Washburn Tells of Alaskan Exploits Before Capacity Crowd at Institute

Before a capacity audience of over 300 at the Institute of Geographical Exploration, Bradford Washburn '33, veteran of eight Alasken expeditions, described his adventures of last June and July when he surveyed 1500 square miles of unexplored glacial territories.

Holding his listeners spellbound, Washburn spent the greater part of his hour and three quarters relating the story of last summer's ascent of two hitherto unclimbed peaks, Mount Saint Agnes and Mount Sanford. Still photographs, movies, and colored slides accompanied the talk and added much clarity to his vigorous explanations.

The Mount Sanford trip penetrated into a region, which cartographers have never even attempted to map and which is in the form of a strip of land 40 miles wide and extending for 125 miles along the Pacific coast. Located in the center of the Chugach Range about 50 miles from the Pacific Ocean. Saint Agnes pierces the clouds to a height of 13,250 feet above sea level.

Mount Sanford, a huge volcanic mass 16,200 feet high, was the next object of the group, who had the generous backing of the National Geographic Society. Under comparatively favorable weather conditions, the party slowly wended its way through one of the severest storm centers in the entire world and reached the summit at 9:30 on the evening of July 20.

Later in the summer Washburn's expedition discovered what is believed to be the world's largest ice field outside the polar regions. In extensive flights around Mount Logan and Mount Saint Elias, Washburn proved the existence of a tremendous glacial system 255 miles long.