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MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK NATURE NOTES
Vol. XIV September - 1936 No. 3


Just Here and There

Ranger Dan Pryde of Yakima Park, while scouting the forest for beetle-infested trees found a lone specimen of Western Yellow Pine (Pinus ponderosa) in the midst of a thick stand of hemlock and fir. The tree was about two feet in diameter and at least 125 feet high, its top standing slightly above the other trees in the vicinity. Pinus ponderosa is widely distributed on the east slope of the Cascade Range between altitudes of 3,000 to 6,000 feet. This is the first one found in the vicinity of the Northeast section of the park. It is located near the Yakima Park Highway, about fifteen miles west of Tipsoo Lake, at an altitude of 4,500 feet.--Charles Landes

* * * * * *

A bear with three cubs has been the cause of considerable interest - and concern - in the Longmire area of Mt. Rainier National Park during the past summer. The interest, of course, has been on the part of the visitors who, with good reason, never seem to tire watching the antics of this interesting family. The concern is that of various park officials who, understanding the habits and peculiarities of these animals and who are cognizant of the fact that they are wild and not tame, shudder at the over-familiarity toward the cubs on the part of some people.--(C. F. B.)

camp robber

Arctic alpine plants are usually mere widely distributed than Hudsonian plants. In the pumice fields of the pass between White River and Lodi Creek at the side of Frozen Lake in Yakima Park, nature has crowded a large number of her choice arctic alpine plants. Cold winds sweeping through this pass, and pumice soil have brought to a lower level several varieties found more often at the 9,000 and 10,000 foot levels. They are unusually brilliant but last for a short time only, in the early part of the season. Following is a partial list. Many of these are the most choice of our rookery plants:

Anemone drummondii Castilleja rupicola
Lupinus lyalli (Lyall's Lupine) (Alpine Paintbrush)
Erigeron aureus (Golden Aster) Spraguea multiceps
Polemenium elegans (Jacob's Ladder) Solidago algida

(Mt. Goldenrod)

The altitude is 6,800 feet, and a few Hudsonian plants are growing with them.--Charles Landes

* * * * * *

On July 30 we had the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Ivan T. Hyland (nee Helen Holmes) of Seattle, Washington, who was one of the first women to reach the summit of Mount Rainier. She made the ascent with a party led by Major Ingraham in July of 1894. At that time she was but 15 years old. It was on this occasion that the name "Columbia Crest" was given to the highest point on "The Mountain" by Major Ingraham.

Knowing that we are always interested in data relative to the history of "The Mountain", Mrs. Hyland sent us some very good photos - one being of herself in her climbing costume which is considerably different than that worn by women alpinists today--and a newspaper article, by Major Ingraham, describing the ascent. (C. F. B.)

salal

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http://www.nps.gov/mora/notes/vol14-3e.htm
08-Apr-2002