Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-09-22
sTRATToN MO . NTKIN.


town of Newfane, including the writer,
have lately visited the summit of Stratton
mountain, The excursion was undertaken
mostly for recreation, but by one Of the
parties for the study of specimens, such as
might be discovered in high attitudes, in
addition. Perhaps the desire to stand on
the highest spot of land in Windham
county was one motive.
1t is place not often seen even by the
people living about the base of the noun.
tain. Less than half the residents of STRAIT
ton probably have ever seen it. 1t is not
meant to include here the half that would
have the best appreciation of the scenery
less than half the men. Never but once
before had l seen the summit ridge near
the top.
That was more than 40 years ago, when,
in company with schoolmate companion
"a lover of the woods-we followed the
track of bear on light early snow,
through devious windings in the forest, to
the top IF the mountain and until it began
to descend on the other side. Not caring
to lay out in the snow over night without
protection we Reluctantly gave up the job,
and, fortunately, found our way out
through two or three miles of woods be-
fore dark. The forest is all there now and
more with it.; for whole farms have grown
up to trees. The best timber has, how
ever, been removed from some of the lots
we'll up on the side of the mountain. If
you get into one of these lots the fallen
logs and tree-tops make the travelling
rather difficult unless you have skill enough
to find the log road, and even then the road
differs from an asphalt pavement.
When you reach within so to 100 rods of
the ridge it is good travelling; for the
ground is covered with an elastic carpet of
ichens, MOSES and the leaves of spruce
and fir balsam, with but little underground
to impede. There are hundreds of acres
of comparatively level land near what APP
pears TO be at distance a mountain ridge
or summit.
The most elevated of these lands are
mostly tmbered with spruce and fir bal
sam. They grow here from 20 to so feet
high. They have generally thick, scrubby
tops, as if they had been trimmed for a
hedge. If you can climb one of these
trees and get your body through the top
you can stand or sit there II, perfect safety,
and, If your tree has been properly located
on the summit, take in more extensive
view than can be had elsewhere in Wind
ham county. The Taconie group of noun
tains in Bennington county rises directly
from the valley below on the west side in
full view of your tree and seemingly very
near To this group belongs Mount Eolus
in Dorset, Mount Equinox in Manchester,
and Mount Anthony in Bennington. Mount
Equinox is next to Stratton mountain the
highest in Southern Vermont. According
to the United States survey the altitude Of
the two mountains is substantially alike
| Ca sof, kai Is
Equinox 3S47 feet high. The height Of
several other mountains and localities i:
here given for comparison. BrattleborC
200, Western avenue 400, Newfane $50
Williamsvlle 600, Newfane Hill 1854, Put
ney Hill 1854, Wantastiquet mountain
1864, Black mountain 1869, Jamaica vii
lage 500, South Londonderry village 1000
Haystack mountain 1892, Wilmington vii
lage 1000, Iron mountain in Somerset 1905
Glebe mountain between Windham ant
Londonderry 2945, West Wardsboro villag
1900, Ascutney mountain 3l65. Monad
mock, the highest in Winhall' town lyiu
directly north of Stratton and in the lin
of the Green mountain range, is 2640 fee
and its summit is 1919 feet below the tire
from which your view is taken.
Looking TO the north and to the cas-
you can see everything as far as the ey
can reach, except what is hidden in tn
village and on the opposite side of til
hills. You can look down at the foot c
the mountain on the west side and Sc
Stratton North pond and Bowen pond, tn
latter in Sunderland, in wilderness {
woods. You can look on the other sid
and see, apparently near by, Chase's Ion
mill pond, in Somerset, covering what wa
once the great meadows, and CIRCUITS Sout
e pond. Looking to the northeast you ca
see distinctly, up the sides of the mUuI
$ tains in Dorset, the white debris of III
marble quarries. Turning in an opposit
direction you can see, so as to identii
y them, the lots and the farms on the side
Putney mountain. You can turn easi
e in the tree and see hundred more thing
but l cannot mention them here. tt
best is reserved for future use.
II II any one should ever reach Stratton
highest elevation, who is too digniied
e climb tree, or who belongs TO a sex tn,
l. is supposed to be debarred from such pr
ileges, or who is by age-Deacon Edw
e Grout of Stratton, II years old, whose re
II idence is near the foot Of the mountain
=, accompanied us and climbed a tree vii
= about as little difficulty as a boy-Or
/. any way incapacitated for this method
rising to the top of such an observator
something more artificial might be cheap
constructed from which a complete vie
Or could be had without special feats of ag
ity. An axe and saw, hammer and 4
10 penny halls would be all that would
ia necessary to construct it.
Stratton mountain may be seen from 4
r. facing side of the hills and from sight
~ places in large part of southern VI
= mont. 1t is also seen from parts of NJ
X. York, Massachusetts, and New Hampshil
IN 1t is distinctly in view from Wantastiqu'
AS determined by the United States 81
vey it is the highest mountain in southe
v Vermont south of the Killington Pc
IS group eff mountains in Sherburne. 1t is tn
S. the highest mountain in New Engla
q south of that group. Stratton mounts
has not before, that L am aware, had Il
40 distinction. The facts as found by t
&c United States topOgraphers seem never
ne have been noted except in their maj
ne The gently undulating marginal line of t
g. three summit ridges with the gradual 8
cent for many miles has tended to deprl
StrattOn mountain of the distinction
CT which it is entitled. To look upon at
lip distance MonadnOck or Ascutney may q
n pear higher, but Stratton mountain
u | much HIGHER than either of than