Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-09-06
4 ministerial Tramp.

The following was contributed by the
Rev. Chas. r. Seymour, 10 the Vermont
Chronicle, Mr.. Seymour and William
Campbell being the two gentlemen
whose experiences are detailed:
Vacation suggestions for ministers are
endless Each man doubtless must dis
Germ for himself hat sort OF recreation
and rest supplies his want. 1t remains
true, nevertheless. that many are still
unsatisfed with the results of their ex-
perimentiug. and are open to further
hints which have III view the more com
plete change and the greater rebound of
energy.
Ministers walk, tie most of them, but
few make a business of it. Not one in
twenty have donned the tramping garb,
including u small bag at his back, and
walked fifteen miles for three successive
days to study from experience the eff
fects of the noble exercise. The man
with weakish limb and too little capac-
ity of lung has probably not, after due
preparation. conquered a modest noun
tam, say of five thousand feet in height,
to discover what control of muscle and
fullness of breathing are to be acquired,
and what delights nature has held in
store for him. The writer then, as la
Dor of love, may be permitted to outline
a brief tramp taken not Il month since,
in the hope of persuading some of his
needy brethren to go and do likewise.
Two men starting from st. Hubert S
Inn struck into the admirable carriage
road which leads four miles through an
ideal forest to the lower Ausable lake.
One of the tTamperS was a manufacturer
accustomed to ride behind his spirited
bays but whose physical condition re-
Qured new regimen. AT Elizabeth
town, neither party had proposed noun
tain climbing. However, after plain
walks over mountain roads, aggregating
forty miles, mutual desire eliminated in
the more trying ordeal. A guide was Sc
cured, a modest man of the excellent
Beede stock, who was now in the ad-
vance with provisions for two days. An
easy walk of ninety minutes brought the
lake to view. A grateful breeze of pur-
est air was tlawing its emerald surface,
breaking up the reflections Of forest and
rocky precipiCe, which form the envi-
rons of this wOndrOus mirror. To row
the length of the lake, traverse the carry
of more than mile to the second lake,
and then row to camp, was the work of
another ninety minutes. By two O'Clock,
dinner over, our travellers are at leisure
for the day in a secluded spot, fdyorite
with those who love the silence Of lake
and hill in the higher altitude.
Before eight next morning, again in
the boat we row up the creek which
feeds these waters, two miles, to the
foot of the Marcy trail. The morning is
fairly promising. The native wildness
of the banks, the fresh deer tracks at
every opening of the bushes, the pros
pect of testing our physical resources,
were exhilaratIng,
The trail opened disagreeably enough,
with DOGGY wetness, which often need
ed the foundation of logs and poles
which the guides have provided. Slight
ly higher ground was soon reached and
before an hour has passed, the path
wound along the rising valley between
the foot hills of Haystack and Skylight.
Steep ascents were few and many were
the reliefs of level or slightly descending
tracts. Now gorge appears on the lett,
down which the main Ausable branch
tumbles and where, from n projecting
ledge, the peak of Marcy is bodily visible.
For two hours of the journey the novice
is lead to believe that climbing is not
after all serious matter, but the third
brings an experience. Rude, zigzag
stairways of roots and bOulders with
black muck filling the interspaces make
new demands upon muscle and wind. A
shortening of steps becomes imperative.
Absolute stops for breath are required.
The best man now is he who can endure.
We are on the side of Skylight. A camp
appears where many a traveller halts to
renew his journey next day. BY 11.30
o'clock, the company cross the 'dlvi1e'
and plant foot upon Marcy with a shout.
A mile is yet to be traversed, half of it
through thick, tangled spruce, the re-
naming half over bare rock, the should