St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1885-02-12
Mt. Washington in White:
Letter in the Boston Herald.I

letter in the Boston Herald.I
Fabyan's, n. H., Jan. Z, 1885. OF
the many who annually visit Mt.
Washington. probably not one in a
thousand has seen it in winter. My
friend and | had long contemplated
such a trip. Leaving Boston on the
morning of the 29th of December we
reached Fabyan's the same afternoon,
and started for Mt. Washington on the
following day. Having read in the
papers few days before that the ther-
mometer had been 42o below zero, with
the wind blowing 100 miles an hour,
we prepared ourselves as if for the
Arctic regions. Two suits of under
clothing, with channels lined trousers,
leather jackets, felt boots and fur caps,
covering all the head except the eyes,
completed our outfit. NOtw ithstand-
ing that the day was warm, we resolv-
ed to wear all this clothing, thinking
that sudden change in the weather
might make it necessary. Having
driven to the base, we started to walk
up the railroad, but, before we had
gone quarter of mile, we were in a
profuse perspiration. The train to
the summit stops on Oct. /, and during
the winter the road to the Glen House
is usually blocked with snow, so that
the only way TO ascend is by the rail-
road track. When the snow is deep
and hard, one NAV walk where the
footing is best, but with soft snow the
trestlework is easier. The grade for
the first two miles is steep and tire
some, but, if one is in good condition,
the slighter grade of the last mile
makes the ascent less fatiguing. When
we started, the valley was clear, but
tile top of the mountain was enyeloped
in fog. The views however, before we
reached the fog were very beautiful,
as the snow adds much to the always
lovely landscape. After we had pen
etrated the fog, our whole attention
was fixed on the slippery track, for
the slightest misstep may lead to the
most serious consequences. The track
is 30 feet above the ground in some
places, and if the wind is blowing bard
the walking is both difficult and dan
gerOus. We were tive hours and a
half, including several stops, in reach
ing the signal station, and this is fair
ly good time for those who are unac-
customed to walk on the track. The
length of the railroad from base to
summit is about three miles. From
the place called the Gulf of Mexico We
had the company of one
OF THE SIGNAL MEN
who had kindly come to meet US.
When we had seen the station in sum
mer it had the appearance of an Ordi
nary house, with the exception of the
great timber braces, but now one door
was closed and banked with snow,
while the double windows were pro-
tected by Stats, nailed about an inch
apart. Inside, however, all was
warmth. A large range and a huge
stove together in a small room, which
served as kitchen, dining room and of
fee, Kept the temperature as high as
could be desired, even in the coolest
weather. Beside the kitchen, there
are three other smaller rooms leading
from it. ...,-....' ~.
The station is commanded by .Sergt.
Beals. He has as assistant observer
Private Cahill. Beside these, there is
a cook. These three men live there
alone nine months of the year. In the
autumn they lay in stock of provis-
ions which lasts until the following
July In fact, their life is similar to
that led by keepers of off-shore light
houses, only the cold is much greater
at Mt. Washington, and the wind
blows there with greater velocity
than at any lighthouse. The work of.
these men, though constant, is not, as
a rule, severe. They have, however,
certain duties which are both danger
GUS and unpleasant, such as replacing
the thermometers, carrying the mails to-
the base, aud reading the rain gauge
ia cold and windy weather.. The ane
is On the top of the peaked
roof, and when the temperature is low
and the weather foggy, the frost work
forms so rapidly that the cups have to
be taken down every two hours. To
do this is sometimes almost All i'm |
To stand with the wind |
above 20 miles an hour is difficult, and, !
when the velocity is over 100, to hold /
on to the roof and change the cups is (
an operation that requires both /
strength and courage. !
The men sometimes have hard work t
to carry the mails, for, with strong I
wind, they often have to crawl on their
hands and knees over the ice-eovered |
There are two supply I
iepots between the summit and the
,ase of the mountain, and in these the !