"About four weeks ago, a party of young men, consisting of Messrs. R. S. Bailey, Sidney S. Ford, Jr., and John Edgar undertook an expedition to Mt. Rainier, for the purpose of ascending that mountain as far as circumstances might warrant. Rainier, as all are aware, is situated in the main Cascade range, distant from its base to Olympia about 55 miles. On arriving at the foot of the mountain the party secured their animals, and pursued their way upward by the backbone ridge to the main body of the mountain, and to the height of as near as they could judge, of nine or ten miles the last half mile over snow of a depth probably of fifty feet, but perfectly crusted and solid. The party were two days in reaching their highest altitude, and they described the mountain as extremely rugged, and difficult of ascent; on the slopes and table land they found a luxuriant growth of grass, far exceeding in freshness and vigor any afforded by the prairies below. On some of these table lands they found beautiful lakes—from a half to a mile in circumference formed from mountain streams, and the melting of snow. The party remained at their last camp, upward, two days and two nights, where they fared sumptuously on the game afforded by the mountains, which they found very numerous, in the shape of brown bear, mountain goat, deer, etc., with an endless variety of the feathered genus; the side of the mountain was literally covered with every description of berries, of the most delicious flavor.
"The party had a perfect view of the Sound and surrounding country—recognizing the numerous prairies with which they were familiar, to which were added in their observations, several stranger prairies, of which they had no knowledge, and which, probably, have never been explored. The evenings and mornings were extremely cold, with wind strong and piercing the noonday sun oppressively warm.
"They describe their view of the surrounding country and scenery as most enchanting, and consider themselves richly rewarded for their toil in procuring it. This is the first party of whites, we believe, that has ever attempted to ascend Rainier.
"Not being provided with instruments for taking minute observations, and there being a constant fog and mist along the range of mountains, the party were unable to make any very satisfactory discoveries in relation to a practicable route across them; yet Mr. Ford informs us, that he noticed several passes at intervals through the mountains, which, as far as he could see, gave satisfactory evidence that a good route could be surveyed, and a road cut through with all ease."
This was before a road had been opened across Cascade Mountains north of Columbia River. The Naches Pass route was opened next year in 1853. While doubt has been raised as to whether these climbers of 1852 reached the summit, it is fair to interpret the testimony in a literal sense and assume that they climbed to the topmost elevation. Mount Rainier is difficult and laborious to climb, but the feat was within the prowess of the early pioneers, and they were not the kind of men to attempt the feat without making it successful and complete.
A celebration in honor of the Stevens ascent was held near Paradise Inn on the eve of the forty-eighth anniversary of the event, August 17, 1918. General Stevens was present and related the ascent made by Van Trump and himself in 1870. Other participants were William P. Bonney, secretary of the Washington State Historical Society, Edmond S. Meany and O. B. Sperlin. Next day an anniversary ascent was led up the mountain by Mr. Sperlin.
