Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1857-07-28
Correspondence of the Spy.
WHITE MOUNTAINS.
SIIAEAIn u nr1an Irl.r % 1QSr

oor-and here l came upon my own feet, not
Withstanding it had been declared feat next to
impossible for me to accomplish. Dust whisper
this to G., will you y
The traveller to this spot stops at Gorham, at
the Alpine House, and thence proceeds to the
Summit, or goes by stage, eight miles, to the base
OF Mount Washington, and thence makes the d.
rect ascent. This latter I should by all means
recommend him to do. At the base, he will find
the Glen House, kept by Mr.. Thompson, very
accommodating and gentlemanly host. The cpl
cure Will ind at his table every luxury to crafty
the appetite, while, from the balcony of the
house, one has constant view of scenes the
most magnificent and sublime. think no better
place could be found in the whole country for
spending few weeks pleasantly and proftably.
All the highest peaks of the White Mountain
range are here seen, in all their subimity.
From the Glen House, people usually take
horses for the Summit, distance of seven miles.
l, however, took my own feet instead. Not the
least interesting feature in the ascent, is the APP
peaTanee OF these equestrian travellers, winding
their way in single file, through deep de6les,
and anon over the edges of precipiees, whose
depths the eye can scarce fathom. Being upon
my own feet, had fine view Of these pilgrims,
toiling along, both above and below me The
horses sure footed that an accident seldom
occurs. They SHOULD be left unguided by the
traveller 10 PICK Jnelr own way.
Parties to and from the Summit usually take
guide but even the lone footman, g with two
eyes in his head cannot miss the way" as the
pack-man said, in whose company we had the
good fortune to make part of the ascent He was
good-natured son of Erin, who traverses the
path to and from the Summit, daily, with his two
pack horses, whom he regards almost children,
and who really seemed to me uncommOnly intel
ligent quadrupeds, bearing their burdens in pan
nlers, each beast carrying about two hundred
pounds at one time. In this slow way is trans
ported to that immense height everything usel at
the Zip Top" and &C Summit" houses, where
travellers, who have the leisure, often stay sew
eral days The accommodations are as good as
one could reasonably expect.
By staying few days at the top of the noun
tain, the visitor stands better chance of getting
the 'tgoud view" which almost every one seems
to be after, than if he only goes up for the day.
Not one day in ten probably furnishes view
clear and uninterrupted, and then, perhaps, for
not more than few minutes at time, FIRE
quently are the clouds and fogs passing over and
resting on these gigantic mountain peaks These
fogs come on almost nstantaneously, and are SO
dense to render it almost totally dark. AT
such times is the danger Of being lost without
guides. In this way brought about the sad
fate of Miss B., who persisted within sight and
hearing of heSSummit House. yet without know.
ing it And so of the unknown stranger, who
| persisted last season, and whose remains were
found few days since but short distance from
the house.
cannot but wonder that visitors can find
nothing else, save ''view" from the Summit, to
interest them. But so it is, and so. perhaps,
majority of those who go there are disappointed.
But, to me, every step pays for its ascent every
tiny plant and every rock has Its interest. Il is
not true, as often reported, tnat the top of this
| mountain is above the region Of vegetation, or
| within the region of perpetual snow. No snow
| probably remains there through August, although
| | saw a small patch my way and l found
considerable patch Of grass, with variety of
what l called Alpine Phlox Il vas so foolish as
10 neglect to bring my Botany, and therefore
could not really decide)-a tiny plant, with
dear little flower quite at the top. Lichens and
some moss abound there
But, the rocks the rocks they are the grand
things. | expected to fnd them granite but
found not single specimen of real granite
granite the rocks really are, but not granite-all
the materials for forming granite, but not rightly
combined; plenty Of quartz, both granular and
considerably crystalized; both micaceous sehist
and slate, besides Felsparic rock. The rocks
are scarce rounded at all by time and exposure to
the elements, but on the contrary are all sharply
angular-quite unlike what had expected.
| The hoary heads of these mountains show evil
| dent signs of the vast, unnumbered centuries
which have passed over them. l think they are
upheavals made during the early convulsiye
throbs of this globe, while it was vet in its in.
fancy
But may as well stop first as last. I could
say volumes, and yet not express all the emotions
and thoughts to which they give rise. Let me
say in passing, for the benefit of those who NAV
hereafter adopt my method of making the ascent
that if might believe the assertions Of those
who rode up, they were much more fatigued than
myself, and besides they lost their journey, they
said, because they could not get ''the view 8
Poor travellers pity you. could see scarce
anything from the fog-enveloped summit, but
had some splendid views on the way, much en-
HANGED by bursting unexpectedly upon the sight,
as they did, by the rolling away Of the fog masses.
Not least of these was rainbow, several hun
dred feet below me.
But It's time to descend. All me! no horse
has been sent by the guide, as promised, for my
use. Well, must go down as l came UPON
the independentline So. courage, and onward
P. ST. am safe down, on foot, all in one day.
Oh J this has been glorious days labor. am
not so stiff and lame as the riders, unless thew
complain unnecessarily. If any lady thinks Of
ascending Mount Washington, on foot, let me
recommend to her use a Bloomer dress, and let
me say, She will find much help from Mr. B., if
she has the good fortune to have one along as
had. I'm. Al