Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-06-25
Excursion Incidents and J0ttings,


Taking our own team, and passing along the
banks of Mad River few miles, we bear more
westerly across the hills between Mad and
Winooski rivers leaving ut Waterbury the
Winooski, and following up the stream to-
wards Stowe, arriving in the early part Of the
afternoon at relatives residence. Here we
tarry until next morning.
Watching the stages Of the crops while pass
ing along, we were convinced that the farther
north we went the more advanced the growth,
especially Of corn and grass
Our stopping place WAS but few miles
from the foot of the mountain, and we started
for the eminence early the next morning, in
order to 'do the mountain, and return home
ward, in the evening.
Perhaps my enthusiasm may lead some to
think exnggerate the facts, but let such ex
anime the premises for themselves, and any
thing purposely overdone shall receive retrnc-
tons We had been told that it was two miles
from the foot to the Summit House, which.
looking through sply glass from our friends
house. we thought might mean two and one
half going up, and one and one-half in coming
down. When near the last clearing we asked
a resident, " How far to the top ?" lie re-
piled, "Three miles and half" We found be-
fore we reached the summit, that we could not
doubt his veracity. To leave ones cares and
business for short time, to uiW the stipend
Gus works of the creation, and witness the en-
terprise and resolution of men in laying out
and completing good carriage road up such a
mountain, may better ones feelings, and en-
large their ideas of what can be accomplished
by pluck and perseverance, more imprcssyely,
than to read a meagre description Of it,
Thompson's History gives the height Of the
Chin part, at ,270 feet, or nearly 300 feet high
or than the Nose. The distance apart is called
one mile. Asthe whole is called the profile Of
mans face, with the top Of the head at the
south end, we find him long featured, with
mouth open about half way across, giving
room to pass upon the left side of it, and stu
ated about midway between the Chin and Nose.
Reaching the point of the Chin, we find other
high peaks, too numerous to MENTION" ly-
ing on the Northeast, with valleys between
them, but not of sufficient size to form settle.
ment On the West and Northwest we find
villages, and farms along the streams, looking
splendidly. Ascending the Nose by steps arti-
fcially formed, we find ourselves 220 feet above
the sills of the Summit House
Viewing the Nose from the house, some if
teen rods of, we were greatly deceived in its
height, but when upon its top, we looked
downward, and readily concluded 10 refuse any
invitation 10 a balloon ride, as we were as high
as our aspirations reached. We frequently
trayersed banks Of snow from three 10 five
feet deep, and excayated one, in order to see
whether it was one or two years old. Small
spruce bushes or trees grow on some parts of
the rocks where there is sufficient soil TO sus-
tain them, not being more than six to ten feet
in height generally. The atmosphere being
smoky, deprived us Of seeing places at dis
lance, but gave us more time to look at the
vast number Of ridges, where "Alps on Alps
arise 10 produce the stupendOus whole. Ge-
ologists would find room for study in the differ.
emit kinds of stone along and upon tho route,
which might be interesting to those who have
made il study.
Why has not Vermont got the mountains,
the springs, the lakes, the ponds, the streams,
the scenery and the countless inducements suf-
rest OF mankind" during the summer season.
as well as any other state? Probably all those
qualities cannot be found in another state, to
compete with them. Then let us appreciate
our attractions among US, without going TO a
foreign cline. To expend SAC, 900 upon three
miles of road, and annually repair the wear
and tear OF It, was great undertaking. Teams
and men have been at work some two or three
weeks, repairing the poor places, and where
they have done so. the road il as good as the
hill roads in the adjoining towns. Thedegrees
OF ascent are not sleeper than some in our own
town, which are much travelled. We drove our
team to the halfway house, and but for our
choice OF walking, might just as well have
gone to the Summit house, as a four horse
team goes up daily from Stowe village, some
nine or ten miles. The turns and windings
are Ms great as politicians before election,
and with a careful driver can better be depended
on. The thousands Of tons OF stone blasted and
moved out of the way, the great amount of
wharfng with logs built up on the lower
side Of the road, tied together with logs and
stone, varying from five to fifteen feet in height,
indicate the amount OF labor necessary to accom-.
plish such an undertaking. 1t will well repay
a journey of thirty miles TO see the road alone,
then add the other attractions and curiosities
az clear profit.
A public house on the top sufficient to en-
terrain and lodge all who may wish to patron
ize it, is in apple pie order, ready to attend
to the wants Of visitors. Let all who want a
little respite from business, patronze it by Wis
iting the mountain. o. J.