Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1919-04-23
Vermont's Glory
o o o

Vermont has discovered the Green
mountains. Vermonters have lived
for generations among those splendid
peaks and never Ventured beyond
heir lower slopes. Now they have
begun TO make up for lost time. They
must hold themselves responsible
largely that summer visitors have not
teen coming to their state in num-
bers to rival the multitudes who seek
rest and recreation among the White
mountains across the Connecticut riv-
er. The Green Mountain people are
beginning at last 10 climb for fun
and to make their splendid scenery
conveniently available for the pleas
ure Of their visitors. -~
No state in the east has bigger
or finer endowment of natural beauty
The Green Mountains make a rather
densely forested and craggy-crowned
range, stretching clear across the
state from the southern boundary to
the northern with an area greater
than that of the Adirondacks, the
Catskills and the White Mountains
combined. Yet not more than one
peak in three has a name, which in it.
self is clear evidence that the people
have not realized the dividends they
might have coined from an invest
ment in scenery. Thirty-two peaks
have an attitude of more than 5000
feet. Mount Mansfield scars to a
height of 4,365 feet, its four peaks
curiously christened, "the Forehead"
''the Chin" "the Nose," and "the
Adams Apple" The third peak in
height is the Cancels Hump, so called
although tradition says that French
explorer on Lake Champlain called it
the Crouching Lion, and now there
is debate through the whole state
over the question, shall the old
name be retained or shall the French
mans more poetic name be substitute
ed? Romantic hooks abound. The
Smugger's Notch is a deep defile at
the foot of Mount Mansfield, so mar
row that the bare walls seem to come
together at the top. Perhaps Snug
glers from Canada used to hide in it's
recesses, perhaps not; anyhow, the
tales told of it are interesting. The
Charlestown Gulf is another impress
/sive site too little known. Caves
bearing the name of Ethan Allen, and
lakes, small and beautiful, are fairly
numerous in this region, which has
not yet been improved" beyond all
semblance of nature.
And now Vermont is discovering
the value and beauty of her noun
tains. The fame of the Green Noun
tain Club and It's Long Trail is reach
ing abroad. Visitors are coming to
tramp the trail and often they return
the following year. The skyline
hike from border to border across all
the high peaks in Vermont will cure
more ailments and relieve more
nerves than quantities of physic. The
club started in 1910, is doing what
the Appalachian Club has done in the
White Mountains. The trail is clear
ly marked, and convenient shelters
have been erected at easy intervals.
In all, including approach trails 400
miles of good tramping has been pro-
vided. Some approach trails have
still to be surveyed and marked. The
completing Of that work should not
be delayed. New England, probably
the entire East, has nothing to match
that trail. AS it is more and more
appreciated Vermont will gain in
more ways than one. The coming
summer should witness a jump for
ward.-Boston Herald.
STATE NEWS