Paul Kane (1810-1871) was an artist and walked all over North America sketching Native people and scenery. His artwork is beyond astounding, and his book, The Wanderings of an Artist Among the Indians of North America, is likely among the best books anyone will read who is interested in native culture and general life in the early wilderness. On March 26, 1847 Kane arrived at Mount St. Helens, Washington.
The famous wild life painter Paul Kane wrote that while painting around Mount St. Helens he would often have local Indians guide him into some of the more isolated regions of the mountain. When it came to exploring the giant crater along the Southern ridge the Indians balked.
The natives told Kane that a race of hairy giants inhabited that area of the mountain. A race of beings of a different species, and who were cannibals. These giants were extremely aggressive and often raided their camps and stole their women. The natives told Kane that these being had strong liking for human flesh. The Indians of that region called them “Skoocooms” for fierce and fast. Kane offered a considerable bribe to any native who would accompany him in an exploration of the mountain, but none came forward. Mount St. Helens would later become highly associated with many Sasquatch related incidents.
Mount St. Helens today
