90 Mr. Pierce on the Catskill Mountains. 



The elevated va]le3'^s and regions adjacent to those peaks 

 are peculiarly interesting. Groves of lofty spruce and bal- 

 sam fir, straight as the white pine, and presenting a beautiful 

 never fading verdure, occupy, almost exclusively, extensive 

 tracts. Little under-brush obstructs the passage and view, 

 but the earth and flat rocks are covered by a handsome car- 

 pet of diversified colors composed of a thick and soft velvet 

 moss of a delicate light green, ornamented by gay flowers 

 and tufts of white coral like silvery moss, with other species, 

 — mountain sorrel varying the verdure. 



The region north of the Platterkill mountain valley, is ac- 

 cessible for waggons to the base of the Round Top and from 

 thence the ascent is easy. 



I passed a night on this peak at an elevation of near 4000 

 feet above the level of the sea. Its circular summit is near- 

 ly flat, but slightly descending on every side, and presents 

 about an acre mostly vv^ood-clad. 



Although the heat of the river valley was oppressive, yet 

 the mountain temperature rendered a large fire comfortable. 



Invigorated by cold and by breathing freely the pure moun- 

 tain air, a traveller ranges with less fatigue than in the valley 

 of the Hudson, and seldom fails of possessing a good ap- 

 petite. 



Having enjoyed a refreshing repast, and amused ourselves 

 sometime in conversation, we increased our fire as a protec- 

 tion from beasts of prey, and retired to rest on beds of moss 

 upon which small branches of spruce were spread, forming a 

 soft and dry couch. Wc viewed through the thinly scatter- 

 ed branches of the balsam fir, the blue arch of heaven span- 

 gled with stars. The azure of the sky appeared darker from 

 our elevation than from below, and (he heavenly bodies to 

 move more brilliantly in their course. 



The atmosphere which gives a light blue coloring to dis- 

 tant objects, becomes more rare and pure in proportion to 

 its elevation. 



Placed far above the haunts of men, no sound was heard 

 save that of a light air, gently breathing through the fine 

 leaved tops of the evergreens. 



We were, at times, during the night enveloped by passing 

 clouds, but the breeze would soon free us from our dewy 

 mantle. The starry lamps, as if newly trimmed, seemed 

 then to shine with additional lustre. The moon partly 

 shorn of her beams, calmly glided through the sky, motling 



