Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1866-10-05
Visit 20 Nj Philip.


"TAere are soae half doren spoolloi
mountains in Maine. but the one ne ascend
ed - the highest in Maine. ve believe. west
Of Nj KAtahdin. and consequently The
highest point Of land IN Oxford Coanty.
Az this mountain has never ben. 20 our
knO~ledge. examined BY scicnti6e party.
and believing that by exanising Its struc-
tSrs light would Se thrown upon tbe geolog-
zeal formation Of the @oantaEa ranges here
Abouts. NE made up party Of SIN. consist
Jog Of Mr.. L. McMartin q the School Of
Mines. in Neu York as nineralociss. AR.
=. II Arnold OF Pr0vid~nce. r. l . botan-
is;. With the privilege Of acting oorseh. a.
geOlogis;; Dan Hastings o. Bethel a. guide
and hunter. Who ALWAYS has all the game
cone where he =. and ID. Hannons. Esq q.
Of Bethel and r. Han Of Boston as generai
managers. Ne started from Bethel m teams.
up Bear River. twenty H,il-s % Bear River
Notch. where. leaving cur teams. ve we're
ready for the ascent Tsking rather an
obscure path ne commenced the foilsome
work Of climbing The mountain. A heavy
primitive growth Of yellow birch. maple
and beech. met us for the 6rst 1000 feet
The ascent i gradual. and What seemed 20
as remarkable, WAS that after 80 many ~
cent raias. tbsre we're no mountain str-ans-
The broken strata OF the nosatain allows
the water 30 sink cut - sight. The mex
Perieneed portion Of the company we're foil
Of lie AMI ready TO rush up the mountain
~ bound. We chose 70 be more leisure
~ in our Ascent Like some alen Who con-
mence life With an uncommon degree %
smartness. they fan behind. While those ~ho
start noro slowly IN their career. ultimately
win the goal Saoceeding AZ length in
finding = spring Of pore water. Ne stopped
20 luneh. and sgain toilcd upward and up
ward tErosgh the sisntcl sprlces and frs
for a thousand SGT more. uhcn the usos.n-
tan began 20 Assume a decidedly Alpine
sh1racter. Oar botaniss vas in ecStaries AZ
finding the ArcsGria Grcsuiarldica which
We are not aware has ever bsea seen else
where IN Maine except on Mount Katahdin.
Large PATCHES Of this beastifal plant cover
ed the ground. booking a. iitile distance.
Ike patches OF sn0-- Therr wAs bcaaii-
ful species Of the ye-. AL the Bss-la nssl1
CT dwarf birch- Large p-tehcs q the
mOuntain cranberry. (Taccisia,r rihsdes)
With their bright rcd berries cover TIE
ground. and here and there patches of blue
berries. DwAr6sh sr trees bui a ie~ inches
high are abundant. While large portions of
the mountain are bare lodges q rocks.
Oar mincraiogis; found son.e g.rueis.
smoky quartz, and crystals o. n,ica. % graf
Ify his taste. We had nov one thousand
feet 70 elsab. up a steep. rocky portion Of
the n0unt4in. and The question noe aros-
WHISTLER ~ should camp here Tor The nishi
and finish The ascent IN the morning III
docision vas 6naiiy made 10 eat heart,
meal. strip Of our useles. burdens and
ieave them IN care C one % he party uho
did rot desire 20 20 farther. and make the
assent thai nighs and return % that point
and camp. tso-thirds he ~ay % the noun
tam. Accordingly after eating heartily and
drinking from hole ve Lad made through
tbe moss. we started for the summit We
soon fond The rocks changing their char
acter. All the way thus far the rocks hal
Assumed . strou-ly marked graniiic ,nei.s-
oid character. contrary % our Previcgs ron-
options - the geological structure Of 'hr
molntain. Bot sadi~nly &C. changed. Wei
defined bot curtousiv distorted strata q me-.
"a slafe aPpeaicd shove t. granite dipping
90 TIE southuesf. in q direction the onpo. .
site of ihc strata generally seen fn ttis por-
tion 81 he state. Bear River ruus befwecn .
>pcckled mountain ard Sadlicback. and e
may prove that tbe too mountains we're
ORIGINALLY on. ard scre rcut asunler 81
The uPheaval An examination o. Ssdtle
back voald decide the question. A. 90
coutinue 10 cihh Up ihe rocks assuue an
angslar character. There are no t-anspor-
I'D boulders here. The vhois parry urru
reminded Of he sirniiar aspect q tie ROCKS
% those Of The suunu,it q Meant Wssh,rg
ton. AZ sny rate the u,o-s recent orinions
q some groiogisi d. not seen 90 tc con
frned. - far 80 the sirncture of this rnosn.
tain y concerned On RE sides q a..
rsountain are large beds Of pest. -hich r.
minded us iLai some ~ or spec.isior.
shouid knou u so e. % secure it far fhe
railroad compsnie.
The vies from fhc norfifast si8e r. frult
beautiful 81 vel a. grand. 40 our very
Sect are seen the green valleys ofCnmbridr.
and Bear rivers. vbich have thsir r,se O.
che ZOOS n ,he nosnfain. the one rom "a
north luto iake Unbsgor. and ths other
saufhsrlv 49, ti.. h-g~~.-r---.- r..