Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-09-05
Grand View Mountain.

To those lovers of the beautiful in nature
who have never been so fortunate as TO stand
on the top of this mountain and look upon
the picture spread before them, perhaps
brief reference to it will not be void of in
terest. And If, by this article, we can in
duce any to avail themselves of the delights
of the feast there awaiting them, we shall
be satisfied Certainly we know of no point
in the state from which grander view can
be obtained.
Grand View Mountain is situated in the
towns of Addison and Weybridge; stands
some nine hundred feet above the road and
fourteen hundred above the level of Lake
Champlan and is from three to four miles
long. Unlike any other of the noted noun
tains of the state, IL stands alone, rising alb
ruptly from what appears at that height to
be an immense plain, and thus affording a
clear and extensive view of something be-
sides other mountains. Starting at the
foot of the mountain, an hours drive brings
us to its summit We walk to the edge of
the precipice looking toward the west, lift
our eyes and behold as grand a picture
as sublime view-as one could wish TO
look upon. To one gazing upon il for the
first time it is almost overpowering. Before
us lies the beautiful Lake Champlain,
stretching from north to south as far as the
eye can reach, and then lost in the distance.
Beyond this lake we see Lake George, nest
ling costly among the mountains and looking
like sheet of silver in the sunshine. We
can see Crown Point, Port Henry, Westport
aud other places among the mountains in
the Empire state; and we can look upon the
towns Of Orwell Shoreham, Bridport, Adj
olson, Panton and FeIrisburgh, in our own
state. Going to another point on the noun
tain looking toward the northwest, we get
view of part of the mountain itself Directly
beneath us is a grand sweep of woodland,
with gradual and graceful curve up the
mountain presenting an imposing picture of
foliage such as one seldom looks upon. I'm
der the touch of the "artist from the north
land' this view of the foliage becomes truly
magnificent Looking over several additional
Vermont towns we can see, far away in
the broadening of the lake, the "Four
Brothers" and "Juniper," islands in the vi
cinty of Burlington.
After feasting on this partial picture, we
go to the top of the mountain observatory,
sevcnty-fve feet higher, and there we have
the view in all its completeness. We can
only stand in silence for a while, for we
have no words to express our admiration of
the scene; and we are at once struck with
the thought of how grand and sublime is
this universe of ours, aud how insignificant
in comparison are we who inhabit it. On all
sides of us the picture is spread, and that per
son is to be ptied who cannot receive nspira-
ton therefrom. Middlebury, Vergennes and
many other Vermont towns come into vew
and the eye is never tired of tracing out and
resting upon the many places of interest to be
seen from this standpoint. Below us is the
plain, having the appearance of an immense
garden-beautiful in its variations of wood
land and cultivated space. The farm.houses
appear exceedingly ulinlnuJlVe, nesting mere
and there among the trees the soil in its
variety of color is most charming, and adds
much to the loveliness of the picture and
to complete the scene Otter Creek on one
side of the mountain, and Dead Creek on the
other, flow through this garden-plan like
threads of silver-now in full view in the
meadow land, and now hidden from sight in
the patches of forest land. At such favored
moments we get an idea of the beauty of
the world, which we can have impressed
upon us in no other way. Especially will a
view of sunrise and sunset from this noun
tain well repay one who makes an effort to
obtain it.
The mountain formerly bore the name of
Snake Mountain" but-in Difference, per-
haps to the feelings of sensitive public--it
has been changed to "Grand View" The
name admirably suggests what is in waiting
| for the visitor.