The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-08-03
ssGrand Views Mountain,

vicinity OF Crown Point, N. Y, or Mid
dlebury, vt.2 If so did anybody invite
you to visit "Grand View' mountain
If not trust you invited yourself and
had the pleasure and benefit of the trip
but In case you did not visit 1t at all
am going to tell you little about, it Sc
that when you have another opportunity
TO 90 there you will not fail to improve
1t. "Grand View" mountain is situated
eight miles from the eastern shore o1
Lake Champlain, opposite Crown Point,
and about seven miles west of Middle.
bury, Vt. 1t is thirteen hundred feet
high, and being the only point of any
eminence in that vicinity, 1t stands to.
wering above the surrounding levels in
solitary grandeur. This elevation is
undoubtedly better known by the old
name "Snake" mountain. How il ever
happened to have such an unjust and
unfortunate appellation seems to be 8
mystery. Before roads were much
opened in this part of the country, this
mountain served as a guide and land
mark for the early settlers.
A few weeks ago accepted all in
vitation to visit some friends who reside
in quiet little village midway be-
tween the lake and Middlebury, and
within few miles of ''Grand View,
During my stay trip to the mountain
was proposed. Having heard of the
beautiful view from the top of this
mountain Twas delighted at the thought
OF going, and made SO many exclama-
tions of JOY that once having been pro-
posed, 1t could not very well be put of
Indefinitely, so we named the day at
once, and began making plans and prep.
aratlons. When the morning came, 1t
proved to be lovely and bright. 1t had
rained hard the day before, clearing the
atmosphere so that the air was as fresh
and dinvigorating as 1t is on bright MORN
ing at the sea shore. We were all in
good spirits and enjoyed the drive ex-
ceedingly. We found the woods, all
the way up the mountain, filed with
the usual woodland treasures of large
families of ferns, from old grandfather
fern down to the baby ferns. The trees
were at an agreeable distance from each
other so that the sunshine could creep in
between the branches, sending a cheer
ful golden light down upon mother
earth and filling the woods with sun
light and shadow.
ITO the aolemn depths Of the forest-shades,
Thou sit streaming on through their green ar.
And the quivering leaves that have caught thy
glow,
Like dre.nles glance 10 the pools below"
AS we wound gradually up the noun
tain enjoying the beautiful pictures SUR
rounding us, thought of a trip took
over the mountains in California, a few
years ago. l was not reminded in con-
sequence of the slightest similarity but
because of the great contrast in the two
mountains. Crossing the coast range
below San Jose, the roads are built
over the side Of the mountain and there
fore at the edge ofa precipicc that deep
ems gradually until the summit is reach
ed, and lessons In the same manner going
down. The road up the mountain in
clincs at an angle of about forty-flve de-
grees. One has to hold OH to the dash
board to keep from sliding Off back
wards and turning q summersault in
the air with the interesting prospect of
landing at the bottom of the precipice.
There the constant fear of robbers or of
an accident rather detracts from the
pleasure of watching and enjoying the
beauties of nature, especially if the
guide cntertains all tourists who 90
there, as he did us, by telling how many
times the stage had been robbed the sea-
son before, just where they came ont
of the woods, just how they looked, and
what they did, until we became so
reused with fear that when he began on
the subject of accidents, we thought we
might as we'll make our wills, expecting
to be robbed or dashed to pieces. We
excitedly planned which way we would
jump out of the wagon In case of an ac-
cident, and the next instant we were
thinking of the very bold face we would
put on while refusing to give up our
valuables should robbers appear and de-
mand them.
Quite different is the drive up this
little mountain in Vermont. There is
nothing TO distract the peace and quiet
of ones mind. The road winds SO
gradually higher and higher that was
when we reached the top and
looked down upon the vast expanse of
land and water below to find how much
we were elevated above our fellow men.
The distance seemed much greater than
1t really was. Large farm-houses look
ed like little dove.cotes scattered over
the country. The view looking north
and west is certainly one of the finest l
ever witnessed. We could see almost
the entire length of Lake Champlain
and many of the villages bordering upon
It, as we'll as Middleburyy, Addison, hdaissoi1
Cornwall, Bridport, and many other
inland towns, with Otter Creek scallop-
ing the land between and about them.
To the left Of the creek, in the middle
distance, is the site of the first settle-
ment in Vermont. Directly west, across
the lake lies Crown Point, where still
moulder the ruins of one of the oldest
Notifications in this country. Few pla-
ces In America have so many romantic
associations or have undergone so many
yicissitudes of war as this, and old Fort
which stands twelve miles
below it. Their crumbllng walls
are full of history. Fort Ticonderoga
Is a picturesque ruin, and one of the
few historic places that has remained
untouched by the hand of improvement
or by the renovation of progress. Shut
in between ihr mountain, lust back of
Ticonderoga. we could see the silver
waters OF the American Como, Lake
George, distinctly. The mountains and
hills form background for these beau
tiful views. The Adirondack noun
Iains follow Lake Champlain, some
miles below the shore opposite BurlinR-
ton. Looking east, the view is very
llne from the observatory. On the top
Of the mountain, not far from the OBJ |
is natural curiosity called |
Cranberry Pond. Why it was named |
thus | failed 10 discover, as / was told |
upon asking that cranberries never had |
grown there. IL is circular in shape,
bounded by woods, and perfectly COW
cred with reddish moss, aud is indeed
4 pond oc moss. We attempted to
sound it with the longest stick we could |
ind, and as far down as we could reach
Il was simply moss saturated with wa
ter. II is dangerous TO walk upon,
therefore we did not go far from the
edge. A few funny looking plants seem
% flourish on this pond. Among them
s plant that has a blossom very SINH
ar to the calla lily, only much smaller.
t.s Il L.