The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1877-07-30
Grand View" Mountain.


Have you ever spent any time in the vi
entity of Crown Point, N. Y, or Middle
bury VIZ II so did anybody invite you to
visit "Grand View" mountain ? if not l
trust you invited yourself and had the pleas
ure and benefit of the trip, but in case you
did not visit it at all l I'm going to tell you
a little about it SO that when you have an
other opportunity to go there you will not
fail to improve it. "Grand View" noun
tain is situated eight miles from the eastern
shore of Lake Champlain, opposite Crown
Point, and about seven miles south of Mid
dlebury Vt. It is thirteen hundred feet
high, and being the only point of any emi-
nence in that vicinity, it stands towering
above the surrounding levels in solitary
grandeur. This elevation is undoubtedly
better known by the old name ''Snake"
mountain. How it ever happened to have
such an unjust and unfortunate appellation
eeems to be a 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 1 accepted an invitation
to visit some friends who reside in a quiet
little village, midway between the lake and
Middlebury, and within a few miles OF
"Grand View" During my stay a trip to
the mountain was proposed. Having heard
of the beautiful view from the top of this
mountain, l was delighted at the thought
of going and made so many EXPLANATIONS
of Joy, that once having been proposed, it
could not very well be put off indefinitely,
so we named the day at once and began
making plans and preparations. When the
morning came, it proved to be lovely and
bright. 1t had rained hard the day before
clearing the atmosphere SO that the air was
as fresh and iDvigorating, as it is a bright
morning at the sea shore. We were all in
| good spirits and enjoyed the drive exceed
| ingly. We found the woods, all the way
up the mountain, filled with the usual wood
land treasures. 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 sum
shine could creep in between the branches
sending a cheerful golden light down upon
mother earth and filling the woods with SUM-
light and shadow.
.To the solemn depths of the forest-shades,
Thou art streaming on through their green ar
cedes,
And the quivering leaves that have caught thy
glow,
Llke fre.nles glance to the pools below"
AS we wound gradually up the mountain
enjoying the beautiful picture surrounding
us, l thought of a trip l took over the
mountains in California, a few years ago.
l was not reminded in consequence 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
therefore at the edge of a precipice that
deepens gradually until the summit is
reached and lessons in the same manner
going down. The road up the mountain,
~inclines at an angle of about forty-fve de-
grees. One has to hold on to the dash
board to keep from sliding off backwards
and turning a summersault IN the air with
the interesting prospect of landing at the
bottom of the precipice. There the con-
slant fear OF robbers or of an accident ra-
Their detracts from the pleasure of watch
ing and enjoying the beauties OF nature,
especially if the guide entertains all tour
lists who 60 there as he did us, by telling
how many times the stage had been robbed
the season before. Just where they came
out 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 well make u 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 accident, 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 ap,
pear and demand them.
Quite different is the drive up this little
mountain in Vermont. There is nothing tC
distract the peace and quiet of ones mind.
The road winds so gradually higher ant
higher that l was surprised when we reach
ed the top and looked down upon the vas
expanse of land and water below, to fine
how much we were elevated above our fel
low men. The distance seemed mucl
greater than it really was. Large farm
houses looked like little dove cots scattered
over the country. The view looking Nortl
and West, is certainly one OF the finest
ever witnessed. We could see almost tn
entire length of Lake Champlain and maa,
of the villages bordering upon 1t as well a
Middlebury, Addison, Cornwall, Bridport
and many other inland towns with Otte
creek, ~scalloping the land between an
about them. To the left of the creek Il
the middle distance, is the site of the frs
! settlement in Vermont. Directly west
across the lake lies Crown Point where still
moulder the ruins of one of the Oldest for
tifcations in this country. Few places i
America, have 80 many romantic associa
tions, or have undergone so many vlcissi
tudes of war as this, and old Fort Ticon
deroga, which stands twelve miles beloy
Crown Point. Their crumbling walls ar
r full OF history. Fort Ticonderoga, is a pie
turesque ruin, aud one Of the few histori
places that has remained untouched by tn
hand of improvement or by the renovatio
of progress. Shut in between the moun
tains, just back of Ticonderoga, We coul
see the sylvan waters of the America
Como, Lake George distinctly. The mour
tains and hills, form a background for thei
beautiful view. The Adirondack mouI
tains follow Lake Champlain, come mile
below the shore opposite Burlington. LOCI
ing east, the view is very fine from the oil
: servatory. On the top of the mountai
Il not far from the observatory, Ia q nature