Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1845-09-05
Communication.
OUR OWN MOUNTAINS.

Glarus, conld not help thinking Of the tendency of
our travellers to go over the Atlantic to see the won
ders OF Nature and Art in the Old World, leaving
equally wonderful manifestations in these depart.
menis behind them unseen and undescribed. Those
OF US who do not travel but depend upon information
from others are less acquainted with the natural
beauties OF our own country and State, than with
many OF the cascades, rocky defiles and mountain.
tops Of Italy and Switzerland. Permit me, then
through the medium of your paper, TO direct the at
tenon of the admirers of Nature to passage, not
through the Alps, but through the Green Mountains
OF Vermont, which has not attracted the attention of
any writer, although it is one Of the greatest natural
curiosi'ies in Vermont, If not in New England. Fol.
low me through this pass, and if you do not find
where the forces of have been exercd upon so
magnificent scale as they were in the elevation of
The Alps, you will find contrasts as striking and
scenery equally wild and romantic. In fact, there is
not place in Central Vermont that will not show as
great exhibitions of human industry and persevca nce,
as any Of the mountainous parts of Europe. Follow
up the Winooski the Otter, or the Lamolle yalles
and thriving Villages will appear at almost every turn
of the stream. Look little higher up on the hills,
and they are covered with focks and herds or look
ing still higher far up the mountain side may be seen
the little "clearng," surrounded with evergreen tim
her aud tidy log house in thu centre. In this re-
gIon, few hours will take from beautiful mead
ows and luxuriant vegetation, to barren rocks and
perennial ice by transition rapid as will be found
in any country.
Some weeks since, in company with several ladies'
and gentlemen l proposed TO take a trip to the
" Notch Of the Green Mountains, remarkable de.
preston about two miles south of the summit of
Mansfield. There was some he>itancy among the
ladies' when they learned that on their part was on
experiment, no lady having as yet ever passed the
mountains at this point. In approaching the pass
from the vicinity of Lake Champlan, there is a con.
tlnued ascent for twenty miles, but uniform that
an elevation of several hundred feet is overcome in
carriage or upon horseback without scarcely per.
celvne It. We are then at the beautiful site of Mr.
Stephens, at the very base of Mansfield. The pros
pect from this point is imposing beyond description.
The whole side OF this tain, which is more than
mile IN length rises before YOU terminating a, an
elevation of over four thousand lee upon the North
and South, in the bold rocky summit Of The Nose,
! and Chln," while broad belt of spruce timber
hangs like saddle upon the depression between
them, and runs far down into the basin to the West
I'LL it is finally lost the lighter green of the beech
and maple.
Contras,ed with this and the heavy wooded rec ion
norm OF It, is the rocky Spur, which stands gu, in
bold relief, and extends two thousand feetdown the
Northwestern angle Of the mountain. The view of
the mountain is as varied as the of the amos-
pherc, and the inhabitants about its base renarkipp
this FACT make use of ,ura barometer so that
| the old Green Mountain Boys who have resided
in sight Of for 80 or 40 years, will pre,c, the chan.
&c, IN the weather as accurately will the sailor
boys upon the ocean from their barometer Fair