The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-09-28
THE CRYSTAL HILLS" OR WHITE
MOUNTAINS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.

THE CRYSTAL HILLS" OR WHITE
/ MOUNTAINS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
We take the following very interesting ac-
count of the White Mountains from discourse
on the Mountains Of New England, delivered
by Isaac Hill. before the New York Lyceum:-
/ will direct your attention to the q Crystal
mus" or White Mountains, being the highest
In the United States east Of the Rocky Noun
tam chain Our White Mountains, although
not frequently visited by strangers from the diff
icully of access until within few years past,
have already become celebrated for their grand
and beautiful scenery. These mountains ex-
tend about twenty miles from southwest TO
| northeast; they are the most elevated of the
range OF barrier mountains. commencing with
the Alleganies and broken through at various
| points by the waters of the Potomac, the Sus-
quehanna, the Delaware, the Hudson, the Con-
/ necticut and other rivers running into the At
lantc ocean from the north and the base of
| the Crystal Hills, which are seven in number,
rising considerably above all others Of the range
either to the east or west, is about ten miles
broad. These bills are situated in direct line
about seventy miles due north from Concord,
the capital Of the State Of New Hampshire, and
about eighty-two miles northwest from Ports
mouth, its only seaport Although distant more
than sixty miles from the nearest part Of the
sea-coast, the snow-white summit Of Mount
| Washington is distinctly visible many leagues
at sea: the same mountain looking by many
/ others which seem to be Of equal elevation by
their nearness, is seen on the hills of killingly,
in Connection overlooking very nearly two
hundred miles down the length of New Hamp-
shire and entirely across the State of Massa-
chusetts. The highest point Of Mount Wash
ington is $500 feet above the level Of the sea
| the heights Of the mountains at present bearing
the names Of Adams Jefferson, Madison, Mon
roe, franklin and Pleasant, which surround it
and form the base we have described, vary from
| $3.50 TO 1889 feet.
These mountains, unlike those Of the Alps in
Europe and the Andes Of South America, are
not of sufficient elevation TO encounter the re-
seasuIf inc RI ..af L,-y itru
| August, they not only assembled without
danger, but with no very great Inconvenience
from the cold. Since path ways have been cut
several miles through the forest for travellers on
horseback to the foot of Mount of Washington,
ladies' can ascend that mountain and return on
the same day.
As you ascend the mountains you encounter
the different climates of as many degrees OLA
titude as every one hundred and fifty feet will
divide in their whole elevation. Near the foot
you find the larger growth of maple, beech and
birch--soon the black growth Of hemlock and
spruce commences extending for a considerable
rise, the growth of different perennals becomes
less and less: now you arrive at the gnarled
larch, rising to less than the height of man,
bent down and hugging the surface of the noun
TAIN as if drawn BY The warmth which the rays
Of the sun throw upon the declining surface
where they strike. In the upper region of vege-
taton saving the moss and lichens Of meagre
and scanty growth which extend almost to the
summits is belt around these mountains of
some fifty rods in extent, indicating change of
| climate within the last twenty five years which
has caused vegetation to retreat that distance
down the mountains. The dwarfsh trees, origi-
| nally Of the black or perennial growth, are all
dead and dry few Of them are larger than a
mans arm or wrist. The bark has left them
they are crooked and spread out like the antlers
of deer, which they in some instances resem
Bile and they cover so much OF the ground as
10 render il quite difficult to make your way
among them. Above this growth commences
the space Of the mountains covered with moss
and lichens. Looking over the surface Of this
bare space, which commences little below the
base upon which the cones of the different
mountains rest, the whole appears like large
pasture Of several thousand acres, over which
The cattle usually range. II seems 10 be fitted
| for the abode Of men and animals; and you
look around as if the eye was IN search OF some
living being, anticipating those associations
which every where meet us in cleared grounds
prepared for the habtations Of men and beasts.
| Nothing but the breeze interrupts the stiffness
which surrounds you the vast pasture seems
like world deserted no cnirpng bro, no sing
ing cricket or grasshopper, not even the buzzlng
! hy is heard in all the region about. pond oil
clear and transparent water OF nearly an acre
running into another Of about twothirds OF the
same size, and from the latter stream falling
down the side Of the mountain, tumbhng over
| and over several thousand feet below, and large
enough 10 carry on extensive mills, lies at the
foot Of the cone Of Mount Washington IN ba-
sin OF the most elevated plateau: IN the clear
and deep waters of these ponds not fish or
minnow is TO be discovered and not even an
insect. myriads of which usually seen about
bodies OF water on the civilized earth below,
can be detected over their surface by the micro
scropic eye. :,
In this and other elevated regions it would
hardly be suspected that there was quite as
much humidity as we meet in the common cram
berry beds in meadows nearly upon level with
streams and over which water brooks flow; the
tread of the feet upon the moss and lichens IS
like the tread upon moss meadow resting upon
a water surface--the feet sink into the covering
and leaving an impression OF the track as the
ground IL passed over. Upon this surface there
grows small berry in taste resembling the com
mon cranberry, but more tart and OF much s', I'd,
or size. upon vine of the cranberry species. 4 ne
quantity Of water constantly retained upon run
ming from the upper region OF these hlgn ,oouh
tains is very far greater than The quanu'y ian,hg
. upop and retained upon the grounds below. ne
clouds resting upon the mountain tops are gen
orally charged with rain, snow or seet ana the