The exploration of the Alaska Range was not seriously attempted until the Klondyke stampede of 1897 indicated the mineral prospects of the adjoining territory. Gold had earlier been found in the Cook Inlet district but the interior from the Inlet to the Yukon was a terra incognita. With the surprising speed of the new gold rush various government reconnoissance expeditions were directed into this area of mystery. At about the same time the gold diggers pressed up the Susitna and among them was W. A. Dickey, who in 1898 sighted a big peak, christened it Mount Mc Kinley, and guessed at its altitude with surpris ing correctness as feet. A sketch of the mountain with notes was sent to the New York Sun and the data thus falling into the hands of the noted geographer Cyrus C. Adams were placed on record.