SCENERY OF COOS COUNTY. 645 



the Pilot hills, breaks through the passing cloud, and throws its gentle 

 light across the forests. 



If we are not satisfied with the limit of the valley, there are hills on 

 every side, climbing which we have distant views. From Percy peaks, 

 northward, we have forests and wooded summits ; south-east, the White 

 Hills rise in all their grandeur; south, we have the long line of the 

 Pilot hills ; and, a little west of south, we look down the valley of the 

 Connecticut, and in the distance Moosilauke rises against the sky. 

 There are few mountains one feels so well repaid for the effort of climb- 

 ing; and, besides the distant view, the peaks themselves are of interest 

 on account of being so similar in outline, and so nearly of the same 

 height. 



The summit of the south peak is easily gained from the south-east, but 

 the western slope of this, as well as the north peak, is so steep that it 

 would require an expert in climbing to be able to reach the summit of 

 either peak from that direction. There are few mountains where the 

 variety of scenery is greater, for, besides the many mountain peaks, we 

 have the Upper Ammonoosuc and the Connecticut winding along the 

 valleys, their waters reflecting the bright sunlight, and ponds, too, sur- 

 rounded by sombre forests, nestling among the hills. Stark is a town 

 of mountains and hills, and there are several places where the scenery 

 is indeed picturesque. Approaching Stark station, either from the east 

 or west, the points of the mountains from the opposite sides of the valley 

 project by each other so that there seems to be an impassable barrier 

 across the valley ; but we know that the stream must pass through the 

 mountains, and Stark station is in the gap of the mountain through 

 which it passes. On the north is a perpendicular wall of rock forming 

 a vast amphitheatre, while on the opposite side of the valley, and a little 

 east, is Mill mountain. Although in every other direction surrounded by 

 high mountains, yet, looking a little west of south, we can see in the 

 distance some of the high peaks of the Pilot range. At West Milan 

 the peaks of the White Mountains begin to appear, and, besides, there 

 is quite an array of mountains westward. There are some points where 

 the effect is very fine. It is, however, in the south-east part of Milan, 

 near the line of Berlin, and perhaps a mile east of the Androscoggin, 

 that we have one of the most striking views of the White Mountains. 



