New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-08-03
SUMMER LEISURE.


AN EXCURSION OVER THE MOTE RANGE IN NEW
HAMPSmRE-FINE SCENERY AND BRACING AIR
LATE ARRIVALS AT THE WHITE MOUNTAIN
HOTELS.
IRON SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE.l
NORTH CONWAY, July 3O.---In former letter
ausion made to the beautiful walks and drives to
DC found in the vicinity Of North Conway, and to-day
mean to give readers the opportunity to take with
me one of the delightful walks the ascent OF the
Mote range of mountains
The Mote range, some five miles in extent running
north and SOUTH borders the Saco Valley the west,
and extends past Conway and North Conway to Lower
BARTLETT Let us start them Saturday, the 23d inst.
III bright and sunny, but cool and pleasant morning
Inc party consists of four two ladies and two gentle
men, The apenstock OF of the former shows that
she is an experienced climber, for the stick bears cut
on ts sldes the names of many mountains assembled,
including that of even Washington. After early
breakfast at about $780, leave tho hotel and start
on our drive to the base of the mountain Our road first
brings us near to White Horse Cliff, which rises perpen
dcuarly nearly thousand feet, and forms rampant
OF the mountain, which lies behind it. This cliff
takes its name from the fancied resemblance
OF white spot It's face to horse running at full
speed Echo Lake lies at the pretty sheet of water
covering several acres, and from its position, rejoicing
III an echo which is quite remarkable.
Cathedral Chf, next the right, rises about
hundred feet above the SacO meadOws At its base Is
cavity about forty feet deep and sixty feet HIGH with
lofty trees filling up the entrance This has been
named by visitors The Cathedral" and like most such
places, has its legend Some ten years ago. the story
runs, party Of young people there to spend the
day. and mindful OF the OF the place. thought that
1t would be amusing to have mock wedding. Two of the
party volunteered and q young lawyer performed the
ceremony. Upon their return home, the young couple
learned to their dsmay that the lawyer justice of
the peace and that the marriage valid one The
next three years spent in the divorce courts and
the end divorce granted. Whether the lawyer
acted from malice simply from ignorance does not APP
pear. mile further, and we come to Dianas Baths,
where we leave the carriage aud whence path
mountain begins. Diana's Baths take their name
from series of basins potholes they denom-
mated by the vulgar, which mountain brook gentle
summer but rough and violent in spring has followed
out OF the solid granite. Some of them ten feet in
diameter and ten feet deep contain the rounded
stones by which the stream did its work.
Below them the stream flows over a nearly level
granite moor, and makes plunge of ten fifteen feet
INTO deep and rounded basin, forming beautiful cas-
cade.
Our path lies for about mile and threequarters
along an Old and almost dsuscd logging road The wav
rs very beautiful. The trees forming almost an arch
overhead, furnish abundant shade Choice wild flowers
ABOUND on either side at intervals patches of weaden
raspberry bushes offer relief traveller; now and
again clusters of the pretty White Mountain snowberry
almost Out of place this height and slightly be-
low us on tho right, the brook babbos way rejoc
ing.
Ihus FAR our walk has been almost upon level ground
""V ho" tic ridHcs oI hOte appear LETT, and
know that harder work is at hand But before we
caye the logging road, and take the Worcester path
up the mountain, L must say word about
inc pain ITSELF 1t Is entirely % work OF pri-
Natc enterprise and it's authors great credit for
the excellent way in which they performed thier work
The path opened by Messrs. Williams and Charles p
worcester OF Newtonvle, Mass, and by Dr. Wilbur b.
fafker OF Boston. In 1877. Before it was made tho
mountain was practically inaccessible to ladies
The path, at first, leads up an almost perpcnd icular
ptpl will
The ascent is difficult we often stop TO take breath
An oorusiVe root catches correspondents foot and
he falls III all undignifed position and rolls downward
ior several feet But persevere upward and at last
reach the first bare rocky ridge of Mote.
Previous to 1854 Mote was the greenest maintain
Visible from North Conway, but on September 30 of that
year. tre with the assistance OF a northwestery gale
swept over It's whole range consuming tho and the
son. ana leaving only surface OF bare rocks with
mere ana there trunks OF the larger trees which the
ames had been unable To destroy totally Over tbeso
ridges we then proceeded. the path being Carefully
marked ny Cairns OF loose stones placed intervals and
as VIC assembled higher the view gradually more
extensive and beautiful AS approached the base OF
the north noafter what an almost endless c,b
over Intervening ridges the path led for half mile
through charred and burnt spruce trunks lying twisted
and broken either side short pause for water NJ
the spring. a stubborn climb up the side OF the cone
which rises almost perpcudcuary for 100 feet and wa
are "t the top OF the northern and brightest peak of tho
Mote range. 5000 feet above the sea Cur c,i,nh hos
consumed TWO hours and two minutes which we bayo
accomplished three miles We examine the little conner
case which the Appalachian Club places on the ton NJ
all the important mountains and which contains 81 roll
OF paper Whereon all visitors nscrbe their uamcs and
hd that we have made tho best ladies' mc ON record
After enjoying the view for time as We found The
cod breeze on the extreme summit not coudncivo Ia
comfort VIC withdrew TO the shelter some rocks on the
leo side for dinner and quiet games OF whist
After an hour two OF rest wo resume our ,our,or
which leads us along the ridge OF the mountain toor,
the South Peak The walk is delightful one for we are
Mt such an elevation that have exteusiv, vcus o
both sides. must not forget mention thu. we st
frequently to gather blucberrics tor the Mote bno
berries arc famous both for their size flavor Tins
VIC travel on, now ascending and descending ridges
until after tramp OF three miles we reach the soutbern
peak OF Mote which IL 700 feet above the ssa Iror
we again take rest, and long one for our walk a
nearly over here we nave avery ine view the whole
range ana especially OF the North Peak, which stands
forth prominently and shuts part of orr prosnac 70
ward the NORTH We start again, and this time down
ward we follow n and uncertain path made nv,
the people who come to gather bueberres and after
twoinles' scramble through underbrush and thickets
we come ont upon the highway at Albany There tbe
carriage meets thoroughly enjoy our eiebtn,c
drive through Conway Corner to North Conway anl
arrive homo Ia time for hoe supper having passed
most delightful day.
lhere IL something very bracng In the mountain air for
1t enables both men and TO take puch In. car
walks here than they could possibly endure AT home and
the fatigue arising therefrom much less Therefore tba
fact need cause but slight wonder that the ladies were In
condition for dancing in the evening
Mr. and Mrs L. H. Grail Elmer Grail, Mrs j. H. Rand
and family of New-York, are at the Summer Uouso IN
Kearsarge Village
Herbert f. Gutterson, Miss NJ f. Curtis Mr. and Mrs W
81 s b1tsr, Nc and Mrs James Perkins, Miss Perkins
ey a rHa MIS- Mis- AmSn GnniSon and family Miss sarah
w, Is. tio -