80 Notices of Mount Washington and the vicinity. 



highest peak of New England, the most elevated of the United 

 States, and of North America, until we reach the Rocky Moun- 

 tains and the table land of Mexico. The arduous circumstances 

 of our ascent and the absence of instruments prevented any ac- 

 curate observations ; but the height of this peak is generally sta- 

 ted to be between six thousand and seven thousand feet, probably 

 six thousand five hundred above the level of the sea. 



It nearly penetrates the region of perpetual cold — therefore 

 winter relaxes his dominion but for a very short period, a few 

 weeks at most, in the hottest season of the world below, and 

 summer never smiles upon the summit of Mount Washington. 

 On the succeeding day as we travelled, we saw this mountain 

 quite white, from its peak a long way down and around, on every 

 side that was within our view. 



The descent was of course more rapid than the ascent ; it was 

 much less fatiguing to the lungs, but very trying to the limbs, 

 especially to the larger muscles and to the patella, which seemed 

 as if it would part with the strain. Great caution was requisite 

 also, to avoid falling into the innumerable holes among the rocks, 

 and to prevent slipping from their smooth and glazed surfaces. 

 Arrived once more at the camp where the horses, become rest- 

 less with hunger and now eager for their stables, remained fast 

 bound to the trees — we quickly mounted, and twilight begin- 

 ning to set in, we hastened through the pilgrimage of the muddy 

 forest, till having arrived in the open ground, all dashed forward 

 with cavalry speed, and the poorest rider on the hardest horse 

 fares ill in a race, which he is neither able nor much disposed to 

 resist or avoid. All hurry onward, as if from the route of disas- 

 trous battle, and glad is the adventurer to find himself once more 

 safe in the truly comfortable hotel, where he is regaled not only 

 with all necessary refreshments, but with wonderfully fine echoes 

 produced from the neighboring mountains by a long shrill horn, 

 blown at the door of the hotel, after evening has closed in, and 

 by the discharge of artillery, whose explosion is returned in deep 

 and solemn reverberations from the winding hills. The ascent 

 of Mount Washington is certainly worth the toil and trouble, 

 although probably few appreciate it justly, before they have made 

 the trial. 



The pedestrian ascent occupied two and a half hours, and 

 the entire journey about ten hours, of strenuous and constant 

 exertion. 



