The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-08-28

ASCENT OF MOUNT MITCHELL.

hOVINt vi WS0fNs
The nost Elevated Point East Of the
Rocky Mountains-Up Amid the
Clouds OTIS Feet Above Sea Level
Rev. J. II. Henderiite Joins Jolly
Party in q Climb to the Sleeps OF
MitcheIrs Peak.
MONTREAL, N. c., Aug. %, '02.
DEAR GOLD LEAF:-H it is really
true that you can spare the room Tor
another letter from Montreal we will
take advantage OF your hospitality.
You will at least grow in patience
and caution by this visitation.
Last week We assembled the hoary
and venerable patriarch Of the Appa-
lachian system. Mt. Mitchell, which
stands 6,715 feet above the sea level.
the highest mountain East OF the
Mississippi. BY the route usually
travelled it is about twenty miles
from Montreal to the summit. There
were nine of us. including the guide,
the majority of the party being from
Charlotte. We drove to the foot OF
the ascent, seven miles. and there
left our teams and began the climb
of from twelve to fourteen miles. A
mile means in the mountains accord
ing to ones feelings; hence. we allow
q margin. To some OF us 1t would
seem more accurate to say that it
was from twelve to twenty-more or
less, probably more. Somewhat like
the Connecticut livery stables where
we could procure horses at any time
or even sooner. The ladies had
horses to ride up the mountain and
the men had the exercise and the sat-
isfaction of seeing the weaker sex
provided for AS side-saddles are
very hard on the horses backs in
mountain climbing therefore mems
saddles alone are provided for
such trips. The ladies were quick to
see the logic of the situation and
with their accustomed versatility
| adapted themselves to circumstances.
1t NAV not have been so graceful but
it was a deal safer. 1t took US about
| five hours to reach the summit ana
we were tired, but we felt amply re-
paid for the fatigue by the trip; the
unusual and beautiful phases of ma
ture seen along the way, the sublim-
| ity of the view from the top, and by
the consciousness of having been
through such a venture. 1t made us
proud first to be on this splendid
height; to stand on the highest boul-
der and gaze over the far stretching
! sea of mountains dipping away on
every side; to sit under the monu'
ment erected to DR.. Mitchell, the
mountains godfather who first es
tablished it's claim to be the highes'
of the Alleghanies and who lost his
life on some one of those luttine
crags in subsequent attempt t.
verify his assertion. Fit place t.
pitch the tent of a bold and hard.
spirit for the last bivouac! He must
sleep peacefully, thus guarded ant
honored on the hi CHEST knoll OF thu
great mountain for whose fame h
persisted.
The trip up the mountain is as in
J teresting as the view from the top
r Mitchell is the highest peak ia
cluster, or rather a system, and
reach it's summit it is necessary T.
, cross over the others in the group
Potato Top, Pinnacle and klingman
e for nature has here piled Ossa o
7 Pelion in her reach for sublimity
r And as the tourist follows the mario
: trail over these heights he gets occs
:. sional views of great splendor. Her
| are seen also forms of nature thu
/. she does not wear down in the worl
adav world. Massive boulders owe
e which streams Of water trickl
S clumps of luxuriant ferns, thickets
" rhododendron, great cushions
beautiful moss piled one above IN
r, other, cool, soft and inviting and va
l. forests of the fragrant sweet-balsa
a that only grows away up IN tho
mountain solitudes. If we had n
IS gotten so hungry we might still
E, lingering there, beholding and a
s. miring. But sentiment cannot no
u to hold it's own against such apr
If tites as grow along that rocky ira
n We fastened to the top, delayed n
n, to light our camp fires, and soon t
bacon in the frying pan and the coli
or pot on the embers were singing
It, most pleasing duet. Indeed,
Us music was received with aPPia'
s. and the audience allowed the gen
to Gus performers no rest until u
had given more than one encore.
* We spent the night under hu
n overhanging rock that made sort
m recess or grotto in the side OF
cliff, where we were safe from ra
On bears and robber- chiefs. We W
ng not so sure about rattlesnakes.
ce spread balsam twigs on the grou
for couch and wrapped in
of blankets. with our camp fire bu
it'll ing brightly at the entrance
our cave, we were warm and sn
I'm and would have slept had it not b
at for the intrusive smoke and the r
less flea leaping about, seeking VIII
. he might devour Our appeti
. dwindled into insignifcance CO
pared with that of the flea, tho
we had thought them the lars
4 things on the mountain. Nv
~ smoke and feas he was the excep
a who got an hours sleep. Sho
% after the day broke we were up
through breakfast, eager to see
Il sun rise. But alas! the coy fe
S. hid his face under thick fog bs
and even under that veil was so
and embarrassed that we only :
faint blush in the East. Ha
= missed that Incompatible sPect;
mountain sunrise, we had ma
4 to do but to pack our knapsacks
!. go home, which we did accordir
. reaching Montreal that afterno'
tired, sleepy. disheveled band.
withal triumphant and grateful
SAL our experiences,
Ut OI, Speaking of gratitude. We are
, the thankful for this sojourn at Mont
same 1t is an ideal place for summer
ing 1t is only better as q sun
, home. II one cannot have his
Sntd | oil