Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-02-09
MANSFIELD ON SNOW SHOES
Summit Reached by Party Of In
trepid Burlingtonians.
Wind Blew n Hurricane and High
ways Were Blocked by Drifts but
All Obstacles Were success
fully Encountered.


ing snow did not deter a party OF Fur
lingtonlans. members of the Burlington
iection of tn Green Mountain club, from
making a trip to Mount Mansfield. And
notwithstanding the heavy drifts and
wind of hurricane proportions at Ne
praska Notch" as we'll other diff
culties encountered by the way. the
trip success from start to finish.
The trip TO Mount Mansfield was In
jpired by the enthusiasm that has been
aroused in the State by the Green
Mountain club, an organization that
Ieeks to encourage out-of-door sports,
principally that Of winter mountain
climbing. The trip Saturday was made
under the auspices of the Burlington
section Of the State organization. The
members Of the party who made the
trip were ". r. Perkins Fred j.. Smith,
II. C. Burrows. DR.. Charles Wells 8.
r. Noulton and c. P. Cowles. Mr. Mou-
ton and Mr. Cowles recently made the
ascent to the summit of Mansfield and
were therefore somewhat qualified to act
rs pilo.s. Every member of the party
was enthusiastic over the trip and all
were well satisfied that the mountains OF
Vermont furnish sport and pleasure dur
ing the winter as well as in the sum
ner.
BLOWING A HURRICANE.
Tho rty left Burlington Saturday
morning at TBS on the Burlington and
Iiamoille train, arriving at Underhill
about $50 O'Clock. On arriving at Under
Hill, the party found a southeast wind
coming through Nebraska Notch" and
sweepang over Cnderhill in hurricane
It was said to he tho worst wind Of the
season Their.
People al Tnderhnl said they did not
think n team could get through even TO
Underhill Center. One Of tho Oldest IN
hahitants told members Of the tramp
ing party that man would he unable TO
stand on his feet as IT came through the
Notch above the Center.
Plans lad been made by the party TO
make the ascent by the ridge. but that
route woul, have been exposed 70 the
fun fury Of the gale. It was decided.
therefore, to take the regular trail up
the west side OF the mountain past the
the half way house. as 1t was thought
this would be protected from the gale
by the ridge running down from the
forehead.
Tho mountain at this point, however.
has generally been thought TO he too
steep for snow-shoeinE and the SHOWS
were found too deep to walk through
without snowshoes The party finally de
cided to take the trail 10 the half way
house and ar least have the pleasure of
days outing in the woods even though
they should not get as far as the TOP
Of the mountain.
STALLED IN a DRIFT.
1t took some urging on the part of the
Uamping party to get Mr.. Lincoln the
hotel keeper. to bring out rig but the
persistence OF the members was finally
ewarded and the party set out. Before
loing far. the seds stopped short, stuck
IN drift of snow that had been packed
down hard by the wind. The sleds and
teams were finally extricated with the
assistance Of the members Of the party
Beyond tn Center tho drifts became
frequent and several were conquered only
when the members Of the party turned
out and broke n path ahead OF the teams
About a mile beyond the Center. a drift
was encountered that all agreed was
impossible by a team. The driver turned
his horses around and the members OF
the party put on their snowshoes and
went ahead
LUNCH IN THE SNOW.
tramp OF Two ana One-uali lies
brought the party TO the half way house
about 1870 o'clock AS expected, there
was no wind on that part Of the noun
tain. The IN n1bers Of the party found
that the heavy weight of snow hat
broken down the roof OF the house and
forced out one side. One OF the party
took of his snowshoes and dug down L
the spring. Lunch was eaten at this
point
Leaving the half way house about one
O'clock. the party followed the regular
trail for a quarter Of a mile and then
lost It Tho party then struck through
the woods toward the south, continually
forcing their way upward well as they
could
At $50 O'Clock the party found them
selves on top Of the mountain out or
the forehead" near the nose
GALE RAGING AT SUMMIT,
A gallo was blowing tercely across the
summit The clouds were so thick that
no view OF the mountain could be had
Tho sraT scrub balsems on tho summit
were buried deep IN the snow and the
taller trees were very heavily laden with
ice and snow. Many limbs had been
broken off with the weight Of the SNOW
ana ice, anu III EhuS PlfhNch SI'i"ll t''s
had been BROKEN off short by the wind
At four O'clock the party turned back
on the return. members of tho party
often sat on the snowshoea and sid
over the snow. One member Of the party
came to grief and furnished considerable
amusement for the others. tie took of
his snowshoes, thinking 10 could ge
down across tho crust II tho summit
when he broke through and was buried
clear to his shoulders beside balsan
tree.
The party walked back to Underhil
Center. arriving there at $50 where they
found a team waiting to take them t.
IrndOrhill. They reached the latter place
at 1880 and there, Oh joy, found a no
supper awaiting them. The return wa.
made after supper
ANOTHER TRIP PLANNED
Plans are being made by the Greel