ST. ELMO PASS

Hikers in the White River District of the Park will find St. Elmo Pass of unusual interest for it was here that Major Ingraham, during the early days of the "Mountain's exploration, camped with a party. During the night they were startled by the St. Elmo fires (an electrical phenomena) startled them by lighting up the metal of their alpen stocks and cooking utensils, and so Major Ingraham named this ridge and pass "St. Elmo".

The ridge is knife-like in character and forms the north western side of "The Wedge" -- a huge cleaver of which Steamboat Prow is the apex and from it hikers may obtain a view that deserves more than passing comment for few mountain views equal it in variety of interests. Each side of the ridge drops away in a steep talus slope while 2300 feet above it rises, rugged and pinnacled, to meet Steamboat Prow. On the east lies the little Inter Glacier -- a smooth snow field with ice showing through only at a few points; and beyond this Glacier Basin and the White River Canyon. To the west is the mighty Winthrop, a cracked, crevassed, cascading river of ice so close at hand to permit intimate study of the upper glacial surface while to the north, like an emerald, lies Mystic Lake -- backed by rugged, ravined Old Desolate. Beyond one sees ridge on ridge of endless hills with snow covered Mt. Baker in the distance. And dominating all rises the snow and ice slopes of "America's Grandest Mountain" seven thousand feet into the heavens.

St. Elmo Pass will be the objective of many parties this summer under the leadership of the Nature Guide Service.