Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-07-27
Canel's Hump.


that Cancels Hump was not the original name
Of this, the most beautiful in outline Of all
the Green Mountains. The French, who
named the range so appropriately, called this
mountain "L lie Lion Conchant," or "The
COUGHING Lion" When seen from either the
eastern or western side, it bears a very strik-
ing resemblance to lion, stretched out at
ease with his paws in front Of him. 1t is a
great pity so beautiful a name should ever
have been changed.
Any person of experience in mountain
travel knows that the satisfaction to be OBJ
tanned from it depends largely upon the
weather, aud we all know how unreliable the
weather is for any length Of time. On
Thursday Of last week the air seemed to have
been cleared by the rain, so that the time
appeared favorable for fine view from the
top Of Cancels Hump. Early Friday morn
ing this opinion seemed to be confirmed but
when The fog linod, there was a slight haze
in the distance that was not encouraging
But once started, it seemed better to 20 on
hoping for a change, than to turn back
Ridley, Station, on the Vermont Central
Railroad, is tweuty.lour miles east from Bur
lington. and eighteen miles west Of Mont
peIicr Here is the Green Mountain House.
NJ. Wilson y Co.. proprietors Five miles
and half from here, just below the rock
which crowns the summit Of the mountain, is
the Camel's Hump House. Wells, Wilson n
Co., proprietors Three miles Of this dis
lance is accomplished in carriages the re-
naming two miles aud a half ON horseback,
or on foot The path, after leaving the
carriagc.road, is in places steep and rocky,
but always well Defined SO that there is no
danger of losing it, Both Of these hotels
have been remodeled and reiurnished, expressly
for the accommodation Of summer tourists
We can say, after having tried them, that
they are remarkably wH Kept Carriages
horses and guides for the ascent are furnished
by the propretors, at very reasonable rates
An observatory, twenty feet high upon the
very summit Of the mountain, is in process Of
construction, and will soon be finished Wher
completed, it will contain fine telescope
costing from three to five hundred dollars
Leaving Montpelier IN the $ A. NJ train
we reached the summit before one, having
walked only the few steps from the station t.
the hotel at Ridley's, and the half mile from
the Camols Hump House to the summit
The view from this point, on clear day. i
one Of the finest in Vermont We have here
what is rarely found on any mountain, viz
an unobstructcd view on all sides, embracin,
Mansfield and Montreal Mountain in tn
north, Kilington Peak in the south, tn
| White Mountains in the east, and Lake Cham
e plain and the Adirondacks in the West
o The valley of the Winoosk can be trace
= the whole distance from Montpelier to LAX
, Champlain. The Arsenal and the Seminar,
buildings at Montpelier are visible with a
ordinary glass, and often with the naked ey,
Whoever is 50 fortunate as to see this mag
/ nidcent panorama in favorable weather will
find it complete realization Of his ideal @
. mountain view.
, Having been here within two years, on
! perfect day, we were fully prepared to reaiz
the imperiection of the day we had selecte,
Mansfield was visible in all its picturesqu
q beauty the vast forest stretching to tn
southwark could be seen, as well as the cour
try near the foot Of the mountain but a
distant objects as Lake Champlain, tn
I Adirondacks, and the White Mountains
3. were obscured by hazy smoke, much thick,
II in the west than in the east
e In favorable weather satisfactory tri
n can be made by spending three or four hour
!. on the mountain and returning the san
s. night but as things were, it seemed best
d wait, in the hope Of a change, The nigl
al which followed proved pleasant contrast
m the hot weather below. Sitting by fire an
It listening to wind roaring outside, that woul
I have done honor to March, made the con
n pany so laxative that no one thought of @
ing to bed before eleven, notwithstanding Il
!. unusual fatigue of climbing the mountain,
'f Next day some Of the more tmid Of ii
e. ladies confessed to having had fears the houi
d would be blown down during the night bl
2 we had no trouble on that score, judging thu
g. house which had stood the winter storm
A. was safe in July blow.
rs While we were at breakfast next mornin
a. a thunder shower came marching over fro
1, Mansfield, wrapped us in clouds, and treatC
IS, us to rain of two hours duration Tn
5. was followed by race of the clouds in hig
Is wind, ending in a clear air and fine view al
leaving US well satisfied, on the principle TIL
" AIS well that ends well"
III We made two miles and a half of the d
~ scent on foot, interspersing it with gettr
W spruce-gum, gathering burrs aud colectr
ie specimens of the beautiful feather-moss,
y thick and soft as Turkey-carpet, with whc
i the mountain is covered about mile and
e half from the top. Al the beginning of ii
A. carrago-road a wagon was waiting for u
of which took US the remaining three miles
ne ample time for rest and tea, before taking II
:, late train for Montpelier.