Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-09-23
lAUOS Green MOUNTAINS
''The Churchman'S" Apprecia.
ton of Vermont Scenery.
An Interesting and Instructive Article
ON the Subject by the Rev. John L.
ScwnIi Ut Worcester, Mass.

OF THE Churchman' which, from its
intelligent and sympathetic handling OF
the subject and its choice mountain pic
lures, will give added impetus to the
movement row under way to give Ver-
mont its true rank among the scenic
States of tho East. This article entitled
THE Call of the Mountains. The Green
Hills of Vermont" was written by the
Rev. John L. Sewall of Worcester, Mass.
Mr. Sewall has spent many vacations at
his lake shore camp near st. Adams. 30
knows not only the lake features of Yer
mont and the distant charm of the Green
mountains but knows the INTIMATE charm
as we'll as he has climbed the peaks and
trodden the Long Trail so speaks under
standingly.
The article begins with review OF the
effect of the mountains upon the people
OK Vermont and the erect was most
unfortunate. The mountains were barriers
that divided the State into little com
munities and fostered an exaggerated
spirit of independence which kept Yer
mont from realizing in the fullest that
true condition OF Statehood which can
only come from interdepcndence. This
Typographical condition, as Mr.. Se"all
points out, brought about paradox for
Vermont developed It's centers at Its
circumference.
Where the Green mountains have been
a liability to the State, they are now to
become an asset. and full credit is given
to the Green Mountain club for its open
ing UP the Green mountains by the Long
Trail which now covers three-hfths of
the distance between the Massachusetts
and Canadian borders of Vermont That
the route is winding may be inferred
from the fact that two hundred and
twenty-five miles of the Long Trail are
now in commission, and there is still a
substantial gap to close in the air line
distance of one hundred and hfty-seven
miles between the north and south Dor
ders. Full credit is also given to the
Ascutney Mountain association and the
'Camel's Hump club which played the
part OF the saving remnant in Keeping
the mountain interest of the State alive
, before the Green Mountain club came
into being.
The building of the Long Trail and the
regions it opens to travel are described.
Much space Is given to the mountain
center" idea which is being developed by
the Green Mountain club. Any town near
the mountains commonly has some trail,
or has logging roads leading up the
mountains. 1t is often possible by build
ing a few miles of trail to convert these
struggling trails into web of
trail which leads to the points of scenic
interest in the region, and which will
connect the town with the Long Trail by
several routes. The opportunity is at
hand for each town with a mountain
background to annex this background as
an asset of the town. Bennington has
one hundred miles of this kind of trail
all tributary to the Long Trail. Arlington,
Manchester. Dorset and Peru are con-
nected by web of one hundred and forty
miles Of trail. Rutland has sixty miles,
and is next to Woodstock which has
over one hundred miles. Brandon also has
q web of one hundred miles of trail at
It's door. Burlingtons own particular
mountain park extends from Sterling
mountain to Camel's Hump and includes
Mt. Mansfield and Bolton mountain.
emuggler's Notch and any Of these
peaks may be climbed in days round
trip from Burlington. This Is also true
of the peaks as far south as Killington
peak. The trails In these regions have
been inventoried but every town on
either the east or west side of the Green
mountains has the same opportunity.
The photographs which illustrate the
article. while not doing justice to the
Green mountains infinite variety will
awaken a desire for better acquaintance
The outside cover of the magazine car
ries the best picture Of Smuggler's Notch
ever shown. 1t is taken from the Running
Water Trail on the east side Of Mt
Mansfield not far below the stage road.
and looks northward through the defile
showing the cliffs at their highest The
photograph was taken by Herbert
Wheaton Congdon, a New York architect
whose pictures find their way into
exhibitions at home and abroad Mr.
Congdon is n member Of the G. NJ c..
and In 1914 led a squad Of his company,
e3rd Regiment. N. G. V, on a practice
march over the Long Trail In full field
equipment, 1t Is a misfortune that the
best mountain pictures have been taken
by amateurs. as they then are not COM
mercially available. The G. NJ C. and
others find it difficult 10 obtain good
Green Green mountain pictures as there
Is a lack Of this very convincing medium
of publicity.
Some OF the pictures illustrating the
article are Mt. Mansfield from Under
hill. a bit Of the Long Trail on the way
up Mt. Mansfield from Nebraska Notch,
and another, military group on the
nose There Is an exceptionally choice
view of Cancels Hump through Bolton
narrows, and another snowshoeinE up
Camel's Hump. There Is n view OF the
beautiful Rochester valley with Plco
Peak in the foreground The last f. n
picture of Sterling pond: this pond lies
high on the south slope OF Sterling
mountain at the foot OF the Madonna
In isolated, forest-Rast beauty Ito ole.
walton has been reckoned to be some.
where about $500 feet, but on Septembe,
this was definitely settled, when tn,
aneroid barometer read 300 feet Tn,
day waa hot and clear and n deduction
OF 100 feet would probably give a true
reading This makes Sterling pond tn,
highest considerable body of water il
Vermont. with Haystack pond in vii
mington ?.sCo feet in elevation, the mex
highest
In this year there has been a create
outpat Of publicity for the Green noun
tains Khan tho total output of the pre-
cading five years. The Churchman, TIN
monthly magazine Of the Protestant Epls
copal Church, enters 10000 home
throughout the United States, with IT
largest circulation in the East. Tho In
formation conveyed in this article OF
the Green mountains and the Long Trial
could not be placed TO better advantage
md though the season is almost over
there will DC inquiries resulting. an