The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-06-14
A Jackson Letter.
Beauties of Jackson-Certer's Notch-The
Projected Bridle-Path to the Glen House

No mountain valley can boast more native
loveliness than jackson. Tin mountain,
Thorn mountain, the Mote, Doublehead and
the majestic Carter mountain majestically
shelter the little woodland town. Wildcat
river runs noisly along over jackson Falls for
rods and then plunges boldly right through
the middle of the village, through the meadow
bright with buttercups and clover, musical
with songs of birds, the dwellers in the pictur-
esque wood that crowns the rivers bank.
1t is no wonder that artists love this quiet
glen where squirrels play on the stone walls
among the tangled clematis in front Of the
largest hotel, where you may hang your ham,
mock in the widest wood and listen ut drowsy
noon to the tinkling sheep bells. 1t is no won-
der that these cozy hooks are yearly reflected
on innumerable canvasses.
But artists of the rod as well as the brush
come hither. They love the speckled trout In
these shining brooks and they tell astounding
stories in regard to the weight OF the fnny
tribes patriarchs which it must be presumed
they rope in.
Sojourners at jackson are surprised that 80
little is heard about Carter's Notch, one of the
most grandly beautiful spots in the White
Mountain region. 1t is nine miles from Jack
son to the Notch; from the entrance to the
Notch wood it is a four-mile walk-or one
may ride mile and half on horseback. The
road is narrow, root-braided footpath, not at
all difficult of ascent and the woodsl "Un-
marred by man, unprofaned by axe" Is the
phrase that rises instinctively in the mind. 1t
is strange, wild, wierd, most fascinatingly
beautiful scene. The vast boulders. the im-
mense fallen logs, are cushioned foot deep
with vivid green moss. You see lee and snow
i'll the assures of the rocks and the guide SAYS
that it extends to the depth Of ten feet in some
places at the present time. The Roaring Wild
cat close to your left you find a most congenial
companion. You pass desolate places, once
the battle fields OF the lightnings, the winds
and woods. What terribly sublime specta-
Gle must be presented when these gigantic
forces are in action! Enormous trees are torn
out by the roots, and at the foot of the huge
upturned mass of fbre-bound soil great cav
erns are often visible. The guide said no doubt
these were bears dens (Bears only den In the
Winter, ladies. In Summer they walk about
and feed on game.) Other trees were prevent
ed from falling by companions falling in the
opposite direction, and scores of trees stand
tossed and mingled together in indescribable
confusion The lightning has shivered many
trees and left them charred, crisped splintered
and monumental in its fury.
AS we ascend, through openings In the forest
we obtain enhancing views of distant noun
tain ranges, and meadow landscape. And SO
we arrive at Davis camp on the west side OF
the Notch, very pretty, very picturesque, and
most comfortable. There is not a crevice in
the spruce bark with which 1t is thatched-
matched is the right word, for at first sight It
looks Just like an English matched cottage.
There is good stove and no hair mattress is
softer than the fine odorous fir tips Of which
the two large beds are made. The most luxu-
rious accommodations for camping out!
But here are the two lovely oval lakes gilt
tering in the centre of the Notch, and ten and
twelve pound trout are an any day prize here.
The outlook is grand beyond the power of
words to depict. The pure air is most exhilir-
ating. Yon feel that civilization must be far
off.
Many years ago two men, Carter and Hoyt,
started from Gorham to come across the noun
tains to jackson, "blazing'' trees to find their
way back, their wood fire only assisting them
on their onward journey. They reached this
narrow gorge, from thirty to forty rods wide,
and agreed to name it Carter's Notch TO call
the bare, bleak, eastern bluff, 1900 feet above
sea level, $500 feet above the Notch, "Carters
Mountain;" the lower heavily wooded western
peak was to be "Hoyt's Mountain" Hoyt, it
is evident was the more generous man, but,
Jackson people with the ingratitude another
time shown in changing the name OF their
town from scholarly Adams to pugnacious
jackson, call both peaks Carter's Mountain.
Mr. Jonathan Davis is deserving of good
deal of credit for cutting through the woods to
the Notch. He began the road in 1876, and
intends to make it a bride path all the way
this could be done with but little additional
labor-continuing the road through the noun
tains to the Glen House, four miles from Car
ter's Notch. If he succeeds, he will furnish
way to reach some of the grandest treasures
buried in the mountain valleys.
Portland people are fond OF Jackson. Many
of them, among whom was Miss Sargent, the
authoress, were at the Glen Ellis House last
summer. f. M. NJ.