Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1909-10-16
down the rude stairway of rocks to

After supper we sat by the fire and
talked for about an hour, then all
turned in. The night was cold and
we we're glad to he snug under our
blankets. No one slept very much
that night Everyone wanted his
neighbor's cover besides his own,
and one had to keep awake most of
the time to keep warm. We slept in
pairs and would have been warm
enough if we had kept still. We
lived through the night somehow,
sleeping at intervals.
A MISSING COMPANION.
The next morning there was a
heavy frost on the ground. We all
rose early, made big fire, and got
good and warm After breakfast we
shot couple of hedgehogs and
practsed at target. Later in the
morning we went to the summit
with our blankets, and stayed there
until noon. AS soon as we arrived
at the summit one of the party pro-
posed staying another day, and we
all agreed. lie said he would go
down for more provisions and tele-
phone our plan to Woodstock. He.
was sure he knew the way back
Two finally decided to GO They
arrived at West Bridgewater without
mishap. and started back after a
little rest, with provisions They
were due at the camp no later than
p. M, and the two of us that were
left on the mountain looked in vain
until sui. set The weather was get
ting very thick, and the wind blowing
a gale, and increasing every minute.
We decided to sleep in the hotel that
night, so we moved all our things
down there, leaving our missing
partners blankets in the wind break
to show that we were near, in case
they should return in the night
About eight clock we were worried
very much, but there was nothing
we could do, for we were not sure of
our way down the mountain even in
daylight, much less by night.
THEY LOST KILLINGToN PEAK.
About ten o'clock, just as we had
fallen asleep, we heard shout by
the hotel. Opening the window we
shouted back, and soon the lost ones
came in, followed by our guide, Lee
Pearsons After the handshakes
were over they explained why they
hadn't returned on time They lost
their way coming back, that is, they
lost Killington Peak, but knew the
road to West Bridgewater A boy
from West Bridgewater who walked
part of the way with them went back
to get guide, while our friends
waited on the log road. 1t was dark
when the boy reached West Bridge
water. Frank Lombard, the guide,
did not care to risk trip to the
summit alone, so he got Lee Pear
sons to come with him. They had
two lanterns and said they didn't
have much trouble keeping the trail.
This was an adventure to be re-
membered, and none of us will ever
forget it, We were now so wide
awake that we kept on talking until
far into the night.
The next morning it was fogey
and raining. We thought it best to
go down with the guides, and started
about $50 a. m, the rain having
slackened somewhat. We clambered
once more to the top and looked
down on the clouds all around us. so
thick that we could not see more
than 80 feet ahead. We said our
goodbye to Killington and com
nenced our wet journey to West
Bridgewater. The trail was very
slippery, the bushes sopping wet,
and we were wet to the skin before
we had gone hundred yards.
We arrived at West Bridgewater
about IL 80 p m very uncomforta
BILE. We got thoroughly dried
through the kindness of Mrs Pear
sons, who let us sit by fire in her
home while waiting for the stage
and felt none the worse for our jour
ney.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
Total cost of the trip
Fare to West Bridgewater and
return, $3.50
One-fourth of cost of guide, 30
Cost of food, about / 90
Extras, say 80