October-December 1879, First Alaska Trip with S. Hall Young Image 48

• Main Author: Muir, John
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: Scholarly Commons 1879
• Subjects: John Muir; journals; drawings; writings; travel; journaling; naturalist; Aine; glaciers; Alaska
• Online Access: https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/jmj-all/1649; https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/context/jmj-all/article/2648/type/native/viewcontent/fullsize.jpg

We all hoped and guessed the old prohet was mistaken in his prognostics last night. Before reaching Point Vanderpeut rain began to fall and the dreaded S wind to blow, which soon increased to a stiff breeze, next thing to a gale, which lashed the Sound into white-cap waves. Cape V[anderpeut] is the long narrow moraine putting sharply out into the Sound, deposited by a large gl[acier] that once fronted the channel and extended 6 or 8 ms. out from the E shore. The remnants of this noble gl[acier] are also noble, three grand glaciers that now are distinct and flow down to the sea-level, though their snouts are back in narrow fiords 8 or 10 ms. from the salt water, the greater portion of the intervening ground being moraine beds covered with thick growth of spruce. The point seems to be part of the ter[mina] mor[aine] of the ancient gl[acier]. A smiliar point puts out 5 or 6 ms. to the S. while the missing portion is submerged and forms a shoal thus [diagram]. All of the Cape is forested save a narrow point a mile long composed of gl[acial] boulders and gravel, against which the waves were now beating with loud roar. Farther out a mile or so a curve of foam showed where the waves were breaking on the scarcely submerged boulders of the mor[aine[. I supposed as we made our way out to the point that we would be compelled to beat out beyond the submerged portion also, but To[yatte], the captain, though cautious, determined to break {Sketch: 10 ms. of course seen. Flows SE. Level. Clds. Hide source, mouth ½ m. wide, 2 ms. wide 3 or 4 back.} https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/jmj-all/2648/thumbnail.jpg