New-York daily tribune., 1858-10-15
= TOrR IN THE SWITZERLAND or
dXFRIr5

20 become tourist there. left Burlington by steam
boat took the cars at Platsburgh and s1 hours from
| starting was al the middle point OF the rorthern
boundary OF this wilderness. Ny journey wa- 10 De
performed for the most part alone and on foot Ny
plan Of travel xas 70 pass sonthward through Tie
ranges OF mountains visiting the lakes convenient TO
nv course naturalist and Nimrod volunteered TO
accompany the first twenty miles.
On fine afternoon .l0th August, 1859, We TOOK
our way across the feds toward the woods. Our
course was due soGth ascending the declivity hat
slopes from the base Of the Adirondack hcunis,n. to
th. valley If Tie s. isw 4, o'clock we had
walked eight miles and sbuat leaving The last
clearing for the dark forest of blak spruce. Before
entering this stopped IN rest hyn spring While
We were resting, lame man came and began 10 dip
water from tho spring into large pail with tea-cup.
A. he lad plenty OF tune, commenced converse
tion and found him rcsdy 10 talk than We 10
l;-ten lie Was much Impressed with the f,.t that ne
was a hundred miles from hcmc. He bintod darkly
that things werr wrong IN the county, and said that
he had come 10 right them. Tie people were already
beginning to iremble. HIS peculiar gift was preach
ing from any text and without preparation Hi age
and serious co,ntenance told tina; nc in earnest.
H. gave US specimen of his power, placing his right
foot upon stone and gazing al il with look Of sold
melancholy while lie continued his hsrgngGe. He
became moro excited every moment and soon mingled
carnal ea,ls with his pinus eIhoraons. After col
lcc.ing few minerals entered the woods, guided
in our by small stream. Or its bank We h'iiit
our campfire. Orr Nimrcd caught few trout, which
gave flavor ia supper.
Next morning We continued our cour-e, guided by
water courses and compass. The ground was more
broken at every milo of our progress, and after three
hour travelling, rocks and ravnes became frequent.
trail Jed rs along the base Of rugged hill, and little
before noon the waters Of Ragged Lake were seen
gIamering through the trees. Standing by tls lake,
the stiffness Of the woods seems remarkable. Perfect
silence il relieved only by the cpperng o the Squirrel
or interrupted Intervals by the cry ut the Jay
or the cronk of the raven. THO slightest sound seems
magnfcd By contrast with silence. The breaking Off
dry branch IL echoed from the opposite shore with
Startling dstnctness Floating here the eXcurronst
secs beauties that repay his toll. The leaves OF the
water lily form an inner circle quite around him. Be-
yond these and along the water edge X belt OF wild
grass upon which the deer feed and beyond this belt
are iamarsck and cellar trees whusc light and dark
foliage form girilc Of vare gated green. Further
ava, the dee; rccn forest extends unbruen for many
miles. Toward the east mountain rises abruptly from
the shore Il II clothed with evergreen. whose deep
color contrasts strongly with the sky. IL the inlet Of
this lake we found an abundance Of trout. drove
crowd before me, AMI standing in plain sight OF them
threw M nook, always taking them. aud the largest
irst.
In the aiternoop left ,e lake, tanning oar
toward tho west, searching for pond said 10 lie in
that direction. The way wa rugged hills; aud
conjecture our guide. II wa hard climbing over logs
and rocks, but We rewarded atength blythe sight
Of water flashing IN the lasr rays Of sunset. We
much fatigued, and our bed of houeis very wecome.
Next morning crossed the pond. The sandy bed Of
the shoa' water marked by numbercSs deer tracks.
On the western shore We found a small boat and near
IL the Ola oi q deer recently killed. We also noticed
a path leading toward the west This path resolved
to follow, aud many weary mile il led W. over hills
and through swamps. Late in the day it brought us
10 small settlement. was glad To- learn that, from
this place there was e road path io the mountains
soutlward.
From this point my comrades tnr ed back, leaving
me to pursue my journey with staff and knap-ack.
Tie next day being Sunday, remained al the settle
ment till afternoon There meeting IN the school
house and the exercises ming lied with shouts and
earnesr calls thar the echoes of the h-. There
WA nnc sincerity among the worshipers. The voice
of the preacher and plaintive and when the
Congregation lODed wIth htn ~ singing
.Tne -ouudirs ai.l.. of the aiui wood rsrs
" I'll t-rI lyHs4s Of ioisy -h,eT'
Toward evening IL the settlement, and eight miles
brought ms to the Mountain House. Il il little i'm
without sign, and stands the entrance OF range.
Here il d eautful view. Two dark mountains rise
abruptly .ron the plain, beautiful green valley lying
around and between them, sna near by il small
ho,ss with versulah ard some skeleton trees whose
bleaching in ls are brough. into strong and strange
relief by the deep color ol e mountain. Next mogr-
ing was awakened 10y Inc bright sunlight. RAIN
had fallen during tie night and the air pure and
cool. White m.:s wreathed the hilI tops aGa lay IN
the valley. le the Inn and following the path that
threaded tie forest entered the range. THIS part u!
the range succession of peaks with regularity
of form OF position. Il presents great variety oi
wild and picturesque scenery. was constantly re-
jcicirg tne pure az the bright SKY and the arcade
q trees whose green most beautiful when
Illuminated by the light O. such morning. Occs-
sl0uGl penn = L the woods revealed mountain pictures
whose subliuity and beauty filed NE with astonsh-
neu' and delight. Twelve miles brought me 10 Loon
Lake. justly celebrated for il, romantic views. II is
very narrow, and about fve nn.s in ength. Here II
house of onarainm ut provided for chGnc' travellers,
with the usual sicnihe lack @; Il Courtyard fence.
we-kn.wn artist from New-fork passes the Summer (
months N The vicinity Of tins lake. Hs pictures taken
il ih.1 wLd woods have INC; will deserved success.
Leaving Loon Iake, had passed he 6r~t cluster oi I
mountains. Twelve miles further, and cane To TIC /
second. This is more regular IL formation than The
frt. The highest peak is called White-fsne. ~ rs
foot Sleeps Il beautiful lake called lake Placid
broad fuow extends from the snnmit to the bsse oi
tie mountain s southern side marking the pain of
avalanche As the trees and rccks are sTepta~ay
there = thus termed convenient path for ascending