New-York tribune., 1885-03-02
WINTER IN THE CATSKILLS.
sLE1cHINa AMID wHIrECAPpED PEAKS.
A TRIP IN A CUTTER TO SOME OF THE PRINCIPAL

| TFRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT TRIBUNE ]
LEXINGTON, Greene County. Feb. 27.-Thou-
sands OF persons and about Newiork and Phadelpha
visit the Catsks every to view the picturesque
beauty great hills and to enjoy the cooling breezes
] which sweep over the mountains The number OF
visitors increases every year rs new facilities Tor
| reaching tho most popular resorts are added rev
wears ago the heart Of the mountains could only DO
| reached by stages from Catskih landihg
| and the summer traveller to the Mountain
| House was compelled to ride many hours
before he arrived at his destination In places further
hack I'm the mountains visitor had to ride from seven
to ten before he could find rest In his hotel OF
boarding house. and 1t frequently midnight before
his DAYS Journey at end The popularity OF the
mountains has increased that railroads have now
taken the place OF stages and to the remotest vii
| lages may be had in few hours
Of all the persons who to the mountains year az
ter year any knowledge of their beauty la WIN
ter when the ground is covered with snow when the
high peaks wear their white caps. and when on every
side as far eyes reach can be white mead
ows glistenng under the rays OF MONDAY Toone
who has INDUCED in the charms OF a mid-wnters
| visit to the Catskills, the attractions are
| as great rs In midsummer The change
from city fe the little designations OF the winter.
to the quiet and retired retreats is just great in sum
mer when one fees from the ntoerabe heat OF the city
The travelling cera My attended with less discomfort
The trains crowded with tourists there Is no
dust TO soil clothes dirty ones face, and there Is no
hustle or confusion the little stations n the moun-
ains where at the best the provisions for comfort are
| limited.
Kinpston is now the central point for reaching most
parts OF the Catss 1t Is the beginning Of the
Ulster and Delaware road which connects Mt Phencia
with the tony Glove road bringing the traveller within
few miles o. the principal villages The first change
that a summer visitor notices In " lntcr as he
leaves New-York isat Rhinebcck lie well
recalls the confusion in summer when the chango Is
made from the train to the ferry boat, and the almost
endless delay In handling trunks and baggage There Is
no ferry boat awaiting the arrival OF the train. ana
no river Is percepble for the traveller to The
Hudson is a mass OF ice couple Of feet thick. and GOV
cred with several inches OF snow. An Od-fashOncd
sleigh $50 old indeed that recall when the
fashion I'm saads at the station. II IL pat
termed after the style OF charcoal wagons ia
a black dngy looking arrangement hlled with straw on
the blankets to protect the knees OF the few per
sons who are compelled to cross the river The winter
traveller finds companion with him In the sleigh.
a commercial traveller perhaps and some persons
who live In Rondout or kingston Driving over the ud-
son j. an experience that not many mountain guests
have enjoyed. The distance across the river Il 4" Y
abo nj hall mile but the sleigh does more service than
tro, The cos shore of the Hudson to the depot OF the
Ulster and Delaware road In Kingston, distance OF two
visitors appear before the eye ~ the sleigh pro
rush travel In summer the Mary Powell can he seen
weged in the Ice at Rondout. helpless ana apparently
When the sleigh arrives at kingston where the
shore road connects with the Ulster and Delaware.
tbrre f. pleasing absence of all the rush and annoyance
which travellers are compelled TO undergo The
the mountain road stands ready, but It's make
mn is different from that Of the trains. There
are no observation card" arranged particularly 10 give
the passengers view OF the mountains as the ascent s
with small winiows witch view of The mountains
is obtained with difficulty The passengers. too are Of
different class. They mostly men who work In the
factories and mills along the line o The road and few
persons who do small business In the little village.
scattered all over the mountains Although accustomed
TO see a great crowd OF visitors In summer. these
view with awe aud wonder the appearance
OF passenger In winter with travcllng-hag Indeed,
content until the destination Of the passenger IL known
~ well the object OF his visit
that every side the objects 40 familiar to the eye are
covered with nnsocd snow In passing over caishi,i
II Is found 10 be. like ali the other nyucts at
Fnr,%sf S up the road the nrss glimpse
House is obtained. IL Il dhcnit to discover |
ns Hso Si,9fms agmes OF the the D"a%s are slmo.
the train The trees in the distance lesness. aud
small bit OF green can bo seen lhe ttaih soon
one in tho face Stages for Overlook Mountain House.
to these regions In warm weather Is AWAY,
tnld that the Catsks hardly worth visiting without
a trip to Overlook where stands one OF tue hlgbost
arrival Of guests now the only passengers to aght
few farmers. The run Ia PhTnlcia barren of IN
the stony stood for the first time IA week
waiting to transfer ireight 10 The heart OF
SHOWS which foi last week. In some places
he drif "
kept busy the whole week shoyeng the snow down The
deep prepces by the side Of the road There IL an old
legend Of the mountains ITS origin has never been traced
any authentic source that 10 the hottest day In sum
fee be found under the rocks IN stony Glove
Notch. Frequent visitors to the notch have failed after
dllgcnt search many to discover any leo
beneath hidden creyces in the great stones which
these regions relates h.w he met with great In
his search for ice hi, story + listened to Win sSs.
racty ia generally imp9gned. II one could
ano ud,i In he wonder
IL could all be removed before the summer boarier ar
Starting Iamcnt- the principal hotel in shaudaken.
trip made in sleigh this week TO all the principal
daken are frcquented much this winter Of
the great quantity Of snow that has faon. ON Tuesday
night when the train arrived at shandaken drive was
taken To Lexington distance Of fifteen miles less
the change Is great because all tho familiar scenes
are apparently hidden by snow: The moon has JaSt
a good horse warm robes and u pleasant com
panlon the fifteen miles are soon passed over.
Lexington Is John Vans as he is f,miliarly called. be
6 Ge 1 nG enSs Sas9 s Hero ey aS %
gathered all the farmers AND workingmen for miles
House winter because II IA about the only place
open. Further down the road can be the massive
hotel called the OIiara House. with doors barred and
windows closed II Is n striking contrast who has
the hundreds Of guests In summer promenadng on
the broad ycrandas using the surrounding fields for all
kinds OF out door sports aud congregatng In the neigh
borhood Of the spacious bowling alley and
In pastines. From Lexington to Hunter. prob
ably miles, the selghIlg Ia excellent VII
lage attractive In summer looks deserted In winter
The Kaasberg IL closed the Central House doors
locked and the only available place open Hunter
House. Here cafpenters at work adding story
To the building in order TO accommodate the number OF
guests who turned away last Not to out
done by rival towns, Hunter has rollcr-skating
rink.
From Hunter to Tannersyie II probably one Of the
coolest In the mountains The wind down
the valley and carries the snow In drifts In some places
twelve feet high. TO visitor the sleighing seems
dangerous rs the horse tramps fields fences and
through high drifts following tho winter road Once
started however there IL no return until Tannersye
has been reached, because there II the
sleigh ROggcn's Hotel is the attraction and although
the place Is kept all the year. IL Is because pro-
nriet mi ut IN mn mn