The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-09-28

| quantity discharged from them - immensej ~
the winter the depth Of snow upon Mount Wash
ington is far greater than upon the ground near
the base upon which il stands. Indeed, IL is
quite common upon the higher isolated noun
tains Of New England, upon the Wachuset, the
Monadnock, the Moosehiliock, and the Ascut-
ney, Of no more than from three to four thou
| sand feet elevation, that the snow falls TO the
depth of foot or more when there is none IN all
the surrounding country. A cloud is seen TO
rest upon the mountain all day, from which II
either rains or SHOWS.
In the month Of August, 1886, in company
with other gentlemen, assembled Mount Wash
inston. The day previous there had been
rain, and in the night the weather became clear
with the wind at northwest. Next morning we
went to the mountains, although the tops were
covered with clouds, hoping these would pass
away by the time we were prepared 10 ascend.
We rose on Inc mountain some three thousand
feet, entering upon the cloud as if we were go
ing into thick volume of smoke or into region
of twilight. As we continued TO ascend, the
cold increased. The cloud was not like an ordi-
nary thick fog; II was mist, carried along by
forcible but exceedingly uniform and steady
breeze. II grew colder as we advanced. We
had summer heat at the foot Of the mountain;
but soon after coming into the cloud the Ice
made, and before we arrived al the top OF the
mountain our clothes were saturated and frozen
stiff
The cold upon the highest elevation was in
severe than that of the coolest sleet
or snow-sorm Of winter. The ice made upon
the side Of the rocks more than an inch thick,
as the freezing mist was blown
against il. AT the top Of the mountain the sur
face was slippery from ice, and We feared its IN
crease below that we might be unable 10 de-
scend. II would have been hardly possible TO
keep ourselves alive through the night II our
progress down had been arrested by the sIppe-
ry ice. The next morning we saw the noun
tain, at the distance OF eight miles-the cloud
had passed of, and the shining sun glistened
upon the mountain-top. With aglass we could
distinctly perceive that the rocks OF the upper
region OF Mount Washington were glazed with
ice.
Above the surface Of the pond, the pinnacle
Of Mount Washington rises in majestic gran
1eur about sixteen hundred feet, and one thou
sand feet at least higher than any Of the cluster
Of mountains around it. This pinnacle is com
posed principally of rocks of granite and gneiss
piled together, presenting variety Of colors
and forms. The rocks lay sometimes loose, as
if promiscuously thrown together, being clean,
and destitute Of the appearance OF soil. ln some
places they are in strata, with as muchreguiarity
IS if placed there by human hands. Frequently
he strata torn or rived from each other, ieav-
ng marks Of their former connexion. Storm
beaten for many ages, the rocks are wearing
.way; decayed with age, the surface Of the
ocks indicates the lghtness, and almost the
,onsistence Of dry timber that had been for
ome years exposed to alternate rain and sun
shine. The pinnacle of Mount Washington
las lost from its steep sides, being an angle OF
about forty five degrees, nearly the whole Of the
'oi and The rock itself has for ages been decom-
posing and passing off 10 the valley below. The
op OF this pinnacle is surface nearly horizon
al of three or four acres; and very near the
outer edge Of the space is never-failing spring
If water coming from the rocks. The view
rom this point in clear day is wonderfully
,rand and picturesque. lnnumerabe noun
aims, lakes, ponds, rivers, towns, and villages
meet the gralified eye and the broad Atlantic
ocean stretches itself along the eastern horizon.