Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-08-24

ASCENT OF KILLNGToN.-A cores
pendent of the Springfield Republican,
writing from this place under date Of
the 10th inst, says;
II returned yesterday from a trip to
Mount KillingtOn, situated in the towns
of MendOn and Sherburne, ten or twelve
miles east of this village. The ascent
and descent from here can be made in
one day between early dawn and dark,
but our party took four days for the
journey, in order to make it as easy and
comfortable as possible.
Rutland is shut in between noun
tains in the valley of the Otter creek,
the mountains to the east towering sub
timely above all in sight, the ascent be-
ginning within a half mile of the vii
lage, while the range at the west is low
er and farther off. The ascent for two
miles is comparatively gradual, but for
a large part Of that distance the road is
sleeper than Armory Hill; and then for
two miles to the Notch the way is rug
ged, and about on an angle of forty-fve
degrees. Two miles from the village the
horse halted at spring of water and I
left the carriage for walk to the Notch,
it being considered cruelty to animals
for any but women and children to ride
up this mountain.
DAT the Notch we took the carriage
again, and descended for half mile,
when we crossed Cold river, swift,
noisy stream, whose steep banks are
clothed with spruce and hemIock, and,
again ascending for half mile, arrived
on ridge and stopped for the night at
farm house. A narrow strip of uneven,
stony land on either side Of this river is
used for farming purposes. The soil is
strong and the crops look well, but
owing to the difficulty Of getting to
market, only five or six farmers, and
about as many lumbermen, live in this
vicinity.
Early in the morning our party Of
eight started again, in buggies, 1Qr the
summit. We followed the rough river
road for q mile and q half, when we
turned to the right, directly at the base
of the second mountain in hight in Yer
mont, Mansfield being only few feet
higher than Killington, and commenced
climbing the mountain proper. Another
mile Or two through dark, dense forest
brought US to the end Of the carriage
road where the horses were embarrassed
and saddled, the ladies mounted, and
the party again started. Arriving at
the end Of the bride path about II o.
clock, the horses were hitched, and after
drinking from cold spring and lunch
ing, we started for the bald summit
about half mile above our heads.
The ascent is more difficult than
Mount Washington; the path up Kill
ington is not so winding and has not so
many fine views OF cascades and wales as
the roads from the Glen and Crawford
houses; hut chen 0nce OH Hilli,1gt0n the yiesO
is nearly as extensive and gyand as Hat from
the summit Of UaSh6lgton. The dark green
forests and the rugged mountains give
the prevailing impression on both sum-
mlts, but here, as there, the landscape is
dotted with many quiet villages, farm
houses, lakes and rivers. At 2 o'clock
we started for the farm house, where
another night was passed, and yesterday
we came to this village. According to
recent measurement Killington is 1921
feet above the level Of the sea, and Jay
is 40l8 feet"
We see no reason why, with proper
degree Of enterprise here, Killington
may not be made a popular place of
summer visit, and Rutland reap large
benefit therefrom.