Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-09-18
For the SPECTATOR
On Ellfnff,s IL nAh

Miss Jennie B. Armentrout, of New Hope,
Misses Clara and Myrtle L.Taylor and Nettie
Wallace, John Miller and ). B. Goolsby OF
Craigsville, C.J.Smith. of Richmond. and Robt
Johnson, of Clifton Forge, went from Craigs-
Vile, Va, to Elliott's Knob. September 18th.
After riding about II miles, we came TO the
point beyond which horses could not be taken,
and dismounting, we took lunch and COM
menced ascending on foot The way was very
steep. and the day was SO very warm that we
had to halt often TO take breath, AS we ap-
preached the summit, the trees were all of
dwarf1sh growth. and twisted and gnarled by
the storms of that high region. There were al
SO few blackberry bushes bearing their fruit
long after the season had passed below. A few
minutes longer brought us to where the trees
ceased to grow, but large mass of rocks piled
wildly on the top of each other finished the
termination ofthe Knob. We soon stood up
on the wild platform of one OF natures most
magnificent observatories, isolated and ap-
parently above all things terrestrial, aud look
ing down upon and over beautiful, variega-
ted, and at the same time grand. wild,wonder-
full and almost boundless panorama. Indeed,
it was literally boundless. for there was con-
siderable haze and fog resting upon some parts
of the world below. so that, in the distant hor-
mipgle with each other. On one side Of East
ern Virginia. lay comparatively level coun-
try, and in the distance bearing strong re
semblance to the ocean on the other hand
were ranges of high mountains, following in
successive ranges, until they were lost also in
the haze above and below. The Blue Ridge
and Alleghanies ran offin long lines, some
times relieved by knobs and peaks and in one
place above us making graceful curve. and
then again running off in different line of d.
rection. Very near us stood the rounded top
of the other peak, looking like sullen senti-
mel for its neighbour. We paused in silence
for time. We were there almost cut off from
the world below standing where it was almost
fearful even to look down. We were on the
highest point in Virginia. said to be 4, 44S feet
above the level of the sea, and we had beneath
us the smiling valley of Augusta county. I
had been there before, and how my unpractic-
ed nerves forsook me at the subimity of the
scene. On this day it was as new as ever ; as
wild, wonderful, and sublime, as if had never
looked from those isolated rocks, or stood on
that awful summit. 1t was more haZy than at
the time of my last visit. but not too much so
to destroy the interest of the scene. There
was almost a sense of pain at the stiffness that
seemed to reign. We could hear the Tapping |
of the wings of the haw ks and buzzards as they |
seemed to be gathering a new impetus after |
sailing through one of their circles IN the air |
below US. South of us were the Blue Ridge |
mountains. They were connected with .hous |
and associations of my childhood, seeming |
when away from the spot, to |
bring my early home before me. Further on |
down the valley about 80 miles distant, Miss A.
the round hill, near New Hope |
Turning toward the direction of our mornings |
ride, we had beneath us the beautiful Augusta |
White Sulphur Springs, and we could stand |
and follow, with our eye, cur days journey to |
The spot where weeried and worn. we dis |
mounted with the setting sun. ]. B. G.