Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-02-26
EXPLORERS INVADE
SMUGGLER'S NOTCH
Seventy-one of Them, Armed
With SnowshOes and Skis,
Breathe the Mountain Air on a
Typical Winter Day and Shout
With Joy

n the shade Of the historic smuggler
whose daring exploits of days gone
by gave to the cut between the
heights of majestic Mansfield, the
name of Smugglers Notch was linger-
Ing Monday in the woodland haunts
Of his former operations, 1t must have
been astonished at the invasion of ~
explorers, armed with snowshoes and
skis, who penetrated into the heart Of
the Notch and made the hills resound
with their Joyous launghter. It was
undoubtedly one Of the gayest parties
which over invaded the Notch The
largo number which took advantage
OF the annual Washingtons birthday
trip OF the Burlington section of the
Green Mountain club showed that
winter sports are gaining In popular
ity In this section of Vermont
Most OF the party left Burlington on
the train over the Central Vermont due
to leave Burlington at e:45. This train
did not leave until after seven o'clock,
owing to tho fact that the unusually
large number of the outing party
made II necessary to put on an extra
car. Some of those who might have
missed the train, had It left on time,
were thus able to make the trip.
found six large teams waiting to take
everyb body to Morse's Mills stiff
| wind had come up and the snow had
drifted badly. so that 1t took fully
| two hours to get the entire party to
the mills. where the real hiking began.
! It was about 1870 when the ad-
| vance guard of the mixers left the
mills for the upward climb into tho
Notch Though UP hill nearly all OF
the way the trail was not very stiff
for the first mile and half and
everybody made good time. When
Dead Horse Hill was reached. the real
climb began. This hill is about half a
mile long and the stiffest single
climb in the Notch. 1t has some steep
places which tax the strength and
ability of the best climbers.
| At the foot OF Dead Horse Hill, n fire
was kindled and hot coffee prepared
Here gathered a large number of the
party. including the greater part of the
% women who took the trip, and many of
the men, who decided to make this the
stopping point of their trip into the Notch
as the time was limited and the first
| team had to start back to Jeffersonville
at $3.50.
Those who were determined to go
through to the big spring in the heart
|
Hill and down the other side Of the noun
tain to the spring. distance Of about
three and a half miles from Morse's Mills
About half the party. including half a
dozen of the ladies'. reached the spring.
The first Of the invading party to get
to the spring found a good fire waiting
Tor them. This fire had been kindled by
Messrs. l.. l.. Little, representative of
the Outing" magazine; Herbert w.
Congdon. vice-president of the New York
section Of the Green Mountain club, both
of New York city; and c. P. Cowles Of
Burlington. These men climbed Mansfield
Saturday morning and had slept two
nights on the mountain. They went to
the spring early yesterday and were
awaiting the Burlington party. They also
returned to Burlington with the party
last evening.
Lunch was eaten at the spring by the
IS members Of the party who reached
there. The others, who stopped at the
foot of Dead Horse Hill, enjoyed their
lunch at that point. There were several
men on skis with the party. Two Of these
maneuvered Dead Horse Hill and reached
the spring. The others remained with the
f1rst party and operated ski-slide and
jump on Dead Horse Hill Some excellent
exhibitions Of ski riding and jumping
were given on this hill.
The leaders in the trip TO the spring
covered the three miles and a half of
stiff climbing from Morse's Mills in an
hour and 20 minutes. After the lunch.
the return trip was taken more leisurely
in most cases. many stopping to visit
Smuggler's cave on the way down. Teams
left Morse's Mills on the return to Jefer-
sonville at $3.50. 400 and 4:So in order TO
accommodate those who wished to return
at these hours. Some of the more ad-
venturous members of the party
negotiated the five miles from Morse's
Mills to Jeffersonville on skis and snow
shoes.
The best part OF the trip for many was
the appetizing beefBteak supper served
to the party at the Hotel Melendy in
Jeffersonville. The menu was most salts
flying and the food OF that deectable
variety known az "home-cooked." 1t was
"a triumph Of the culinary art
The last of the party had tust about
finished devouring the remains of the sup
per when ii was announced that the train
would leave in 10 minutes. After the party
had waited at the depot for nearly half
an hour. somebody remarked that Jim
Taylor. who had acted as the guiding
angel of the party during the day. must
either have got crossed wire on train
reports or else his word was not to be
trusted.
After the male double quartet OF the
party had exhausted their report oire of
popular songs and dug from their graves
q number of old favorites the train
finally arrived and the party was home
ward bound. In order 10 keep the people
awake until Burlington was reached
about s:45. the vocalists were again
pressed into service and the star collec-
ton OF new and old melodies was given
the once over.
IL the spontaneity with which the MEM
bers Of this party entered into the spirit
OF the occasion evidenced their feelings
there is no doNbt about the fact that "a
good time was had by all" Many re-
marked on the perfect snowshoeing, i'm.
proved by the stiff wind of the early part
OF the day. which helped TO build up the
crust which had been forming through the
night. And several Of the party who had
not previously taken a great deal Of in
terest in the out-of-door winter game
swore their allegiance to it from this