P. B. Van Trump
Encyclopedia
Philemon Beecher Van Trump (1839–1916), also known as P. B. Van Trump, was an American pioneering mountaineer and writer who lived in the state of Washington. He is best known for the first ascent of Mount Rainier
in 1870.
Van Trump was born in Lancaster, Ohio
on December 18, 1838. He was educated at Kenyon College
and the New York University
. In 1867 he moved to Washington Territory
as the private secretary to Marshall F. Moore
, the seventh governor of the territory. Moore was Van Trump's brother-in-law.
Van Trump first saw Mount Rainier in August, 1867, and later remembered, "That first true vision of the mountain, revealing so much of its glorious beauty and grandeur, its mighty and sublime form filling up nearly all of the field of direct vision, swelling up from the plain and out of the green forest till its lofty triple summit towered immeasurably above the picturesque foothills, the westering sun flooding with golden light and softening tints its lofty summit, rugged sides and far-sweeping flanks -- all this impressed me so indescribably, enthused me so thoroughly, that I then and there vowed, almost with fervency, that I would some day stand upon its glorious summit, if that feat were possible to human effort and endurance."
Van Trump and General Hazard Stevens
made the first documented successful climb of Mount Rainier
on August 17, 1870. They climbed the mountain via the Gibraltar route. He climbed the mountain at least five other times.
Van Trump guided John Muir
to the summit of Mount Rainier in 1888. Muir describes this climb in a chapter of his book Steep Trails.
Muir and Van Trump kept in touch after the climb.
Van Trump joined the Sierra Club
in 1893 making him one of their first members outside California
. He later served on the Sierra Club committee that campaigned for the creation of Mount Rainier National Park
. After his wife died in 1907, Van Trump took a position greeting tourists at a summer tent camp at Indian Henry's Hunting Ground at Mt Rainier. He served briefly as a seasonal ranger and spent winters with the Longmire family. Failing health caused him to relocate to New York in 1915 to spend his final days with relatives. He died on December 27, 1916 and was interred at the Kattellville Cemetery, Broome County, New York
.
The Stevens Van Trump Historic Monument along the Skyline Trail in Mount Rainier National Park was erected to commemorate the historic first accent of the mountain. Van Trump Park, an alpine meadow, Van Trump Creek
and Van Trump Glacier
, all in the national park, are named after him.
Mount Rainier
Mount Rainier is a massive stratovolcano located southeast of Seattle in the state of Washington, United States. It is the most topographically prominent mountain in the contiguous United States and the Cascade Volcanic Arc, with a summit elevation of . Mt. Rainier is considered one of the most...
in 1870.
Van Trump was born in Lancaster, Ohio
Lancaster, Ohio
Lancaster is a city in Fairfield County, Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 38,780. It is located near the Hocking River, approximately southeast of Columbus, Ohio. It is the county seat of Fairfield County...
on December 18, 1838. He was educated at Kenyon College
Kenyon College
Kenyon College is a private liberal arts college in Gambier, Ohio, founded in 1824 by Bishop Philander Chase of The Episcopal Church, in parallel with the Bexley Hall seminary. It is the oldest private college in Ohio...
and the New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
. In 1867 he moved to Washington Territory
Washington Territory
The Territory of Washington was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from February 8, 1853, until November 11, 1889, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Washington....
as the private secretary to Marshall F. Moore
Marshall F. Moore
Marshall F. Moore was the 7th Governor of Washington Territory.He served during the Civil War under George McClellan in Virginia and under Sherman. He was at Rich Mountain, Shiloh, Chickamauga, Jonesboro and Missionary Ridge. He rose to the rank of breveted major general on March 13, 1865. He...
, the seventh governor of the territory. Moore was Van Trump's brother-in-law.
Van Trump first saw Mount Rainier in August, 1867, and later remembered, "That first true vision of the mountain, revealing so much of its glorious beauty and grandeur, its mighty and sublime form filling up nearly all of the field of direct vision, swelling up from the plain and out of the green forest till its lofty triple summit towered immeasurably above the picturesque foothills, the westering sun flooding with golden light and softening tints its lofty summit, rugged sides and far-sweeping flanks -- all this impressed me so indescribably, enthused me so thoroughly, that I then and there vowed, almost with fervency, that I would some day stand upon its glorious summit, if that feat were possible to human effort and endurance."
Van Trump and General Hazard Stevens
Hazard Stevens
Hazard Stevens was an American military officer, mountaineer, politician and writer. He received the Medal of Honor for his service in the Union army during the American Civil War at the Battle of Fort Huger. Stevens and P. B...
made the first documented successful climb of Mount Rainier
Mount Rainier
Mount Rainier is a massive stratovolcano located southeast of Seattle in the state of Washington, United States. It is the most topographically prominent mountain in the contiguous United States and the Cascade Volcanic Arc, with a summit elevation of . Mt. Rainier is considered one of the most...
on August 17, 1870. They climbed the mountain via the Gibraltar route. He climbed the mountain at least five other times.
Van Trump guided John Muir
John Muir
John Muir was a Scottish-born American naturalist, author, and early advocate of preservation of wilderness in the United States. His letters, essays, and books telling of his adventures in nature, especially in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, have been read by millions...
to the summit of Mount Rainier in 1888. Muir describes this climb in a chapter of his book Steep Trails.
Muir and Van Trump kept in touch after the climb.
Van Trump joined the Sierra Club
Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is the oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States. It was founded on May 28, 1892, in San Francisco, California, by the conservationist and preservationist John Muir, who became its first president...
in 1893 making him one of their first members outside California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He later served on the Sierra Club committee that campaigned for the creation of Mount Rainier National Park
Mount Rainier National Park
Mount Rainier National Park is a United States National Park located in southeast Pierce County and northeast Lewis County in Washington state. It was one of the US's earliest National Parks, having been established on March 2, 1899 as the fifth national park in the United States. The park contains...
. After his wife died in 1907, Van Trump took a position greeting tourists at a summer tent camp at Indian Henry's Hunting Ground at Mt Rainier. He served briefly as a seasonal ranger and spent winters with the Longmire family. Failing health caused him to relocate to New York in 1915 to spend his final days with relatives. He died on December 27, 1916 and was interred at the Kattellville Cemetery, Broome County, New York
Broome County, New York
Broome County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 200,600. It was named in honor of John Broome, who was lieutenant governor in 1806 when Broome County was established. Its county seat is Binghamton, which is also its major city. The current...
.
The Stevens Van Trump Historic Monument along the Skyline Trail in Mount Rainier National Park was erected to commemorate the historic first accent of the mountain. Van Trump Park, an alpine meadow, Van Trump Creek
Van Trump Creek
Van Trump Creek, also called Van Trump Falls Creek or the Van Trump Fork of the Nisqually River, is a creek in Pierce County, Washington. It is a tributary of the Nisqually River, joining the river just above the mouth of the Paradise River...
and Van Trump Glacier
Van Trump Glacier
The Van Trump Glacier is actually a scattering of glaciers and snowfields located on the southern flank of Mount Rainier in Washington. Named after P. B. Van Trump, who was part of an early ascent of Mount Rainier, the glacier covers and contains 500 million ft3 of ice. The glacier is located...
, all in the national park, are named after him.