Off to the Hills II 



the particular information gained below, and subject it 

 to more catholic tests." ' 



The peak especially designated as Saddleback Moun- 

 tain is at the junction of the eastern abutments of 

 that huge wall of Taconic Brotherhood which appears 

 south of the old battle-ground where formerly stood 

 the early border Fort Massachusetts, on the Harrison 

 flats, near the flag station of Greylock. The union of 

 Mount Williams, sloping to the east, and Prospect 

 Mountain to the west forms the seat of the saddle. 



Mount Hopkins — so named in honor of Professor 

 Albert Hopkins of Williams, the first nature-student 

 of our land, making excursions afield in 1833 — lies 

 south of these. Old Greylock, proper, lifts its lofty 

 brow still farther south, being situated about in the 

 centre of this great range as it extends from east to 

 west. 



Beyond Greylock stretches a long, misty line of blue 

 peaks against the sky, which if observed from Mount 

 CEta at the north, in Bennington County, Vermont, 

 may be traced to the southwest to Symoud's Peak, the 

 lowest of the group, named in memory of Captain 

 Symond, who led the volunteer forces from our hills 

 and vales to the memorable Battle of Bennington in 

 1777. Bald Mountain is also in the vicinity, and the 

 closing in of these several peaks has conspired to form 

 what is known as the " Hopper," and the " Heart of 

 Greylock." The hollow vale amid these heights has 



' Thoreau, Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers, p. 

 244. 



