St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1915-05-05
TRIP TO BURKE MOUNTAIN
Boy Scouts OF East Burke Discovered
Many Fossils.

4
Many Fossils.
On April "a, 1915, the East Burke
Boy Scouts, under the direction of
Scout Master Harry w. Winslow,
had its first official hike. The party
| left the village about 7:45 and COM
menced its long hike to the summit
of Burke Mountain, $500 feet above
the sea level. The party consisted of
IL Scouts, Prof. Winslow making the
18th person. The interesting part
of the journey began soon after the
Scouts left Burke and continued I'M
til they returned. The first thing
of interest was trout fishing. A
number of fish were caught and the
boys INDUCED in a very enjoyable
amount of fishing.
Along the route were numerous
| dilapidateG shacks, which were ex-
amined with much curiosity. In
one of these buildings the party
stirred up a large hedgehog. The
animal made itself conspicuous for a
few minutes, being the center of at
traction as well as of attack. The
animal was quickly dispatched and
his quilts taken as souvenirs. This
affair took place at the foot of the
mountain.
Then the real ascent of the noun
tain began. The party cut stats to
help on the hard climb. Good, cool,
clear mountain water was in album
dance and the party partook of many
luscious draughts. The scenery all
along the trip was lovely and the
boys enjoyed it immensely.
A notable discovery was made by
one section of the party, Mr.. Wins
low, Milo Jeffrey and Michael Cohen.
Prof. Winslow had been pointing out
and expounding the origin of the
vast amount of glacial action re-
mains to be seen. There is a great
amount of this glacial action to be
observed. The discovery was made
about three quarters way up the
mountain. Michael Cohen had OBJ
served what appeared to be a human
foot in the solid rock. He called
Prof. Winslow, who explained to the
two boys about fossil remains. An
examination exposed many more per
feet examples of fossil remains. A
great many animals foot prints were
perfectly Shaped in the solid gran
lite and also the lair of a lizard was
found. Another wonderful fossil
remains was found. A slab of mar
BILE about five feet long and eight
inches wide was solidly imbedded in
a large section of granite.
The journey was again started
and in due time the summit was
reached. The boys Immediately sat
down on Lookout Rock and partook
of the luncheon they had brought.
The grandeur of that scene cannot
be described. To the eye it was a
most beautiful sight. The far away
mountains, the farms and villages,
nesting in the valleys, all made
picturesque scene. The party then
visited the natural wonders of the
mountain, the most wonderful OF
which is, perhaps, overhanging
Rock. The rock is some 60 feet
high and projects out, with appa-
rently no support, about 80 feet. We
then visited DEVILS Den, an under
ground passage in the rocks, 10 feet
below the level.
The descent was made by way of
the rear of the mountain, on the Vic
tory side. This is a feat that would
have done many older persons credit,
In such desolate region.f But the
youthful mixers came to the foot in
safety, and unframed except for a
few barked shins and elbows and
numerous bruises for good luck.
At the foot of the mountain and
on the return trip, a number of dog
tooth and yellow violets were found
besides quite bunch of spring beau
ties. Our scout master pointed out
various trees, naming them, also
birds. The boys were quite gay af-
ter such hard descent and desport-
ed themselves on the greensward
of numerous meadows on the route
to the village.
The boys visited the fine farm of
Fred Farmer and found a most san
itary, up-to-date, modern equipped
barn. Mr.. Farmer keeps rs cows
with as many young heifers and
calves. The barn is $50 feet long
by so feet wide. He has also a
sugar orchard containing more than
1000 trees. After this pleasant
stop the patrol continued it's tramp
and arrived at the village in time for
supper, happy and hearty but tired.
MICHAEL J. COHEN.