Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-12-24

there is a mountain there or not, and IL
there is, to mount to the very top, and
get the reward for your perseverance,
The nearest rouecsto the summit is to
" go around" bysway of the Midland
track across the magnificent iron bridge
across the Shenandoah, walk Of about
a mile and half, where the mountain
range breaks off and losesits identity
among the numerous bills and valleys
stretching away northeast to the Ia
nous Blue Ridge mountains, where
Mosby's chief operations were made
during the Rebellion, In company with
three others we started at noon, to
CLIMB THE MOUNTAIN,
leaving all extra burdens, in the way OF
heavy clothing, behind US. Immediate
ly after crossing the railroad bridge we
turn sharply 10 the right up a steep
bank and soon strike regular ascent
extending perhaps e-fourths q q
mile up the side of The mounlaip. E<s11
wo cut some stout sticks from The h0e.
sands growing by the roadside, toad
us in the ascent, which, we are warned,
will be long, tedious and tiresome,
Slowly and leisurely we trudge along
a comparatively easy path, beautifully
shaded by the evergreen trees with
which the ridge is covered, until we
near the base of tie cliffs. Here the
ascent becomes sleeper, and we find
our way obstructed b. rocks, fallen
trees. underbush and briars. All signs
of road and foot-path have disappeared
and we are in wilderness Of huge rocks
and bouders that grow larger and more
formidable with each advancing step
The trees still appear, rising up out OF
the sea of broken rocks, like grim SEN
tinels standing guard over natures
mountain wonders. Here and there
we find spot a few yards in breadth
where there are no trees, and we pause
to rest and gaze out through these huge
mountain windows" at the beautiful
view belog us extending for miles
across the valley.
But we must not tarry. More charm
ing scenes
AWAIT Us, UP HIGHER,
aud we resume our journey, stepping
from rock to rock up a vcritable ma
tare's ladder, old as The world and beau
tiful IN its ancient ruggedness. The as
cent during the last haliol The journey
is all steep except now and then a fat
platform Of stone from 20 to 80 feet
square, fitting place for an Indian
war-dance IN the ancient days. Some
times We come to q steep cliff OF ROCKS
almost perpendicular, where we have
to crawl around the projecting points
and pull ourselves up by the friendly
aid Of brush or vine clinging between
the crevices. Then again, we reach a
regular incline oftwo or three hundred
fee. which seems to have been worn
out BY the "rocks Of ages" " that have
come dashing down the mountain side
from the cliffs above. This is
DANGEROUS GROUND.
MANY of the rocks are loose and easily
displaced, and rock Of only a few
pounds weight, when started down the
incline will carry others with it gather
ing force and numbers as they 20 until
the hills and valleys resoaud with the
din and noise. To avoid accident IS
each man takes a separate track, and
up we climb, four abreast, each one
looking carefully TO his ewn safety
Presently VIC reach the top Of the IN
cline and pause TO rest. And
NOW FOR A LITTLE SPORT.
At the very edge Of the steep descent
we find a huge mass ofrOcks, broken of
from the cliff, and weighing perhaps
four to six thousand pounds. 1t is lay
ing, almost on a balance, just ready tr
tumble over. We secure a stout liml
of q tree. l,ing near, which we use as
Ilever. Oar united efforts are required
| TO throw the rock oil It's balance, hu
after repeated trials we succeed. Th'
| huge boulder rolls laziiy of, tumbie'
slowly at first, but gradually gains mo-
mentum. and then begins to Jump
whirl and dush down over tie rock,
he'd: the fire flashed as it strike agains
the solid projection, and a strong seen
Of brims tone-6lls the air down, dow
the boulder goes, laundering, crashing
leaning. tearing, carrying tons OF rock
and stones with it until the huge noun
tain fairly trembles with TIC shock an
roar. We hold our breath ard listen t
the commoton. In fact, we can d
ht.le else but listen, for the noise
deafening, and rapidly growing loude
and more terrible. Nothing can I'm
f pede the progress of the immense mas
in ITS fearful descent; eyerythln
must give way; trees tie size OF
. mans body arc cut of like plpc-'tem'
and 20 crashing down. 1t seems
B.. though the noise will never stop BIT
: presently the avalanche OF ocsccndln
confusion reaches the bottom ot I'll
cliffs. scatters out in thousand dire'
Y lions over the move level surface, an
c the din and confusion OF sounds dc
S away in echoes from the adjoining bill
c and valleys. But our journey is III
n yet complete, and we
Y AGAIN START UPWARD
IT Several times, when just below a sleC
d ella. some one would say, "Well. hel
d is the top, do you see the light shinir