A Thousand-Mile Walk 



woods. After a few miles of level ground in 

 luxuriant tangles of brooding vines, I began the 

 ascent of the Cumberland Mountains, the first 

 real mountains that my foot ever touched or 

 eyes beheld. The ascent was by a nearly regu 

 lar zigzag slope, mostly covered up like a tun 

 nel by overarching oaks. But there were a few 

 openings where the glorious forest road of Ken 

 tucky was grandly seen, stretching over hill 

 and valley, adjusted to every slope and curve 

 by the hands of Nature the most sublime 

 and comprehensive picture that ever entered 

 my eyes. Reached the summit in six or seven 

 hours a strangely long period of up-grade 

 work to one accustomed only to the hillocky 

 levels of Wisconsin and adjacent States. 



