Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 234, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 September 1912 — TELL OF HARD CLIMB [ARTICLE]

TELL OF HARD CLIMB

Parker and Companion Back From Mount McKinley. Brooklyn Man Arrives at Seattle, Wash., Meets Young Wife and Sees His Child for First Time—Will Not Ascend Again. Seattle, Wash. —Prof. Herschell C. Parker of Brooklyn, N. Y., and Belmore Browne of Tacoma, who came within 300 feet of reaching the summit of Mount McKinley last June, have returned from Alaska. Prof. Parker was greeted at the pier by Mrs. Parker, a bride of a little more than a year, who had come from Brooklyn to meet him. He hastened to Tacoma on the first Interurban car to see for the first time his child, a baby of a few months, born during his absence in Alaska. Prof. Parker and Mr. Browne left Seward February 3, reaching the foot of Mount McKinley April 25. On their previous expedition they attempted to ascend the mountain from the south side, but this time they crossed the Alaska range about twenty miles east of Mount McKinley. They went up Muldrow glacier, taking the route selected by Tom Lloyd and his party of explorers when they ascended the mountain in 1910. At an altitude of 10,000 feet the Par-ker-Browne party relayed supplies with dog teams from the camp below. After remaining at this altitude several days and unable to proceed higher because of a ievere storm they decided to await more favorable conditions and dropped back to an altitude of 6,000 feet.

The party set out again June 5, going up the northeast ridge and Muldrow glacier. The route selected was narrow and hazardous and the ridge steep, but the explorers were able to reach an altitude of 10,000 feet before being driven back by the severe cold and blinding snow blown by a high gale from peak to peak. On the third attempt an altitude of 20,100 feet was reached. There, with only three days’ provisions left, they were unable to withstand the cold and gave up hope of reaching the summit. Prof. Parker in explaining the severe cold on the mountain said that

at a height of 15,000 feet June 15 it was 19 degrees below zero. » “I found that pemiiilcan, the special food used by arctic explorers and made of beef, tallow and raisins, is of no value at the high altitudes,” said Prof. Parker. "We were soon afflicted with severe cases of indigestion, as the food was too heavy, and we were unable to use a large part of our rations. I found that at an altitude of 13,000 feet I could not smoke without . experiencing severe dizziness, while Mr. Browne seemed able to smoke at any height About the coldest weather we experienced was at 13,000 feet, when the temperature fell to 26 below zero." Both Prof, Parker and Mr. Browne said they had made their last attempt to reach the top of Mount McKinley.