eaasomad.html

History of Early Pioneer Families of Hood River, Oregon.
Compiled by Mrs. D.M. Coon

EARLY ASCENT OF MOUNT ADAMS 1859
H.C. Coe

The first ascent of which I have any knowledge was made about the year 1859, by Alfred Townsend, then Indian Agent or sub-agent, Captain Eugene F. Coe and others. The next expedition started Aug. 19, 1863. The party consisted of Hon. N. Coe, A.C. Phelps and the writer of Hood River; Mrs. E.S. Joslyn of White Salmon and Miss Josephine Fisher of Oregon City, with Indian Johnson as guide.
The mountain was reached Monday, Aug. 24th and the ascent was made the next morning. We tried to persuade our Indian guide to go with us, but were unsuccessful. All coaxing and ridicule could not overcome his superstitions. My father did not attempt the trip, and Mrs. Joslyn gave up before reaching the summit of the high ridge or backbone on the southeast the main peak, which we named "Johnson's spur" in honor of our excellent guide. Mr. Phelps, Miss Fisher and myself reached the first, or southeastern summit of the main peak, about 2 P.M. where we ate our lunch and left our names in a sardine box, carefully covered with a pile of rocks. That night after our return to camp a thunder storm passed over the mountain, and in the morning the grand old hill was covered with a shining mantle of white. Our guide's superstitions were fully confirmed. "See", he said, "The Great Spirit was angry and has blotted out your footsteps." The next ascent was made Aug. 2, 1864. The party consisted of Rev. Thos. Condon, geologist, N. Coe, Wm. Stillwell, Charles Coe and the writer. All hands, except N. Coe, reached the summit. This time we reached and took dinner on the main central peak. On our return we found our records of the previous ascent unmolested, and after adding our names to the list, returned to camp. I had a rather exciting toboggan slide down the mountain on a pie tin. It had taken six hours steady climbing to make the ascent, but on my improvised sled I was in camp in twenty minutes after leaving the summit. It was a wild ride and one long to be remembered.