New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-08-15
OF TYsK WHITE moUNrArNs


can have no value.
Inc White Mountains not chain but cluster OF
granite peaks in the northern part of Hampshire,
wherein the Merrmac River has its head springs and
which among the principal sources of the Connections
on the west, and the Androscoggin and Saco on the
east In extent magnitude and elevation they of course
are far inferior to the world-famous Alps the Rocky
Mountains &C.. they far superior to all the
tans Of the British Isles the Cumberland range, and to
all that are well known Of the Aeganies Their most
obvious advantage is their accessibility Leaving New
York the afternoon Won may take tea next evening az
either of the great Summer hotels located at different
points in their very heart; and these may likewise be
reached by pleasant Summer days journey from Boston
as from most of New-England Approaching them by tho
valley of the Connecticut, and leaving by the Grand
Trunk Railroad, which conveys you in five or SIX
hours TO Portland in thirteen to Montreal.
you are enabled to view them from opposite sides while
the great hotels admirably located at distances of ID ia
% miles apart each where il commands capital views OF
several among the oer peaks and is convenient to lakes
or falls Of special interest The visitor may spenda day or
several days at house, then take stage or special
CONVEYANCE the next and so wind his way through tue
pnncpa valleys and across the practicable ridges until hs
feels that he has seen of what is noteworthy where
as whole Summer ndusrously spent in the Alps OF any
other great chain barely preparation for their thorough
mastery. wandering among ei"'iett~"e"
pnnaces more exciting but these very satisfying.
Let no one understand that the White Mountains are
even relatively tame and chaacterless In sepness aud
in sharpness of outline they have few superors even
among the great chains the light gray OF their naked
granite SUBMITS dspenses easily with the snowy dadem
of the lofer Alps; while the lack OF vastness OF I'M
mensy is not perceived realized where your whos
horizon is bounded by lofty rugged peaks, whereby the
day is shortened either hand. And in one respect
these nights rarely equaled and never eIceed IN the
uniyersay and density Of the forest largely eyergreenl'
whereby they clothed for some 1000 feet from the val
eys at their Bases for nearly 1000 above the sea eve
There are not many points below the line OF generai
stery on the Alps whore the removal OF the timber mas
not proved detrimental TO the harmony anu beauty o Out
line originally presented
As have assembled Mount Washington only can
make no comparisons Of views; bat the bndlepath rom
the Crawford House affords greater variety of admirable
prospects than ever found elsewhere, at elevations OF
barely 1000 5000 feet After winding up through the
dense woods for long hour you emerge into thieket OF
dwarf cedar which accompanies you for the next halt
hour; heneeforwarl the alaboundng granite IS either
utterly naked or barely covered in patches with thin,
poor grass which the fierce winds seem unable to get SUM-
nhod OF upoo Your way now lies for three or four
miles along the general summit Of the ranges when
is quite level in stretches of sixty rods to full mile
winding around two or three peaks, with Occa-
sona elevations and depressions until you reach the oy
base of the dominating peak known as Mount Washing
ton which rises hence 200 TO 1900 fee-a giant
mass Of naked rock with scarcely patch OF soil on any
part of it, up which your path zgzags dzzly and your
werained horses win their way slowly and painfully by
succession of springs from bowlder to bowder which ans
lust less difficult than climbing nterminable wooden
ladder never saw staircase which, it would bear his
weight a horse might not ascend with far less diff
6eny At length you reach leveed and heavily walled
iuclosure some forty feet in diameter designed simply to
fend off the fierce winds of that giddy hight and here dis
mounting Chamber the giant powders some sixty rods
further to the TpTop House.. where rude but welcome
shclter-usuay crowded from till m.prohers its
gratefully accepted hospalities including table which
though may afford what Bayard Taylor pllnsman
would consider a square meal" IS yet very generally
and gladly patronzed. The steak dealt to eer
tanly tougher than any not of buffalo everbefore tredo
chew; but the black excellent and refreshing the
berry pies good enough the bread pasabe and the charge
al 50 each very moderate considering that everything
must be dragged up the mountain including wood for fuel
obtained five miles down; while no charge is made,
though there should be- for admission to the house. and
for privilege at the fires. These cost money! good
deal of t-and all who them should help pay for then
The house ITSELF built of such stones as could be Lifted
upon and rudey masoned into walls, has nearly hat,
wooden roof strongly if not securely fastened to its place
by heavy rods of iron. The only other house on the
summit though tries to behind shoulder of the
peak is likewise anchored to the underlying eranite-and
with ample reason.
The morning of ascent August was clear though
not cloudess the day before had been remarkably fair
and our views from the lower SUBMITS had been superb
The valleys and peaks scanned as We crept along the
crc. of the ridge we're numbcres lovely lakes and tarns
n
tons often four five at at some points, houses
and cultivated fields we're visible far down our le but
recollect none a, any point right though the field
of vision that way embraced several hundred square miles:
ON the whole doubt that there is another prospect at
ainabe on horseback between the 81 Lawrence aud the
Mississippi which combines grandeur and grace IN equal
measure with that presented from Mounts Pleasant Mon
roe and franklin on the brde-path from the Cawfori
House to the summit of Mount Washington.
fthe view from that summit, can say nothing, az
was thcky swathed cloud aud mist during most OF the
hours of my stay, aud the momeatiy snpses oil hs
adjacent peaks and valleys partial aud unsasyins
Had there been rational hope of sunshine this morning.
should have awaited but thcre not; and the rain
which overlook way down was renewed and ln-
creased during the night 1t ceased before mornings but
left the higher peaks shrouded in heavy clouds while fog
was creeping up their lower bases 1t wise to come
away.
The brdlepath ascent from the Crawford House SO
richly rewarded that rejoice TO find it SO largely patron
ized though the path is simply abomnable II ought to
be improved at The charge for horse to the sum
NIT and back 90 is very moderate; and entreat those
interested to add dollar and apply the proceeds to i'm
proving the road This would supply fund of certainly
not less than 800 per week for ten weeks in each summer
and this amount faithfully applied, would very soon create
passbe track and thus quadupe the number of eque'-
,ons Econ Al OO udiciousy spent the worst spots,