The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-07-06
LAKE TEAR or the CLOUDS, WITH the SUMMIT
Of MARCY BEYOND 1SsN
Grandeur of Mount Marcy and Ad-
jacent Territory Recommends 1t as
Perpetual Monument to Sacrifices
and Bravery of American Sol
diers in European Conflict

might contribute 100000 out OF funds
available from the recently authorized
bond issue for the enlargement of the
Forest Preserve, and the Victory
Mountain Park contributors would
give another half million. On this
basis, each $3.50 contributed by the
Victory Mountain Park donors would
add to the public park lands Of the
State an area equal to that Of Central
Park.
Mount Marcy rears its towering
head OF solid granite, bald and gray,
far above the timber line, 5.S44 feet
above the level of the sea The In
dams gave it the name of Tahawus,
meaning "He splits the sky" or THE
cleaver Of the clouds" Some autnori-
ties also give the Anebaki name as
Wahepartenie or wawobadenik, mean
ing white mountains. This designa-
ton probably included the neighbor-
ing peaks, none Of them SO majestic
or OF such sheer grandeur as Mount
Marcy, and was due perhaps to the
unusual duration of the SHOWS upon
the mountain top. The Indians, too,
had tradition about the peak similar
to that which they attached to other
great peaks held in reverence by
them-that 1t was the abode of the
| Great Spirit. This belief of the abo-
rhymes that the Great Spirit dwelt
on the high mountains was wide
spread, and It appears in connection
with the history and the tradition
surrounding many of the highest
peaks Of the American continent
7
Before Mount Marcy became a split
ter Of skies 1t was a cleaver of wa
'ers. and such It Is to-day. This an
Client granite peak was one of the
| first In the Western Hemisphere to
HIT It's head above the ocean when
the rest of the continent was still
submerged beneath the waters of the
| primevh food. The venerable age
it Is older than the Rocky Mountains
makes It an object of unique inter-
est to scientists. apart from the nat
ural beauty and the magnificence of
the view that can be obtained from
its summit AS 1t once parted the wa
/ ters OF the ocean and rose out OF
them, SO now It parts the waters Of
northern New York. The rains and
| slopes flow northward and 1cin the
ocean at the Gulf of st. Lawrence,
while those on the south and west
| flow southwark and reach the Atlantic
at the mouth Of New York harbor.
Lake Golden and Lake Avalanche,
neighbors of the mountain giant, are
known as the highest lake sources of
the Hudson River. and I4ake-Tear of =
the-Clouds, about a mile or less from
the summit OF Mount Marcy, has been
called by Verplanck Colwin tho sum-
NIT water of the State and the Hottest
known and the true high pond source
| OF the Hudson.
| The first recorded ascent of Mount
Marcy was made in 1897, during the
| geological survey OF that year, by
Prof. Ebenezer Emmons. who named il
for Gov. Marcy. II is probable, how
ever, that John Cheney, who was Prof.
Fmmonss guide. and perhaps others,
had made ascents before that time.
The first accurate measurement OF its
| height was made by Verplanck Colvin
whose history OF the Adlrondacks has
been widely read and quoted. The
scenery from the top of the bald gran
|
that writer's gasp over and call in
describable. Many have attempted to
describe the things they saw from the
| top OF the peak. None has done 1t
adequately; none, in fact. has been
able to set down In mere words ons
half the immensely and the grandeur
Of the panorama that is unfolded be-
fore the eye.
some OF Marcy's GIories.
Lakes and streams Astounding with
| specified trout, leaping cascades and
roaring waterfalls. plunge and twist
into the Opalesoent River, which rises
| on the western slopes OF Marcy, and is
80 called from its rocks OF opalescent
| feldspar. The work OF the glaciers
and the plunging avalanches of pre-
historic times is evidenced by the vast
| expanses Of furrowed rock, and beyond
them lie deep wooded valleys, with
perhaps here and there a glimpse OF
deer bounding through the forest. One
may stand on the summit OF Marcy
and look down on the clouds below;
one can see hundreds OF feet down the
sheer granite sides OF the mountain to
the forests of virgin spruce and fir
growing on the slopes. On the noun
tain grows Alpine vegetation not TO
re found anywhere else In the State
and here also survive some species OF
animal life practically extinct else
where. Tho creation OF Victory Noun
tain Park will enable the State to es-
tablish q sanctuary for those forms Of
wild life which stili exist and for the