THE ADIKONDACKS. 71 



erable iron-works which afterward failed in the fulfillment of 

 a promise of lucrative profit, and were abandoned. Arnold's 

 house is a relic of those ancient improvements. It is one of 

 the finest fishing and hunting grounds in the whole section, 

 though here, as elsewhere, the sportsman must turn a little 

 aside from the main thoroughfare if he would find reward 

 commensurate with his endeavors. The adjacent country is 

 hilly, though not strictly mountainous ; but there is an iso- 

 lated peak called " Bald Mountain," which is everywhere the 

 most prominent feature of the landscape. From its summit 

 there is a panorama of magnificent extent. Fourth Lake 

 with its green islands occupies the central position, stretching 

 away for six miles through an unbroken forest whose farthest 

 limit is a blue mountain range delicately limned upon the 

 horizon. There is a comfortable house near the foot of the 

 mountain where parties proposing to ascend can find an 

 abiding-place. 



From the west there are entrances to the Wilderness via 

 Lowville and Carthage, stations on the Black River Kailroad, 

 by tolerable wagon roads which converge at Lake Francis, a 

 distance of eighteen or twenty miles ; thence by road and 

 stream twenty-two miles to Beach's Lake, and thence nine 

 miles to Raquette Lake. This route is not much traveled, 

 and the sport will not pay for the hardships of the journey. 

 Booneville is the better starting-point. 



From . Potsdam, on the north, there is a very good winter 

 road all the way to " Grave's Lodge " on Big Tupper Lake, 

 whence all parts of the Wilderness are accessible by boat. 

 The summer route is from Potsdam to Colton, ten miles by 

 stage; thence by good wagon road twelve miles to McEwen's, 

 on the Raquette River ; thence six miles to Haw's, with a 

 very short portage ; thence six miles and a half by road to 

 the "Moosehead still water"; and thence fifteen miles by 

 water to the foot of Raquette Pond, from which there is 

 water communication with Big Tupper and all other points 

 north and south. From McEwen's to Raquette Pond the 



