Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-10-08
Whittier.

Watched over by the solemn-browed
And awful face Of stonen
Mount Carrigain stands almost exactly
i'm the center of the vast group OF the
White and Franconia mountains; and
rising, az IL does. to n heigh, of nearly
five thousand feet is marked feature IN
the landscape from almost every point oil
view. Conversely, the view from CARR
gain must embrace the whole mountain
mass, and must sweep around over all OF
the principal SUBMITS.
Having q week to spare In the latter
part of September, and receiving at the
same time letter from an enthusiastic
student of mountains, proposing trip To
the almost unknown region between the
Saco and the Pemigewasset, we took COM
pass, note book. hammer. and pipe, and
proceeded TO Gorham, y. H.. and thence
through the Pinkham notch. Jackson. and
Bartlett, tc Stilling'S hotel, on the Saco.
fourteen miles above North Conway and
n dozen miles below the White Mt. notch
This points the most suitable, for getting
TO Mt. Carrigain. being three miles below
Savers river. a tributary to the Saco
rising partly upon the Mountain itself,
and thus afrording the best means OF APP
proach to it.
lnquiriug for some guide, acquainted
with the special field we wished to cx-
plore. we were directed 10 Mr. John D.
Cobb. who we were told would be found
about mile above the hotel on the oppo-
site side of the river. Accordingly, ford
ing the Saco. and ascending the eastern
bank, we met M John Cobb in his yard
and explained 10 him what was wanted,
"A good man To go with Us to the summit
Of CaITigain. to make our camps, 10 tote
our provisions, and to perform the other
numerous duties falling upon a guide.
To our satisfaction we found Mr.. Co6b
not only ready, but also acquainted with
the region. having for years hunted the
deer all around the base Of Mt. Carrigain.
Arrangements being made for the proper
supplies, and Tor An early start in the
morning. We passed the afternoon in ex.
aiming the region about Stilling's hotel,
and in studying something Of the surface
geology of this part of the Saco valley.
Although Mt. Carrigain is 4 most
prominent summit when seen from dis
lance, IL is not at all so from its immediate
neighborhood; since lower mountains lie
in front of il, and hide nearly all OF il and
a short distance above Upper Bartlett, it
disappears altogether from the traveller
upon the highway.
The next morning was bright and clear,
and promised good weather for the ascent.
Leaving our hotel directly after breakfast,
we drove To Lawrence's farm. and send
ing back our team, strapped our packs
upon our backs, bid good bye to ciyiliza-
ton, and our paper collars, and took TO
the woods, following up the North bank
Of Sawycr's river \ walk of little more
than an hour brought us To Duck Pond
stream, \ tributary OF the river from the
north. Crossing this brook, we continu-
ed in north-westerly direction for an
hour and half, when we struck CaIrigain
brook, the second tributary from the north
10 Sawyer's river. This brook has its rise
both upon Mt. Carrigain and in the deep
notch east oft, and thus leads by its west
fork directly to the top OF the mountain.
Proceeding up the brook ior an hour, we
stopped at the foot of the ascent. which
was now directly in front OF Us, 10 dine :
and after short rest commenced the
climb, following the bed of the stream,
which tumblcs down the steep eastern
slope of the mountain.
The summit OF Carrigain is 1900 feet
above the sea the base OF the mountain
is probably about 1900 feet i'll height, thus
leaving 5000 feet from the summit TO the
level OF Carrigain brook. at least 5000 OF
which is in one almost unbroken slope, so
steep as to require the constant use of
both arms and legs liz its ascent. The
wet fork of the brook leaps down for
great height over broad steps OF granite,
and this gigantic flight of stairs affords
for considerable distance the best means
of ascent. The bed of this brook We
named for our guide, who was the first to
ascend, Cobb's Stairs. We kept the stream
for about 1000 feet of vertical ascent, at
which point it became so abrupt, that we
were forced to abandon it for the wooded
slopes, where the foothold was better, and
the trees offered us the assistance we
needed for dragging up the constantly in
creaSing weight Of our bodies. The sur
face OF the magnificent slope up which
we were now toiling, appears to consist
entirely oil loose angular blocks of granite
dislodged by the frost, and covered with
deep mating of rich green moss, in
which we sink to the ankles, and through
which we not unfrequently break into
some crevice up to the middle For about
two hours we work doggedly up this APP
parenlly intermnable slope, keeping the
brook always in hearing, in order not to
get beyond our supply of water for the
night, stumbling now into some hidden
chamber beneath the moss, now lifting
ourselves up by the friendly branches of
spruce and pine, now sinking exhausted
into the soft green bed beneath our feet,