An attempt is to be made to climb Mount St. Elias, the snow-clad
mountain in Alaska, which makes the boundary line between Alaska and
British Columbia.

[Illustration]

Mount St. Elias is about 18,000 feet high, and was supposed to be the
highest peak on the continent till Mount Logan was discovered a few
miles farther inland, that was found to be 1,500 feet higher.

The slopes of Mount St. Elias are covered with glaciers, and so far
about 4,000 feet of the mountain have defied the efforts of all
mountaineers.

Two parties will make the attempt this summer, one composed of American
scientists, and the other of Prince Luigi of Savoy, who is a nephew of
King Humbert of Italy, and some companions.

The first attempt to explore the mountain was made eleven years ago, but
only an altitude of 7,200 feet was reached. Two years later an
Englishman made another effort, and had climbed 11,000 feet of the
mountain before he was obliged to descend.

In 1891 a party succeeded in reaching a height of 14,500 feet. Halting
on this spot to rest before they ventured farther, the weather changed,
clouds gathered over them, avalanches began to sweep down the
mountain-sides, and the adventurers had to hurry to the base of the
mountain.