoe trips to Nisqually Glacier, Paradise Valley, and Van Trump Park, which was reached for the first time in winter. The weather was excellent. The author describes the thirteen mile walk from Ashford to Longmire as an experience to be savored: "You know how the mountain road winds in and out, ever revealing a newer enchantment. More and more lavishly had the hand of Nature bedecked the woodlands until we found ourselves in a veritable wonderland."

November, 1916, p. 3, "Notes"

About a year ago, George E. Wright succeeded in interesting Stephen T. Mather, assistant to the Secretary of the Interior, in the erection of a shelter hut at Camp Muir on Mt Rainier. The hut has now been completed following plans drawn by Carl F. Gould, a member of the Mountaineers. The hut, measuring 8 by 20 feet, 7-1/2 feet high, with three foot thick walls, was built during the summer under the direction of Eugene Frank, using lime and cement carried to the site on the backs of burros. The cost was $555.

Mountaineer Bulletins, 1917

February, 1917, p. 4, Wilson, Kathryne, "The Tacoma Club's New Year's Outing"

The December 1916 bulletin announced: "Wm. P. Trowbridge, tobogganing chief; Thor Bisgaard, skiing chief." The program called for a 13 mile walk the first day (December 28) from Ashford to Longmire (or a ride by sled for $3 extra), then a 5-1/2 mile snowshoe hike over the pony trail to Paradise the second day. The third and fourth days would be spent climbing, snowshoeing, tobogganing or skiing. The fifth day (January 1) would be the homeward trip, 18 miles on foot to Ashford, thence via rail.

Sixty-eight Mountaineers and guests signed up. Most walked to Longmire, but two sleighloads chose to ride. The following day, the entire party made it to Paradise in six hours. Charles Hazlehurst arrived later, having made the entire trip from Ashford to Paradise that day. There was a moment of silence that evening in memory P.B. Van Trump, one of the first men to climb Mt Rainier, whose death had been learned that day. The Mountaineers were the first guests of the new Paradise Inn.

Over the next two days, parties ventured to Sluiskin Falls, Cowlitz Rocks, McClure Rock and Camp Muir. It was the first time Camp Muir had been reached on snowshoes and one of the first visits in winter. The new stone hut was full of drifted snow. Party members not making these trips spent the days tobogganing, snowshoeing, and skiing on the lower slopes of Alta Vista behind the Inn. On the last day the party hiked to Ashford in 7-1/2 hours. The author describes Paradise Valley as "a new Mecca for winter sports."

Mountaineer Bulletins, 1918

April, 1918, p. 3, Hazard, Margaret W., "Washington's Birthday Outing"

During the weekend snowshoe parties ventured to Snow Lake, Silver Peak, and around Surveyor's Lake. Snowshoe races, skiing and tobogganing were recorded by the motion picture camera. In another article R.J. Hagman writes that the three pairs of skis at the Lodge were in constant use during the weekend. Members examined the lodge vicinity for a proposed ski and toboggan course they hope will be the "best one in the northwest."

August, 1918, p. 2, "Snoqualmie Lodge 'Auto' Outing, August 10-11, 1918"

This was probably the first automobile outing organized by the club to the Snoqualmie Pass area. The trip was offered "PROVIDED, that several members who are automobile owners are willing to offer their machines for the transportation of the party and dunnage from Seattle to the Forestry Service camp at Denny Creek, 60 miles from Seattle on the Sunset Highway." From there the party would hike to the lodge. The trip was expected to take about four hours each way by automobile.

Mountaineer Bulletins, 1919

February, 1919, p. 3, "In Paradise Park in Winter"

The annual winter outing was organized by "Mr. Weer and his Tacoma committee." Seventy-eight people attended in perfect weather. Transportation was by auto to the Park entrance. The author recalls "the shouts of applause as some ski expert darted past like a bird on even wing, or some novice, starting bravely, plunged headlong with skis all awry." On the first day at Paradise, twenty-seven people climbed to Camp Muir. A larger party went as far as McClure Rock and another trip was made to Sluiskin Falls and Cowlitz Rocks. Summarizing the trip, the author concludes: "Oh, you lonely left-behinds, we wish the same to you!"

April, 1919, p. 4, "Notes"

On the Washington's Birthday weekend, eighteen Everett Mountaineers took a two-day trip to the hotel at Silverton. The party made outings "not only on snow-shoes but with skis and toboggans, with which the hotel was plentifully supplied."

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