Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1895-07-25
GRAND OLD MT. MANSFIELD.
Magnificent Views to be obtained From
Its summit.
d'rom the Boston Home JournalO

It's summit.
OFrom the Boston Home Journal)
Among the many delightful resort points
in picturesque Vermont there is none more
interesting or attractive than grand old
Mt. Mansfield, which stands guard, as 1t
were, over the beautiful Lamoillc valley
with its fertile farms and snug villages.
Mansfield is the highest peak of the Green
Mountain range and towers i,457 feet
above the level of the sea. 1t is land
mark for miles around, and to climb to its
commanding SUBMITS is an experience
enjoyed no less by the sturdy lads and
lasses reared under its shadows than by
tourists who fnd their summer pleasures
in this charming state.
The mountain is accessible only from
two different railroad points, but il one
has no choice OF routes he Will best enjoy
the journey to the top by way Of tho pretty
little village Of stowe. which ncstlcs
close to the base. Leaving the train at
Waterbury, the tourist will reach stowe
in the royal style of the olden time. i'm
Concord coaches over what was once
plank road, but which is now a splendid
stage road. passing through section
whose scenic beauty is unriValled any
where in New England. Stowe is a pros
porous wcll-kept village, not unlike
hundred other Cosey Vermont hamlets.
with a population of about two thousand
ana NlltIN tNltllhtl reputation dS one
of the most charming and hcalthful sum
morinE places in the Green Mountain
state. And il has also achieved quite
little fame from the fact that il Is the
summer home of Julia MarIowe, the ac-
trcss and her husband, MIR. Tabor.
II is a glorious drive from stowe to the
summit of Mansfield. The distance is
ten miles, and it is directly after leaving
tho village that the finest view is to be
had OF the mountain in all its hoarY grand
cur. II appears to be of peculiar shape,
and by the exercise Of the Imagination
the outlines of its SUBMITS can be made
to resemble the human face turned up
wards to the sky The north peak rcsem-
bios the chin. tho middle the nose and
the southern the forehead The road to
the summit is a good carriage road, worn
hard by the hundreds of teams that pass
over it every season. The first five miles
is over the stowe turnpike, perfectly
level.
The ascent commences when the base
of Mansfield is reached ana then for two
and half miles it is up, up, up, but the
road is good and for tho greater part of
the way it is through a magnificent forest
At 2,3Uj feet above the sea level is the
"half-WaY' house. here one may with
profit make a long pause to admire the
splendid view spread out before him The
lovely valley below with its smooth green
a
verdure- clad hills and the higher SUBMITS
of the mountain range. In a clear day
tho White Mountains are clearly visible,
and it is possible to distinguish several Of
the Presidential group. The remaining
two and half miles from the "half-way''
house is an easy climb and is full of sur
prses for the climber. Three hours and a
half is time usually allowed for the trip
from Stowe village. During the last part
Of the journey the views are grand i'm the
extreme, and it is well-nigh impossible to
describe the sensations they give. OcCa-
soually one catches glimpses of the wood
ed raVincs stretching to the very base of
the mountain, and "Smuggler's Notch "
between the "half-way" house and the
summit, is a point of attraction that
affords several views of distant points
through its flowing walls The notch is a
narrow pass, wild and impressive, supposed
to have been worn out by the action of the
water that at some remote period swept
through it, Here and there huge powders
have fallen from the mountain side, and
on them large trees are now growing. Just
above a little way is the Summit House,
finely situated and commanding a magni-
hcent view Of what appears at first view
to bc pretty nearly all Of northern Yer
mont. with sections of Canada, New
Hampshire, the Lake Champlain region
forming the frame to the wonderfully
nit House towers THE nose" which is
reached by a rough path much resembling
flight of stairs 1t is not n hard climb
and the views are worth the effort. TIC
ascend" the chin" however requires more
time and more effort, ana as it is about 500
feet higher than the nose it commands a
more extended view. The scene that is
here spread out before one is oqualled no.
whore in grandeur ana picturesque beauty
In the far east are the rugged mountains
of the Granite State, while to the west
stretching away to the silvcry waters OF
Lake Champaign. are the fertile valleys
of western Vermont, with the deep blue
AdirondaCkS in the far distance beyond
The hills of Montreal may be seen to the
north, and on a pleasant day the glisten-
ing spires of the city. The whole Of Lake
Champlain from Ticonderoga to the eX-
treme northern point lies stretched out
before you. Burlington, the Queen city OF
Vermont, is easily Identified. AT the south
rise Cancels Hump, AsCutney, Killingtor
and other lofty peaks of the Green Noun
tain range. In fact the view for n hundred
miles in any direction is early
unrestricted. Tho nearer views along
the base of Mansfield are nc
less worthy of admiration than III,
distant ones. From the chin" you car
SEQ the farmhouses all around clustering
into villages, you can follow the course.
Of the winding streams through the greer
valleys, YOU can see the dark green of tn,
waving grain and can almost distinguish
the farmers at their toll. Many tourist:
have become so cnraptured with the seen
cry visible from the chin that they have
spent several days there drinking in it.
beauties In fact there are views o
views" of which the beholdcr never tires
and those who are ordinarily Indifferent
10 the beauties Of nature cannot help bu
be impressed. if not inspired by them