New-York daily tribune., 1843-07-31
vOL. EEz. NO. go.

ronnd ourselves ,,pon rocky PLAN, the summit
of Mount Clinton. There was our first grant
view and a Glorious one it was. We halted IN
,.o,,,n,.r;l, and began to gaze about IN awe anc
wonder but our guide urged us forward, prom
;s;nr ne q longer pause and finer view from ut
Pleasant. whose beautiful and regular dome rose
boC,re ms AT the distance OF mile or more.
The ascent Of Mount Pleasant is very abrupt
and effected by means Of zg-zag path among
the rocks, which appeared, as we approached II,
totally impracticab!e but our surc-tooted beasts
seemed to think nothing impossible thatthcy were
required 10 do, and soon landed Us on the summit
The view from this point is surprisingly grand
The rocky crest Of the mountain is elevated far
above the rcgion cf trees, OF vegetation OF any
kind, except Of the most dwartish and abortlvc
character. Around, upon all sides, the eye meets
nothing but wild mass Of gigantic mountains,
rearing their heads, in endless variety of form,
from an ocean Of forest apparently of boundless
extent. Immediately north over the broad ex-
pansc Of Mount Franklin, rise the two peaks OF
Mount Monroe, pitching eastward, like couple
Of huge waves pctrl6cd in the act Of crossing on
a beach aud beyond them the aspiring dome OF
Mount Washington, half hid in the driving
clouds. Souherly, over Mount Clinton and
namcicSs host of other mountains, at the distance
of some twenty miles, Mount Lafayette looms up
conspicuous, and near 1t the Great iaystack, and
other peaks of the Eranconla range. Westward
the view is less wild and stern in its character,
and terminated by the gracefully curved outline
Of the Green Mountains. East and southcrly,
over the rorrcs of the nearer mountains, you
have views of old kcarsargc, Chockorua's Peak,
and onward till the sight fails. Altogether, the
view from this point is of the most sublime and
impressive character, and by many preferred to
that from Mount Washington itself, for the reason
that objects arc less distinctly seen from that
greater elevation.
Descending the northcry side Of Mount Plea
SAINT by the same kind Of angular path as that by
which we had ascondcd, we came to a halt under
the Ice side Of a mass Of rock, and our guide DIS
played the ample stores OF his baskets. We will
draw veil over the performances that followed.
Nem-scnd your dyspectics here, and warrant
them good appetite.
We started forward in high spirits, passed over
the IRREGULAR mass Of Mount Franklin, and came
to the narrow saddle shaped ridge which connects
this with Mount Monroe This is a fearful pass.
At one point the path turns sharp angle where
/, single leap would carry one down preclplcc OF
at least 500 feet. The wind swept up the western
side like an inverted Niagara, and we could
hardly keep our seats, bcnunbcd as We were with
cold. On gaining a shelter under the bluffs OF
Monroe, we chcld council. The cloud still clung
to the top of Mount Washington, !orhlddng all
hope of prospect thence, and it seemed folly
to climb another thousand feet, only to be chilled
and blinded in the mist. We were about to give
it UP by common consent, when ono of the party,
a vounr lady from Ncw-York, said, with an ar
Of cool decision, came here to ascend Mount
Washington and nothing short Of the cloudy
summit viii satisfy me. Return who may, go
forward -
She rcined her horse into the path, and we fol-
lowed with shout. Winding past the summit
of Monroe, on the eastern side, and crossing an
other depression, we soon came TO and crossed
gently rising PLAIN OF near half mile extent,
from which rises abruptly the grand cone ol
Mount Washington. This is an immense mass
of granite, broken into fragments OF every vare-
ty of shape and size, and presenting the appear
ancc of having been poured out from above upon
this great platform of solid rock. Most oil us
abandoned our horses, leaving them to follow the
f,int traces of path over the broken fragments,
and toilcd upward till at length VIC entered the
maroin of tic cloud. In this thick and driving
mist we could sec but fcw.rods, IN any direction.
and our party, scattered along the path at inter
vaIs, and camboring up the rocks in silence, had
a astrange and ghostly appearance Ink the shadowy
kings seen in procession by Macbeth About one
O'Clock we reached the summit, broad expansc
of naked, weathcr-beaten rocks. Here we wan
dcrcd about for a brief space in silence, each one
Inducing in such reflections rs were forced upon
his mind. The cold wind, charged with vapors
on the point Of freezing, was intensely piercing,
and the whole aspect OF things drcary and solemn
hv
and these were filled in with honcycomb OF ice.
After drinking the health of friends IN the lnvls,
iblc world below in cloud-formcd icicleS, and
cheering our heroine conductor we carefully re-
traced our steps to the regions of light The
transition to the blessed influences of tic sun .
was delightful, and the boundicss view, that again
burst upon us, glorious beyond expression. Our
honcward Journey was scarcely less tatlgulng
than that upward, and far more perous. Let me
caution visitors against attempting TO ride down
the prccipitous side of Mount Washington, Mount
Pleasant, or Clinton.
1t was near 7 O'Clock when we reached our
comfortable quarters and blazing fire and we'll
spread table were never hailed with more hearty
welcome.
The following day We moved onward to Little
ton, some % miles down the valley of the Am
onoosuc. The descent from theii mountain re-
zion on this side is very gradual, and the views
much less interesting than on the eastern. AT
Lttleton we made arrangements for a trip TO the
rranconia Notch, which occupied the whole OF
the next day and a glorious days work it was.
viii not intiict upon you description, lest you
and your readers cry % Jam satls;' but will say to
all travellers in these regions, go and see
From Lttleton to Havcrhill is a most delight
ful DAYS ride down the Amonoosuc and the
Connecticut. Nothing can exceed the beauty Of
the river scenery particularly about the Great Ok
bow. The neat village of Haverhillis charming
" located on a gentle swell of land on the margin