Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-12-21
A VACATION TRIP.

Up Mount washing toD.-An Up Hill
Grade-At the summit.-The summit
Aoase.-The Hallway.
Tuesday morning, August It'll, we left gu,
host at Gorham at 7.l5 A. M, for the ascent
of Mount Washington. Changing our car.
riage for one with brake, we started with
every prospect of fine day. The mountain
air was delightfully."- bracing, clear and cool.
Our exchanging carriages was not a success
a. far as our own comfort was concerned,
but when going down hill we found the brake
great help for the horse, and we advise all
who contemplate a mountain "trip to take q
carriage with a brake. As we leave Gorham
village we cross the G.. T. r. X. BY the regu-
lar stage road to the Glen House, Glen Ellis
Falls, and Glen Ellis Station, which is on the
Portland & Ogdensburg Railroad. We follow
the Peabody River, which at this season of
the year is but large BROOK but its banks
show that in its spring freshets it is properly
dignified by the title of river. We have
Mts. Madison. Adams, Jefferson and Clay of
the Presidential group on our right, and Mts.
Murich, Surprise, Imp and Carter on our left,
with Mount Washington, towering grandly
above its lesser neighbors, directly ahead.
Eight miles of good road, for the most part
ascending ground, brings US to the Glen
House which is one of the largest of the
summer resorts among the mountains. This
popular house is 50 well known it needs no
description from me, and as we do not stop
at the house we hasten on a few rods past the
house, where we turn to the right into a
small green valley of some thirty acres
and crossing which we come to the
Toll House and Gate at which we
begin the ascent of the carriage road up
Mount Washington. The regular tolls
as posted upon the front of the house were,
if we remember correctly, 80 cents for each
passenger and Sl.75 for driver, carriage and
two horses. Running the toll is something
unknown here, for the ascent commences at
once, and is constantly up grade to the sum
NIT with one very short exception, and one
must come back the same way. Therefore
the toll keeper can be as moderate in getting
to the door as he pleases for he is sure of his
paw and after one has ridden over the road he
does not begrudge the corporation who own
and keep it in such good repairs, the what
at FIRST seemed to be exorbtant toll. As
we leave the the toll house a few rods brings
us to the edge of the woods. whose inviting
shade welcomes US from the heat of the sun
but from which we gladly emerge (after a
tedious four mile climb) at the Half Way
House, where we sop for drink of water
for our ourselves and for the already tired
horses. Thus far the road has been constant
" through the woods continually turning from
left to right but constantly up hill The road
from base to summit would average well with
Rhine's Hill in the city of Augusta. There
are hills in your city that are as steep as
some of the sharpest grades on the frst-half
of the road up Mt. Washington. but they do
not possess the advantage that the Mountain
road has, by which l mean that about every
ten to twenty rods q small ditch has been
made diagonally across the road which is
called bar, and serves the double purpose
of conducting of the water after heavy rain
storms and showers. and a trig for the hind
wheels of the carriage while the horses stop
to rest which they generally have to do as
often as every third or fourth bar, according
to the load. the mercy of the driver and the
endurance of the beasts.
The first four miles to the Half Way House
IL entirely through the woods. The timber is
small, mostly scrubby spruce, some hard
wood and plenty of underbrush. Above the
Half Way House only few bushes few
feet in height are to be found; and as we
near the summit these disappear entirely and
only few moses and lichens are to be seen.
We find the Half Way House inhabited and
the usual stock of canes, quartz crystals and
mountain specimens for sale. From the
road few rods farther on. we get a nice
view of the Glen House and the vslley below,
almost at our feet, as it were. Following the
road a little farther, we come to the ceie-
brated Cane Horn. 1t is on the northern
,pur of the mountain, and as the road reach
es the extreme northern part, it turns alb
ruptly to the west, gradually winding around
until we are again following southerly di-
rectiop and soon find ourselves directly above
the Half WAY House which is only few
hundred feet below US, and not so far away
lint what one could throw a stone down to 1t.
Pedestrians (who are posted) never go round
Cane Horn, unless to see the scenery, ou'
climb the rocks, in some places very steep,
and save some three quarters of mile travel
From this point to the summit, there is more
sameness 10 the road; nearly all the way Il
il cut into the side of the mountain, and the
debris is thrown up on the lower eide, as low
parapet or wall, to keep teams from falling
over. Turning out when we meet team
coming down. is something to be looked out
For and We are very thankful that ~e met
al few. (only two DOR three coaches, which are
bringing down parties that remained up ovel
r;ohfl. As we near the summit, the dir
becomes scarcer, and in many cases has to DC
hsnled .ome distance to make the road. The side
NJ the mountain is solid rock, furrowed ans
scanned by water and frost and where it il
not too steep covered with boulders from the
s;ze of q bushel basket 20 small house
lust before reaching the summit we cross
small plateau nearly level. and begin very
sh.rn ascent of some 200 feet which brine'
ma 10 the foot of the steps leading up to ia.
Summit House, which seem very long AM
steep to your correspondent, who has vaikes
all the way from the base OF the mountain
We enter the Office of the Summit House .
70 90 having been IA hours on the road
The horses are put into . good stable, vel
cared for. but not allowed to have muci
v.ter TO drink, for it il all. rain water, AM