.*^S Some Account of the IVhite Mountains 



in every direction beneath him, and appearing to insulate him 

 from the rest of the world. But the length and fatii^^ue of the 

 approach, the time occupied in the ascent, the gradual manner 

 in which the prospect has been unfolding itself, are circumstances 

 which leave less novelty to be enjoved at the sununit, than at 

 first view of the subject would be expected. 



The day of our visit was uncommonly fine ; yet the atmosphere 

 was hazy, and our view of remote objects Vi^as very indistinct. 

 The Moosehillock, one of the highest mountains of New Hamp- 

 shire, situated in Coventry, near the Connecticut, vvas visible on 

 the south. The Kyarsarge, Double-headed Mountains, and se- 

 veral others, were in full view at the east. The country around, 

 in almost every direction, is uneven and monntainous. Its ap- 

 pearance is described by Josselyn, in his " Rarities of New En- 

 gland," published in 1672, who says that the country beyond 

 t\vi mountains to the northward " is daunting terrible, being full 

 of rocky hills, as thick as mole-hills in a meadow, and clothed 

 with infinite thick woods *." 



Our anticipations were not realised, in regard to several phie- 

 nolnena we had been taught to expect at the smnmit. The state 

 of the air was mild and temperate ; so that the over coats which 

 we carried np in expectation of extreme cold, were left at the 

 foot of the last ascent. The thermometer stood at 57 Fahr. on 

 the summit at twelve o'clock, and on the same day at Conway, 

 twenty-five miles distant on the plain !)elow, it was at 80. The 

 snow lay in patches of an acre ii; extent upon the sides, but ap- 

 peared to be rapidly dissolving. U'e u'cre not conscious of anv 

 material alteration in the density of the atmosphere, as neither 

 sound nor respiration was perceptibly impeded. Instead of an 

 absence from these barren regions, of animal and vegetable life, 

 we found a multitude of insects buzzing around the highest rocks, 

 every stone was covered with lichens, and some plants were in 

 flower in the crevices within a few feet of the summit. 



'I'he ascent from our encampment at the mouth of New river, 

 including stops, had employed us six hours and a half. The 

 descent from the summit to the same place occupied about fiv.« 



* Messrs..T.W.:uKlF.I) )ott,\vlio luive visited the mountain since, and found 

 the atniospiiere \ cry clear on tlie sununit at lialf pas>t 7 A.^I. have favoured 

 tne with the fuHovvin^ hearing's of objects in s!i>ht. Tiie sea, supposed iicar 

 Porthmd, 8. E. by K.— Lake \Vi;iipi!-s<.oi;ee, 8.S.VV. — A long hill, having an 

 eminence at eacii extrruiily, said by the guide to be the highest in Verlnont, 

 W. by S. a little S.— Scl.aj;o Lake," S. E'. ^l':. WacMilian's Inn, Conway, 

 S. by E. i E. — The second highest simmiit of the White Hills, N.N.E. by E. 

 This summit is separated froai the one called Mount Washington by a golf 

 op»iiiiig eastwardly. it is very lofty, falling but littjc below a horizontal 

 line obtained by a level on the former place. 



hours. 



