Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1859-08-19

to Rev. +. w. SHELTON Of this place.
having recently visited Mansfield mountain,
sends to the New York Courier d Enquirer
the following graphic description of the
scenery.
A TRIP TO MANSFIELD MOUNTAIN.
To the Editor of the Courier d Enquirer.
To summer tourists and to others who are |
seeking for a new sensation, permit me to
recommend the highest SUBMITS of the Green
Mountains. They have hitherto been unvis |
tied except by few local travellers, and are
unknown 20 the many, but are now as access
sible as the peaks of the White Mountains.
The scenery is equally magnificent. and in
some aspects. in the judgment of the educa-
ted. even superior. The accessories of a visit,
from the very fact that the run of travel has
not yet set in this direction, are much more
agreeable and romantic, while every necessa-
~ comfort and convenience can be had. !
have been so much delighted with these
ranges that recently | ascendod them for the
fourth time within very few years.
II is not more than an hour and half
travel by rail from Burlington to Waterbury,
Vt Thence TO the village Of Stowe is a drive
of only ten miles, through the most charming
mountain scenery Carriages are always on
hand, and the horses are peculiarly brisk so
as to make one regret the shortness of the
ride. From Stowe YOU begin the ascent Of
Mansfield Mountain. and arriving soon at a
farmhouse where the last signs of cultivation
disappear, you are furnished with sure-iooted
saddled horses and good guides, and follow
by bridepath through dense primeval
forest. about three miles This part of the
journey is novel and enjoyable in the OK
trcmc. The spectacle on one hand IS one of
savage wildness. the storm and the hurricane
have done great work. but except in the
path which we tread the axe has not. and the
immense growth Of hcmlocks and other trees
which crown the mountain side to the very
base of its rocky and arid peaks, attests the
richness of the soil. At about five o clock
p. NJ. on beautiful evening in June, our
party dismounted within few hundred feet
of the summit called the Nose" The log
hut had been replaced by framed house,
about forty feet in length, which was kept by
good host and a most neat landlady, and
here we found almost every comfort which
the valley could afford, beside some luxuries,
a well stocked larder. clean beds ample ac
commodation for man and beast, although we
were 5000 feet above the level of the Lake.
While supper was preparing We ramhled off
a mile or more over the scarped rocks to the
somewhat higher Chin The prospect
thence was one Of superb grandeur. The
whole extent of Lake Champlan. for over a
hundred miles. with all its islcts, lay before Us,
while the sun sank down with gorgeous eff
feet behind the distant Adirondacks. In the
opposite direction were to be seen the differ
cnt ranges of the Green Mountains with their
j unnumbored peaks and the rival submits Of
the White Mountains
While standing near the brink of giddy
precipices, we looked down into vast abysses
of greenery. over large part of the States
p of New York, New Hampshire and Vermont.
Having leasted our eyes on this scene till the
shades Of night began to descend, we set out
on our return to the " Summit House --
e Our guide having left us for few moments,
returned with a large cake of pure white
q snow from some natural ice-houso. The
smell of beei-steak which was broilcd on a
grid-iron. to a nicely and roasting coffee, sa-
=, luted our oliaotories, and most excellent
meal was set before men as hungry as Sc
y many bears Having then smoked fragrant
y Havana and rested for an hour, we camberod
3, up the rocky sleeps Of the neighborna
- " Nose" and saw the moon rise. 1t was
twelve o'clock Mt night before we could pre-
vail on ourselves to retire to our couches. Al
three the whole household was awoke by
d great rumpus. wild beast had come to tht
l. new settlementin search of prey, and some o
/. the people having gone out to see what hi
~, was about drove him into the house through
- the open door After considerable trouble h
u was finally captured, alive though he showec
re fight lie was only hedgehog, or "irotiu
porcupine.' This trophy we brought ava,
with us but after keeping him few days b,
r. gnawed his way out. BY sunrise we wor
r again on the Nose to see the sun come up
" The fogs which then lay on the mountain
crests looked like a vast collection of break
=" ers, and it was difficult to dispe the illusion
e. Of the sea. After doing justice to an excel
nc lent breakfast we found our horses saddlod a
IN the door The decent like the ascent is mad
10 with perfect ease oven by ladies. | send thi
brief account in hopes that it may be tn
J" means of inducing those who have leisure, Il
D. enjoy some of the finest scenery on this Con
20 tincnt, which can be reached with as littl
trouble and with less expense than by tr
- to the White Mountains. A large stream q
travel must, we think, before long, set in thi
70 direction. At present this is an unhackneye
ne route. F. w. S.