The Discovery of Glacier Bay.

• Main Author: Muir, John
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: Scholarly Commons 1895
• Subjects: Environmentalist; naturalist; travel; conservation; national parks; John Muir; history; pamphlets; journal articles; speeches; writing; annotation; Glacier Bay; Yukon; glacier; glaciers; Alaska
• Online Access: https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/jmb/224; https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/context/jmb/article/1223/viewcontent/200.pdf

3VW -A THE DISCOVERY OF GLACIER BAY. BY ITS DISCOVERER. Y first visit to the now famous Glacier Bay of Alaska was made toward the end of October, 1879, wb.en young ice was beginning to form in the branch inlets occupied by the glaciers, and the mountains were mantled svith fresh snow all the way dosvn from the highest peaks and ridges of the Fair- weather Range nearly to the level of the sea. I had spent most of the season exploring the .—"""* caiion of the Stickeen River and its glaciers, and a small portion of the interior region beyond the Coast Mountains, on the divide of some of the southerly tributaries of the Yukon and Mackenzie rivers. When I got back to my headquarters jit Fort Wrangel, about the beginning of October, it seemed too late for new undertakings'm this icy northland. The days were grosving short, and winter, with its . -heavy storms,-was drasving nigh, when avalanches svould be booming dosvn the long white slopes of the peaks, and all the land would be buried. But, on the other hand, though this white wilderness svas nesv to me, I svas familiar with storms, and enjoyed them, knosving well that in right relations with them they are ever kindly. The main inland channels, extending in every direction along the coast, remain open all winter; and their shores being svell forested, it would be easy to keep warm in camp, svhile in a large canoe abundance of provisions could be carried. I determined, therefore, to go ahead as far north as possible, svith or without companions, to see and learn what I could, especially svith reference to future, work. When I made knosvn my plans to Mr. Young, the Wrangel missionary, he offered to go with me, and svith his assistance I procured a good canoe and a cresv of Indians, gathered a large stock of provisions, blankets, etc., and on October 14 set forth, eager to welcome svhatever svildness might offer,,so long as food and frre- svood should last.) Our crew numbered four : Toyatte, a grand old Stickeen nobleman, svho was elected captain, not only because he ...