Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-05-06
By request
yIRaINIA-ABOYE THE CLOUDS.

[The following account of trip to the
Speak" as the Southern Terminus of the
Massanutten Mountain is called in that To-
cality, was written by young lady from
the State of Missouri, whe made the trip
whilst on visit to friends and relatives at
McGaheysville and vicinity in Rockingham
County.]
''There is great rugged peak (the ter
minus of the Massanutten range) hanging
almost over McGaheysville; grand state
| ly mountain about which We have heard
many tales and traditions, and the leaning
summit of which has been an object of in
terest and wonder tc us ever since we have
been in the village. Wehave seen it in the
morning frightened and glorified with the
SUMS rays long before he was visible in the
valleys; we have seen it cut off from the
mountain by vapor and suspended, as it
were, high up in mid air; and then again
we have seen it wrapt by storms, and the
home of clouds, thunder, and lightning.
The range of mountains stretches itself
along in an undulatihg manner through
the heart of tie beautiful valley of Virgin
ia like q huge serpent with its terrible head
reared high above McGaheysville; but
which in ages past has been brought, as 1t
we're, to stand still, and suddenly turned
into stone by fat of the Almighty .
s'Thus far shalt thou 60 and no farther." +"
The day arrived, cold and clear, when a
party of four, including the writer, should
ascend this peak. After having provided
ourselves with a lunch and strong stsffs, we
ascended the range from gap near the
Rockingham Mineral Springs, and two
miles and half from the summit of the
peak. By going in this direction we walk
: 4 of kbo nfoiy, nd ho1
a more gradual ascent. On entering the
gap we crossed an an old mossy foot bridge,
a most beautiful stream. Such pure spark
ling water! clearer than we ever dreamed
water could be. Coming to place where
| it was still and smooth, we were astonished
| to find that it measured 30 many feet in
depth; there was green mossy vegetation
| on the rocks at the bottom, and one could
peep clear into the homes of the speckled
trout. A little farther up this stream was
the remains of an old mill, falling in pieces
and darkened by the sun, rain, and cling
ing moss. Great beams. and other rub
bish had fallen into the water, but the little
stream wound in, out, and around among
it until it came out into its own natural
channel again, as if in respect for the old
dead mill, it once turned, and willing that
| it should have its grave there. A Missouri.
an, IN rambling through these mountains,
| ia invariably carried back into the fading
shadowy past; and the element in which he
| finds himself is SO new to him (for western
people in their eagerness to peer into the
future seldom look back) that he cannot
understand himself, and begins to fear that
he has invaded the precincts of some sylvan
deity, or is under the influence of some
mountain witch; and battle with it as he
may there is nothing to break the spell
there is no whistle of steam, or clatter o
cars; no rnmbling of wagons, or neighinl
of horses; no sound of reaper, or other farm
machinery; all is still except the ripping Of
water, and the signing and wailing Of wine
in the pines. he passes on like one in {
dream, and now and then comes to small
cleared grassy patch surrounded by tai
pines, chinquepin bushes, sc; it contains
; huge pile of rocks, one or two old, knarlee
scraggy, apple OF cherry trees, a crysta
spring, and cedar tree. At the bottom
; and along the rocky sides spring moss, oll
leaves, and yellow mineral deposit, has col
leeted together, and clogged the outlet; al
he dips into the beautiful water with tn,
leaf cup be makes, bubbles of gas dance u,
and break upon the surface. There ART
many such deserted places in this vicinity
and the mountaineers, men aud women
: whom one may chance to see silently wend
ing their way along their hesta4 path
with huge burdens upon their backs, sa.
that many. many years ago, houses stoo'
in these places, and many children romp
ed in, and about, the spots now so lonely
or it may be place where ''grand folks
from the city came and dwelt in summe
beautiful pale faced ladies, who regaine,
their health and color in this region. 1t i
said the reason there are 80 many old re-
mains of houses, orchards, mills, &c, il
these mountains is, that the valleys in thi
portion of Virginia were once, like the Mis-
souri, River bottom Los is, unheslthys AM
on this account the mounteins were inhab.
tied first; bat as the low lands gradual
became more healthy, the people gladly lef
their mountain homes for these mere fer
tile regions.
We will now 60 back to ths little part
we left resting upon the rocky border Q
that beautiful stream. They are now as
csnding from the gap. With every ste
taken up the mountainside the observatio
broadens, and the outlook becomes NOR
grand and comprehensive; every now an
then there is an exclamation of surprls
and delight by first one, then the othel
who is in front, as some new beauty is un