St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1909-08-25
In the Heart of the White Mountains.
A ViSittO Carter Notch, One of the Wild
est Regions of New Hampshire.

Johnsbury, and Harry Sutton Of Boston
had week of experience not soon to b.
forgotten. Three of the party started
from St. Johnsbury early Monday morn
ing, August 9, the fourth joining them il
the afternoon at Crawfords. The first
mountains climbed were Avalon ant
Field, which are just at the right o
Crawfords as one faces the Notch. From
these SUBMITS a remarkable view of the
principal mountain houses was gained
The range of "Presidentials," which w,
were soon to explore, was clouded, bu
Crawford Notch lay at our feet like {
map, clear and beautiful. One of thu
first things seen on the summit OF Field
was board sign showing the beginning
of the new trail from Field to Wiley
blazed July 81 by Mrs. Cruikshank o
Brooklyn. About three quarters of the
way down, the party halted by a brook
and soon were enjoying a feast of hot
steak broiled over the fire on green twigs
The first camp was made that evening
in the woods by Gibbs brook. A soft
evergreen bed was easily made before
dark and during the night, rolled tight
in our blankets, we slept well. Leaving
here early Tuesday morning, our party
toiled slowly up the famous Crawford
bride path, along which so many hun.
dreds have travelled. After long time
the trees grew small, long gray moss ap.
peared on the branches, and light fog
was noticed through the woods. Then
without warning vast gulf opened
through the bushes and clouds at the
left and the green landscape was seen for
an instant far below, stretching away to
the north. A few minutes later the trail
emerged from the timber and the clouds
raised little so that a magnificent
view was obtained from the ridge be-
tween Mounts Clinton and Pleasant.
After passing around the flank of the lat
ter higher altitude was reached and be-
fore many minutes we had assembled into
the clouds.
At first there was thin mist, then a
fine rain, and finally big cold drops
which were nearly hail stones. Almost
Immediately we were drenched through,
and chilled by the sweeping wind. In
this way Mt. Franklin was passed and
Mt. Monroe, although we did not realize
this at the time, our only aim being to
keep exactly on the path as indicated
by the cairns, or little piles of stones.
Suddenly cross Of plain wood was
seen ahead and Fastening to it we found,
set in rock, bronze tablet. 1t was the
place where Curtis had persisted in the
great storm of June 80, 1900. The rain
continued and the four hurried on. A
little painted board nailed to a stick
cheered the climbers with the announce.
ment that the A. M. c. refuge hut was 1s
of mile away, and at last, having been
deceived several times by huge rocks,
outline of the little house was seen. A
moment later, just before noon, we
tumbled into it, feeling very thankful
for shelter. There was no fire, only
three extra blankets, lantern, some
candles, and most gruesome of all, a
stretcher During the afternoon and
evening rain fell necessarily, so the
party took the advice of the guide book:
'Do not attempt the cone OF Washing
ton if the storm has caused serious
trouble before the foot of it is reached"
A small and exceedingly smoky blaze
was kindled inside the hut in small
kettle. Over this a few cups of coffee
were made and, wet and shivering, we
rolled up in our blankets on the floor.
Next morning at six o'clock the hut
was left behind and SO minutes later our
party stood upon the Summit of Mt.
Washington. Since the writer had last
been there, the big Summit House, the
printing Office, and the train shed, had
burned. The old Tip Top House is fitted
up as lunch room and can accommo-
date few guests over night. The other
buildings are the carriage office and two
stables On this morning, Wednesday,
Aug. II, the thermometer stood at 29o
above zero, while the air was so clear
that the Atlantic ocean could be seen
shining far away in the east.
By $50 p. M, we had traversed the
northern peaks, Clay, Jefferson. and
Adams, to Madison Spring Hut, set
costly between Mounts Adams and
Madison. Here one of our party made
his way down the trail to Appalachia,
where he took the train for St. Johns
bury, as he was obliged to be in town
for the last of the week. The remaining
three struck the Osgood trail over the
summit of Madison and before night
emerged from the woods near the Glen
House, which is at the beginning of the
carriage road up Mt, Washington. Late
in the afternoon of Thursday, having
loaded the packs with provisions which
had come by express, the Glen House
"cut OFF, trail to Carter Notch was
followed. Once a rabbit came out in
the path to look after us and later
a partridge ran through the grass
near the trail. In just one hour and
30 minutes, we three came down an
abrupt declevity and saw through the
trees pretty log camp Almost i'm
mediately, however, the hut was forgot
ten, for, once in the open bit of scenery
was revealed more like that of Switzer-
land than of America. A small, perfectly
quiet pond, partly covered with water
lilies was rejecting as far as it could, the
great bulk Of cliff standing probably
over 400 feet above the waters surface.
In the quiet of early evening huge
shadows gave added height to the
mountain and depth to the lakelet.
Here for the first time in the mountains
we were asked, why don't you 60 on
t,Nf hn 4 /