The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1849-08-09
(For the SpuJ
THE WHITE MOUNTAINS

Inc Whoe range or family oil W he mountains pro.
per, were in immediate neighborhood. There are
seven distinct peaks SUBMITS, designated by the names
of Mounts Pleasant, Franklin, Munroe Washington |
Clay Adams, and Jefferson. The FIST four lie nearly in
a southweslery and norheasterly direction. Two of
the latter 10 the north while the last one bends to
the east. In pursuing journey, we passed high
ridge, before coming to Noun, Pleasant, with steep
descent the left Of thousand feet into a valley or
wd of Unreasonable length; aud, little further on
passed round Mount Pleasant looking down fright
fu precpice into deep ravine which stretches away TO
the south for many miles We passed over the bro ad
summit Of Mount Franklin, round one of II high spnrs
of Munroe, TO the base OF Mount Washington. Here
stopped 10 allow horses quench Their thirst al
little lake, and amused ourselves, the 18th of july in
snowbang each other, with missiles formed from bed
of snow which, judged, contained thousand cubic
feet.
The main peak Of Mount Washington nearly resem-
bes an inverted bowl with level its summit of
about twelve The difficult part of jour.
ney, the ascent of Mount Washington lay before
US. winding path mas been formed al great expense
among the rocks hich enab horse TO reach The top
About forty rods short Of The summit, we left ponies
THAT distance being exceedingly difficult of ascent
after olambeIng the rocks for nearly hall hour
the object of our fatigue accompished-we stood
upon the top of Mount Washington 1t would be inns
possible 10 describe our feelings The rareied nouns
tain air, which had been blowing gale since we
left Mount Clinton, had given almost supernatural
strength, and proved TO spirits the elixer of life
A moments glance convinced were high above
all created things, and the language of the Psamist was
vivdly brought TO our remembraEcc-"O Lord, how
manifold are thy works in wisdom hast thou made
them all the earth is full of thy riches
In the west, at great distance, distinctly the
Green Mountains; at the north lay the remainder OF the
group OF White Mountains, with their rugged tops Of
loose dark rocks, and sides in many places covered with
snow; In the east, In the SOUTH and in all directions
nothing is seen but The peaks Of mountains deep raw
ines, and small shining lakes of water For the first
time in our lives we privileged to look upon part
OF the creation as it left by tie hand the Creator
Not human being Except companions) no insect
or thing possessing animal life was any where 10 be seen
Man had nowhere marred the landscape, and all was
beautifully sublime beyond the power of description
After partaking of unch We commenced retracng
our steps, and arrived Mr. Crawfords about7 o'clock
in the evening, delighted with the excursion We found
excellen host had been uncommon, attentive to our
ladies, showing them every mark Of attention. and tax
Willard. The glo wing description which we gave of
the mountain scenery, and the exharang effect of the
air. induced three Of ladies TO engage TO 90 over the
same ground the next day, provided OF the gentle
man would accompany them. The galanry of The
would allow them to reuse aud the next morn
ing found US slowly winding up the side Of Mount Gin
ton with one OF our party foot, acting as assistant
guide. We lad not proceeded far our journey be,
e ~ n
jects Of interest every where abounded that had es
capped our notice the day before. The ladies called our
attention 10 the gigantic growth Of the living trees the
large trunks of the fallen and decayng ones the moss.
covered rocks and stumps, and the endless posion of
al the varieties Of flowers which are common 10 the
woods and mountains OF northern atiludes. No change
in the aspect of things escaped their vgan eyes, As
we assembled The mountain they observed that The spruce
and the fir were taking The place Of the rock maple The
beech, yellow birch, and tall black spruce AS we pro.
gressed found the trees constantly diminishing
in SIZE and were surprised 10 find thai the frs had d.in.
died into dwarfs aud Their branches become 50 in er
woven that you could almost walk upon 4heir tops
little farther on, rocks, MOSES alpine plants and chens
take the place OF shrubs and bushes. The rocks be-
fore reaching the main peak Of Mount Washington are
granile'and gness, with occasional viens of quartz
What is called the bald part of Mount Washington is
huge pile of loose ragged rock of mica and slate dark
color and rough surface ch is covered in many places
with various Ichens, whose prevailing color is II ok
mixed with yellow. In the spaces among The rocks
grows course alpine grassy 81 dge.
Every where the sides of The noun iains We found
the mountain cranberry in BLOSSOM and beautiful var
ely Of laurel, not more than six inches high The noun
tain air had the effect upon the ladies' that we ex
perienced the day before, and some of them were the
FIRST to reach the summit Of the mountain. Their sensa
ans viii not attempt 10 describe; SUFFICE ut 10 sa,
hey 10 ecstases They discovered two lille al.