Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-09-29
a Night Among the Mountains.

1t was on a clear, cool morning in Sep
tember, that we started to visit Killing
ton Peak, the highest, save one. of the
Green Mountains There were sixteen in
our party, and as we rode along in the
bracing morning air, many were the
echoes of the merry voices that rang out
along the rocky passes.
We left the pretty village of Pittsford
about o'clock, and the stars were still
shining brightly. For long time there
was no promise of the coming dawn. At
last. close to the horizon we saw faint
streak of white light in the east, which
gradually changed TO delicate pink.
The few sleepy twitterings Of the birds
increased to full chorus, which soon
ruuV joyfullv from every orchard and
grove, and anon the glorious orb of day
rose majestically from behind the eastern
hills At once the whole scene changed.
The cbillness speedily vanished from the
air All nature basked in the beams Of the
sun.
Having passed through Rutland we
began to ascend the road became narrow
er aud steeper; hnnka crowned with woods
rise abruptly at our right. while numer-
Gus mountain streams on our left come
dashiug down their rocky beds. Higher
and higher our road wound alonE, beside
dizzy precipices, and over noisy little
streams, until at last we reached the foot
of the mountain.
One of the party was an old gentleman
from Wisconsin, accustomed only to the
gently undulating lands of the West, and
it was amusing 20 see his look of blank
amazement as we left our carriages and
commenced climbing the steep mountain
path And here, we must say, enpassaut
to the credit of the ladies, that no trouble
some orinohue endangered their safety
Attired in neat and very becoming gym.
nastic dresses, their limbs We're free tC
Chamber over the rocks.
As we rapidly assembled, we could see
nothing but the smoke from the chimney
of the little saw-mill at the foot Of the
mountain After proceeding about mile
we struck into the forest, and for two
miles more assembled by an almost undis-
tinguishable path. The poor faithful
horses toiled on before Us laden with pro,
visions, blankets, etc, for our night's
campaign.
To our great joy we arrived at a little
clearing where we found pure cold
spring of the sweetest water ever drank
Here one of the party, swifter,footed thar
the rest, had already built fire. Water
was soon boiled, tea and coffee made, and
hearty dinner eaten, while the weary
horses partook of their oats in equine com
fort
After quite a rest, provisions were re
packed, blankets put in a still smaller
space aud shouldered by the gentlemen
for it now only remained to climb STEEP
bluff inaccessible to horses, and we should
reach the summit of our hopes, and of thi'
part of the Green Mountains. This wa,
soon accomplished, and we stood breath
less but enraptured, three thousand fee
above Lake Champlain.
Words would fail to describe the scene
that burst upon us. The first impression
was of standing upon the mast of shiI
in mid-ocean, while the great wave.
heaved and rolled in every direction ever
to our feet. But soon our perceptions be
came clearer, and we found that thes,
| long blue uudulations which surrounded
us were not waves but ranges Of noun
tains. One above another, and range be
yond range, they extended as far as the
eye could reach. Grand old Pico and AS
Quincy seemed near enough to throw
stone upon them, while far to the cas-
were the White Mountains, with Noun
Washington towering mp from their midst
To the west we could just discern Lake
Champlain looking like a long silver cloud
while beyond rose the Adirondacks, peal
after peak until they seemed to mingl
; with the clouds. have seen Niagara anC
looked with awe upon that mighty cata
ract, as it rushed grandly along to its fna
leap; but Niagara might have rolled ii
: deep ravines at ones feet and been scarce
ly noticed.
One of our number, strong man. a,
educated man, and one not at all prone t
give was to his feelings, was so overcom
by the first glance, which he took from
the summit, that he rushed down an
started at once for his home, fourtee,
miles distant
| / have conversed with travellers VIII
have visited the Alps, but they all agre
that for grand circular panoramic view
that from Killington exceeds all they hav