80 Notices of Mount Washington and the vicinity. 
highest peak of New England, the most elevated of the United 
States, and of North America, until we reach the Rocky Moun- 
tains and the table land of Mexico. The arduous circumstances 
of our ascent and the absence of instruments prevented any ac- 
curate observations; but the height of this peak is generally sta- 
ted to be between six thousand and seven thousand feet, probably 
six thousand five hundred above the level of the sea. 
It nearly penetrates the region of perpetual cold—therefore 
winter relaxes his dominion but for a very short period, a few 
weeks at most, in the hottest season of the world below, and 
summer never smiles upon the summit of Mount Washington. 
On the succeeding day as we travelled, we saw this mountain 
quite white, from its peak a long way down and around, on every 
side that was within our view. 
The descent was of course more fapid than the ascent; it was 
much less fatiguing to the lungs, but very trying to the limbs, 
especially to the larger muscles and to the patella, which seemed 
as if it would part with the strain. Great caution was requisite 
also, to avoid falling into the innumerable holes among the rocks, 
and to prevent slipping from their smooth and glazed surfaces. 
Arrived once more at the camp where the horses, become rest- 
less with hunger and now eager for their stables, remained fast 
bound to the trees—we quickly mounted, and twilight begin- 
ning to set in, we hastened through the pilgrimage of the muddy 
, till having arrived in the open ground, all dashed forward 
with cavalry speed, and the poorest rider on the hardest horse 
fares ill in a race, which he is neither able nor much disposed to 
resist or avoid. All hurry onward, as if from the route of disas- 
trous battle, and glad is the edvoniuane to find himself once more 
safe in the truly comfortable hotel, where he is regaled not only 
with all necessary refreshments, but with wonderfully fine echoes 
produced from the neighboring mountains by a long shrill hor, 
blown at the door of the hotel, after evening has closed in, 
by the discharge of artillery, whose explosion is returned in deep 
and solemn reverberations from the winding hills. The ascent 
of Mount Washington is certainly worth the toil and trouble, 
although probably few appreciate it justly, before they have made 
the trial. 
cane Pedestrian ascent occupied two and a half hours, and 
- about ten hours, of strenuous and connie 
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