Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-09-12
into GREEN MOUNTAIN WILDS
Story of a Rainy Day Excursion
into smugglers's Notch.
Caves and Bouldcrs, CliKs and Gorgcs
Make the Pass One of the Most
Picturesque in State--Account
of Labor Day Trip.

Labor day offered unpromising weather
for mountaineering but the vicinity or
the lake may engender a web-footed habit
Of mind which relieves its possessor from
any dread of mere moisture. At any rate,
out of the 80 enrolled for the trip, l6 turn
ed up at train time. The route was by
Jeffersonvillc, where on It's arrival. the
party distributed in the waiting
teams. and at once started for the Notch.
The road climbs steadily up looking over
beautiful valley extending TO the cast
Thrifty farm houses dot the valley ana
roadside. each with its large sugar or
chard The teams were left at the Morse
mill. six miles out of Jeffersonvlle and
the tramp began. For the benefit of 9TH
ers who may take the trip it is well to
know that teams can just as well go one
and one-half miles further toward the
Notch Four miles to the Barnes camp
was not much of walk. though the road
was muddy. AS the road climbed higher
great clouds came swirling down the
gorge, but If one must get wet, getting
wet from original sources is more unique
than by ond-handed rain.
Whoever walks in from Jeffersonville
must reckon with Dead Horse Hill, the
longest very steep hill and rockiest road
over which horses are ever likely to draw
carriages Courage and wind held good,
however, and the rocky hill was conquer
ed. Then the points OF interest succeed
each other though the low clouds shut
out the view Of the cliffs First came the
Smugglers Cave on a we'll marked by
path to the right. Boulders have crashed
of ol NIL ~
I'D in a heap crowned by a fiat mass.
Under these Is an irregular chamber, %
feet in height, in which 80 people could
easily be sheltered. Next comes the Bur-
ton Rock. n monster, which Jared Cam
bridge when 1t fell in 1865. This rock Is
a cube about 35 feet in dimension. and
there is no telling, after these years, how
deeply the rock Is Embedded in the earth
Birches a foot thick are growing against
the stone, and smaller trees and bushes
crown Its top. There is nothing aler
about the Burton Rock; its fall might
have occurred centuries ago, so thorough
~ has It become a part of It's environ
ment. Not so with the King Rock which
came crashing down so recently as 1910
Almost as large as the Burton Rock, bu
oblong in shape. it now rests with on
end buried in the EARTH the other cante'
up at an angle Of As degrees with So fee
of its length visible. That it came dow
the mountain end over end seems likel
from its position. Here are all the evi
dences Of an Irresistible force, and TIL
monster lies a grim alien amid its havoc
waiting the kindly hand of nature t.
cover the scars The furrow 1t ploughe'
down the mountain side will remain visi
BILE for years to come. The boulder cross
ed the road. ploughing a furrow 10 fee
aeep, and the road now crosses this gas
on built-up embankment. Professo
Bryant of Middlebury College estimate
the boulder as weighing 5000 tons.
A house next comes in sight. falsel
.aising hopes among the hungry, but it
the Notch House, abandoned after fe'
months tenancy 20 years ago, 1t is no
last decaying into IA ruin, aided by tha
Nandal of the woods, the porcupine. Tn
Green Mountain club speak feeingly o
his subject as many OF its effective hanc
painted guide boards had mysteriously di.
appeared this season. The gnawed fral
nents of one still nailed to its tree tol
where they had gone. From the side
Sterling mountain, just at the back of III
house, the Great Spring gushes, ice-col,
pure. and neverfailing. Its flow has gor
on from time immemorial. and so great
Its volume that a large brook is forme
at once. Trout have been caught fe'
rods below the spring.
On rounding a turn in the road. one an
Cne-quarter miles east of the Gres
Spring. the Smuggler's Notch camp come
into sight The large camp with It's GU
lying barns and sheds makes a Yer
friendly settlement in this lonely mour
tain pass. a vegetable garden and
CHEEKY little garden of flowers add to tn
effect. Mr.. w. NJ Barnes, the host, lie
the wet pilgrims into big loungin
room where a big fire roared in the STOW
AL the appliances of a lumber camp fc
drying wet clothing were pressed In,
service. The circle closed in around II
fire in that silent lethargy so characte
istic OF the advanced stages of starvatio
The dinner call sounded. and silen,
still reigned Fresh green peas were n
expected but were found. Baked beai
md pork were expected and were foun
Deveral times. A very delectabe HON
cured ham was also found-frequently
lew other trfles such as sliced cold por
ana salt pork frleO crisp in cream gray
potatoes with white gravy, turnips. pic
Jed beets, brown bread, cheese, doug
huts, tea, coffee and milk were also
evidence. Any embarrassment Of choi
regarding the three kinds of pie was fir
luently solved by taking all The sien
grew more profound. While hearti
Ashamed of one another. personal shan
seemed lacking All good things mu
end. so at last ended the memorial
meal.
The foliage was too wet to invite I
exploration of trails, and with a fol
mile walk ahead, even though Dead Hor
Hill was to he Travelled in the right dire
ton, the company started back at 3
m. The rain was over, and the hi
cliffs of the Notch We're now visible, a
the chance came to see the objects of
terest over again under more favoral
conditions. The teams were reached
schedule. and the party arrived at t
before train time. All Of the party cal
through unscathed by the weather,
tlgue or the dinner, and all are agre
that If the trip to Smuggler's Notch "
success in the rain. that a day of 81
shine in the Notch will prove IA revelatit
T. l.. Parks, Murrayviic, Ga, Route
Is in his 73rd year. and was recently cur
If bad kidney ana bladder trouble
says himself: II have suffered with
Kidneys. My back ached and | was