This, rather than regret for the two hundred millions of dollars which our tourists spend abroad each year, is the true basis of the "See America First" movement. According to his capacity, the tourist commonly gets value for his money, whether traveling in Europe or America. But Eastern ignorance of the West is costing the country more than the drain of tourist money. This volume is presented, therefore, as a call to better appreciation of the splendor and worth of our own land. Its publication will be justified if it is found to merit in some degree the commendation given its predecessor by Prof. W. D. Lyman, of Whitman College, whose delightful book on the Columbia has been consulted and whose personal advice has been of great value throughout my work. "I wish to express the conviction," writes Prof. Lyman, "that you have done an inestimable service to all who love beauty, and who stand for those higher things among our possessions that cannot be measured in money, but which have an untold bearing upon the finer sensibilities of a nation." Tacoma, June 15, 1912. [Illustration: Mount Adams, seen from south slope of Mount St. Helens, near the summit, showing the Cascade ranges below. Note the great burn in the forest cover of the ridges. "Steamboat Mountain" is seen in the distance beyond. Elevation of camera, nearly 9,000 feet.] [Illustration: Looking up the Columbia at Lyle, Washington.] CONTENTS I. THE RIVER. Dawn at Cloud Cap Inn--The geological dawn--Cascade-Sierra uptilt--Rise of the snow-peaks--An age of vulcanism--Origin of the great Columbia gorge--Dawn in Indian legend--The "Bridge of the Gods"--Victory of Young Chinook--Dawn of modern history--The pioneers and the state builders 15 II. THE MOUNTAINS. Portland's snowy sentinels--Ruskin on the mountains--Cascades vs. Alps--Mount Hood and its retreating glaciers--The Mazamas--A shattered crater--Mount Adams--Lava and ice caves--Mount St. Helens--The struggle of the forest on the lava beds--Adventures of the climbers--The Mazamas in peril--An heroic rescue 57 III. THE FORESTS, by HAROLD DOUGLAS LANGILLE. Outposts at timber line--The alpine parks--Zone of the great trees--Douglas fir--From snow-line to ocean beach--Conservation and reforestation 123 NOTES 140 ILLUSTRATIONS The * indicates engravings from copyrighted photographs. See notice under the illustration. THREE-COLOR HALFTONES.