Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-01-31
Che FREEMAN.
For the Freeman.
Mount Washington in Winter.
BY DIR. II. A. CUTTING.

MOulJ w NdsliuslOu' tHO hlSuS9S iHOi
tain of the White Mountain range, of
New Hampshire, is 6,293 feet in height
and situated in 44a 16' %" north latitude.
According to the best authorities, this
gives climate which corresponds with
that of the middle Of Greenland, and its
elevation above surface winds throws lis
summit into the great Polar air currents,
which bring frost, ice, snow, and The most
terrific wind storms ever known giving
the observers there, the winter frigidity
Of the north pole, in the midst of terrible
gales; sometimes even reaching the veloc-
ity of 1G0 miles per hour. The signal sta
ton on Pixies Peak, is more elevated, but
the records of the Signal Service " show,
that the temperature here is twice as low;
while the wind storms are doubly severe.
Winter visitors TO the White Mountains
are rare, and rs n consequence all the
summer hotels are closed, and the winter
visitor can only make safe ascent from
the western side. A branch Of the BoS
ton Concord and Montreal Railroad, now
connects at the base of Mount Washing
ton, with the Mount Washington Railroad ;
bur in the winter time they do not run
trains nearer than the Fabyan House,
which is six miles from the base of the
mountain. At this place II small winter
hotel is kept, by Mr.. Lindsey, the proprie-
ter of the Fabyan House, and the railroad
hands, and occasional visitors, find here
ample accommodations. At noon, on
sunny day the present winter, with the
thermometer at zero, Prof. j. II. Hunting
ton, of the Boston University, and myself,
took passage behind span of black horses,
furnished by the proprietor of The Fabyan
House, for the base of the mountain. The
atmosphere WAS clear, almost beyond
precedent, and us we neared the mountain
every object upon its summit stood ou
with clearncss OF definition we had never
before seen, while with the adjacent peaks
of Jefferson, Adams and Madison, they
threw back from frost and snow, sucl
vivid reflections that the eyes in few
minutes would be dazzled with the bright
ness Of reflected light. At the base wt
concluded 10 walk up the track of the
Mount Washington Railway; and soor
with our coats strapped upon our backs
an fNp flNn mi
about three miles, and thc elevation to b(
overcome from this point about 5000 feet
Prof. Huntington, the pioneer of the
White Mountain observers, claimed the
right to carry some fifteen pounds of tur
key and other supplies that were intended
for surprise 10 the observers at the sum
nit. With slight show Of resistance, bu
inward qualification, yielded the load tt
him, much to his sorrow afterwards
Starting off on this journey at almost thu
steepest grade on the road, over a trestlt
bridge (Which spans the head waters o
4 the Ammanoosuc) some thirty feet il
4 height covered with ice and snow, wa
somewhat abating to our courage, but will
a full determination to win, we presse'
forward. In one hour we had accomplish
ed the first mile, reaching an old house
used by the workmen that built the rail
road and known as the "Waumbek Sta
ton" After short rest, during whicl
we could hear the omnous whistle Of til
wind above us, and mark an approachin;
cloud of frost that threatened to obscur
the summit we pressed onward. AS W
passed the limit of vegetation, its out
skirts were covered with that beauilu
frost work which has been so often dc
scribed in vain, us no possible descriplio
4 can convey to another its eXtraordnar
beauty. 1t can never be appreciated ur
less seen. Soon we were in clouds G
frost, and the cold rapidly increased. w
1 toiled onward, using our staff, and fec
with great care, as we crept over ia OBJ
Ladder SO called, thirty feet high, an
the higher tresLe also. Ice and snow bt
low and around us, rs we were in til
midst of cloud, with severe wind Ou
cold tea with which we were provIdct
was in requiSition, and we drank hearth.
BY the way, all persons ascending tn
mountain should take cold tea for drini
and never use spirits. While the te
wonderfully strength MS and removes f.
tigue; spirit at once cnelvates and seen
to destroy the energy necessary to aecon
|, plish the ascent. We were very tired, II
Professors load seemed to weigh fort
pounds, and he was quite willing to str
the turkey to my back. | quietly submi
ted, but inwardly wished the turkey
\ salt water. We were now at Lloyd
Y House" SO called, which is an old ca
fixed up at the side Of the track, for cor
parative observations; and about OF
! mile from the summit. We We're still
the cloud and with the increased cold NJ
wind, the very marrow of our bones seer
ed t. shake. My companion said he W
not freezing, but The pallor of his fa
Z and his tremulous voice made me fear
him, and parted with my mittens lin
with lambs wool for his knit miter
n when he admitted that with his he shou
freeze his fingers. My fingers soon pl
sented rcmonstrance, rendered INC
painful upon warming them. We so
a left the railroad track, and crowded on
y best we could over the ice, covered vi
frost, which prevented slipping, and VIII
II within half mile of our destinati
emerged from the frost cloud. The wi
/ was still severe, being about fifty mi
per hour, and thermometer l6o bel
zero, but we were out of the frost n
could breath easier; our approach "
n noticed and Scrgt. Lines came out a
piloted us to his mountain home. I
comforts of warmth and rest were ne'
more enjoyable. The United States
nal Service have two observers at this S
tion, viz: Sergt William Lipes and j
sistant Chas. j. King. Their residence
\ one-slOry building, tied down to