The North Central Cascades. A painted pictorial relief map in oblique aerial view. Copyrighted by George W. Martin and Richard A. Pargeter. Price $2.25.

The Cascade Range of Washington shows the intricacies of the structural and geomorphological story behind the present mountains. Owing to a past record of overlapping structural alignment between ancient and present range, and to further complications attributed to more youthful Ice Age sculpture, the geography of the Cascades is complex. In the past, government contour maps have hinted at the extreme ruggedness of topography between ridges and adjacent valleys… some have shown, through addition of green overlays, differentiation between dense forests and open upper ridges, while others have shown, through shaded relief treatment, the complex pattern of valley and ridge trends. However, until recently none have clearly presented an eagle’s eye view of the true beauty of this tremendous mountain landscape. Now, due to the vision of George W. Martin and to the artistic facility of Richard A. Pargeter, a map has been made available that colorfully and graphically illustrates the central part of the Cascades in oblique aerial view. The 22-inch by 30-inch map includes about 5200 square miles, from the Snoqualmie Pass area on the south to the Dome Peak-Spire Point area in the north, and from the Puget Sound lowland and Cascade foothills on the west to Lake Chelan on the east. Although covering a large area the map has been found by this reviewer to achieve amazing accuracy in details, and with supplementation by latest U. S. G. S. topographic quadrangles for elevation control and U. S. F. S. maps for planar accuracy, one may feel complete confidence in using the map for pictorial orientation of one’s position.

It is obvious that the map was painted by one in tune with the mountains generally and with the Cascades in particular (see "How a New Map Was Made,” by Richard A. Pargeter, Summit, Jan.-Feb., 1965). A blending of cool greens and blues with warmer hues of yellow and brown has allowed the artist-mountaineer to present a colorful interpretation and contrast between the richly forested, sometimes misty, deeper valleys and the higher, sharply defined ice-lined rock ridges and summits. The major glacier-covered cone of Glacier Peak stands out adjacent to the range crest, a symbol of the volcanic activity that brought to termination the present form of the Cascades. The colors of peak and valley gain in harmony and are balanced by addition of roads and trails in red, while the names of peaks, ridges, streams, lakes and towns are in unobtrusive black.

The back of the sheet includes an alphabetical listing of the 316 peaks and 347 lakes named on the map, each keyed to its location by the standard number-letter grid system. Also presented are the authors’ recommendations for 2-day, 3-day, 4-day or more backpacking trips into the range, with a list of the essentials of climbing clothing and equipment used in the Cascades during the summer season. A discussion of good outdoor manners and The Mountaineers Climbing Code lends further value to the publication. Printed on soil-resistant paper, the map is available at map, book, and stationery stores throughout Washington State, or may be obtained directly from George W. Martin (1804 Chester, Bremerton, Washington 98310) or from Richard A. Pargeter (27241- 122nd S.E., Kent, Washington 98031).

Dee Molenaar