New-York daily tribune., 1843-08-24
The catskiu Mountains.

The New Mirror has graceIui aho s''1s
description of the scenery OF the Ca1shi'i' iioi'
The pen Of Mrs. E. F. ELLET. We copy so much
of i as viii be new to the readers OF recent letter
in this paper:
v;s;,ers at Catskill Mountain do not usually
<.;r. Themselves time to sec even what they 90
see to the best advantage. Many OF them re-
main but a single day; paying only hurried
visit to the Falls, and neglectlng many other
scenes almost equal i'll interest. There are nu-
merous lovely walks in the vicinity, chiei among
which are those upon the South and North Noun
tain: and the beautiful Lake IN the immediate
neghborhood of the House, is said to abound IN
fish, affording amusement to those fono OF tne
snort. with boats for rowing or sailing parties
There is said also to be an ice glen some miles
6istant into the depths Of which The sun never
penetrates and where ice may be found deposited
by all the winters since the creation.
The walk upon North Mountain found par
ticularly interesting. For some distance you foi-
low the winding road, through woods certainly
richer than ever grew on such hight before
with great deal Of impcrvious underwood, en-
belshed with wild flowers. The moss grows
here in such abundance as every where to attract
attention. At the Falls it partially covers the
rock beside the cavern, and is of the most VIVID
green. Near the foot of the Lake IS a mass OF
rock, twelve or fifteen feet IN hight, perfectly
covered with gray lichcn. The bouldcrs on the
mountain are almost hidden by the ancicnt-look-
ing shroud; and the various growths might form
a Study for the naturalist. Leaving the road for
the mountain path, you begin the ascent, and
skirt the frowning precipice, where SINGLE false
step would be destruction. Far, far below, is the
same extensive billowy verdurc-the primitive
forest. Now you climb rude staircase of piled
stones, then wind through the deep woods, where
wanderers would inlallibly be lost without
guide, and where the guide himself finds it hard
to thread the tangled maze. Several points where
a fine view may be seen claim your attention, as
now and then you come forth on the rocky verge;
but the cry is still "onward," and. like all others
of the human race who never weary OF pursuing
a promised good, YOU persevere till the actual
summit, by toll and trouble, lis reached at last
And splendid is the reward Sovast is the hight |
on which you stand, that the Mountain House"
with it's lakes itself appears upon plaln In
clear weather the view is almost boundless, IN
cludinp Albany on one hand, the Highlands on
the other; bat Just then witnessed still grander
phenomenon, realizing the beauty OF Hallecks
lines descriptive of Weehawk-
"Croyyds slumbsrng his feet, and the clear blue
or summers sky In beauty bending Ger him"
The clouds were not exactly slumbering but
rolling III heavy masses below us, shroudlng com
7pietely the more distant portions Of the land
scape, while thick mist rendered indistinct the
scene Immediately beneath. l cannot say we
were altogether in the enjoyment of "the clear
blue summers sky;;" for the top of the mountain
Just behind us was enveloped in clouds, and only
here and there narrow strips of the sky could be
discerned but we were "mickle better off, than
the seeming plain, on which fierce rain was evil
IDENTIFY pouring. Ere long, however, and while
the storm and darkness yet brooded on the regions
below the mists rolled away from the summit and
melted at the presence of the sun; the heavens
looked forth blue and clear as ever, and the rain
drops on the trees glanced in the pure sunshine.
Then the vapory veil beneath us was rent and
rolled back; part of the landscape rejoiccd once
more in the living light! The sun pierced the
dark curtain beyond it was fitted and gradually
withdrawn the glancing river and the distant
mountains came into bright view once more
and ere long no trace OF the storm could be
found save in the dense masses of cloud that
mingled with the mountains on the tartheSt verge
of the horizon.
would not have missed this spectacle, new
and surprisingly glorious as it was for the world.
But one even more striking can be seen, l am
told, during sudden thunder-shower. The
clouds then fill the lower regions of the atmos
pnSTe, anu IOH Oc!lsc Qdlh oStiVdtil, ilht
ocean. waves tossed by the blast; the lightning
leaps from space to space, and the thunder peals
wildly around, while :" the dweler in arr secs
nought above him but blue, sunbright sky
The clearing up Of storm seen under these CIR
cumstances must be sublime beyond magma
ton, and well worth a Journey to the Mountain
House expressly to see.
Some of our party regretted that the house had
not been built on the tahc-rock Of North Noun
tain; but the difficulty of access, and the impos-
sbillty of coming up with stages, would, In such
a case, have limited the number of visiiers 10
few. The present location is the most eligible
in every respect.
After the descent, our guide directed us to a
rocky footpath, instead of the winding road to
the house. 1t required some toll and climbing,
but well repaid the exerhon.
The ascent to the South Mountain is equally
beautiful. The path leads from the plateau to
the left up the steep acclvity, through wild for
est, less tangled, however, than the other, where
huge bouders, gray with moss, are piled fantasti-
cally around; some poised on single edge, and
looking as if the slightest force would precptate
ahem downward to crush the woods III their path :;
some without apparent foundation, resting on
points unseen, and presenting shallow but eXten-
sive caverns, the probable abode of reptiles, and
green with rank moisture Trees grow on the
sides and in the clefts and YOU wonder whence
their nourishmcnt is derived; they seem, in truth
to have a partiality for the rugged soil, and fre-
ouenaly send their roots far down the rock to
seek the humid earth. The fir, the cedar, and
silver pine, so much more beautiful than the
southern pine, abound here, with vast variety
of deciduous trees. The in,umerable crevices
are filed with green moss. The ascent becomes
vet more steep, and presently you enter narrow
rift, from which the party, one by one, emerge
above, and seem as If ascending out OF the earth
,rhe shadow of the oYerhangin@ cliffs renders this