Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-03-02
Mount Washington In Winter.


Mount Washington, the highest noun
tain Of the White Mountain range, OF New
Hampshire, is e ,293 feet in height, and stu
ated in A l6' %" north latitude. Ac-
cording to the best authorities. this gives a
climate which corresponds with that of the
middle of Greenland, and its elevation above
surface winds throws its 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 irigidity of tine north pole. in the
midst OF terntle gales; sometimes even
reaching the velocity of lG0 miles per hour.
The signal station on Pixies Peak, is more
elevated, but the records Of the "Signal Ser
vice" 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 as a conse
quence all the summer hotels are closed, and
the winter visitor can only make safe ascent
from the western side. At noon, one sunny
day the present winter, with the thermome
ter at zero, Prof j. II. Huntington, of the
Boston University, and myself, took passage
behind a 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 as we
neared the mountain every object upon its
summit stood out with clearness of definition
VIC had never before seen, while with the ad
accent peaks of Jefferson, Adams and Mad
ison, they threw back from frost and snow,
such vivid reflections that the eyes in few
minutes would be dazzled with the bright
ness Of reflected light. At the base We
concluded to walk up the track of the
Mount Washington Railway and soon with
our coats strapped upon our backs, We were
enroute for the summit, distant about three
miles, and the elevation to be overcome from
this point about 3 600 feet. Prof. Hunting
ton, the pioneer of the White Mountain
observers. claimed the right to carry some
fifteen pounds of turkey and other supplies
that were intended for surprise to the OBJ
servers at the summit With slight show Of
resistance, but inward gratifcation,l yielded
the load to him, much to his sorrow after
wards. Starting of on this journey at al
most the steepest grade on the road, over
trestle bridge (Which spans the head waters
of the Ammanoosuc) some thirty feet in
height covered with ice and snow, was
somewhat abating to our courage, but with
full determination 10 win, We pressed
forward. In one hour We had accomplished
the first mile, reaching an old house, used
by the workmen that built the railroad and
known as the "Waumbek Station" After
a short rest during which we could hear the
ominous whistle OF the wind above us, and
mark an approaching cloud of frost that
threatened to obscure the summit, we press
ed onward. As we passed the limit of yege
tation, its outskirts were covered with that
beautiful frost work which has been so often
described in vain, as no possible description
can convey to another its extraordinary
beauty. 1t can never be appreciated unless
seen. Soon we were in clouds of frost, and
the cold rapidly increased. We toiled on
ward, using our staff, and feet with great
care, as We crept over Jacobs Ladder"
80 called, thirty feet high. and the higher
trestle also Ice and snow below and around
us, as we were in the midst of cloud, with
severe wind. Our cold tea with which we
were provided, was in requisition, and We
drank heartily. By the way, all persons
ascending this mountain should take cold tea
ior drink, and never use spirits. While
the tea wonderfully strengthens and removes
fatigue spirit at once eneryates and seems
to destroy the energy necessary to accom-
plsh the ascent. We were very tired, the
Professors load seemed to weigh forty
pounds, and he was quite willing to strap
the turkey to my back. quietly submit
ted, but inwardly wished the turkey in salt
water We were now at ''Lloyd's House, 5"
so called, which is an old car, fixed up at
the side of the track, for comparative obser-
yations and about one mile from the sum
nit. We were still in the cloud and with
the increased cold and wind, the very mar
row of our bones seemed to shake. My
companion said he was not freezing, but
the Iallor Of his face and his tremulous Voice
made Inc fear for him, and parted with
my mttcns lined with lambs wool for his
knit mttens, when he admitted that with
his he should freeze his fingers. My fingers
soon presented remonstrance, rendered
more painful upon warming them We
soon left the railroad track, and crowded on
ns best we could over the ice. covered with
frost, which prevented slipping, and when
within half mile Of our destination emerged
from the frost cloud. The wind was still
severe. being about fifty miles per hour, and
thermometer Is below zero, but We were
out oi the frost and could breath easier our
approach was noticed and Scrgt. Lines
came out and pilotcd us to his mountain
home. The comforts of warmth and rest
were never more ENJOYABLE. The United
States Signal Service have two observers at
this station, viz Scrgt. William Lines and
Assistant Chas. j King Their residence
is a one-story building, tied down to the
rocks with three braces Of eight inch tim
bcr on either side, that lie Hat upon the
roof, being fastened at the ridge, and ex-
tending to the solid rock Of the mountain
where they are bOlted down. The house it.
self IL firm structure with double windows
and thribblc doors, made for durability and
warmth, not beauty. There are five rooms
all upon the ground floor. Three Of them
1.-TWO which arc sleeping roOms) are warmed
by two large coal stoves. 1t takes about
fifteen tons OF coal, at cost on the summit
Of fifty dollars per ton, to warm them dur
ing the year. They are required to take Gb
servations six times daily, recording. direc-
ton and velocity OF clouds, amount of snow
and rain, and any other atmospheric
phenomenon The first observation is made
a. IN, and the last at ii p. m, which
this night was wind, Northwest, velocity
sc miles. Thermometer 10 below zero
atmosphere clear as u crystal. No Persor