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very warm climbing the Indian Ladder road, both for pedes- 

 trians and horses. Below the road at the parting of the two 

 rocky diverging gorges in the main amphitheater is a little open 

 spot known as the "'Tory Hook' or Plat." Here Black creek, 

 filled with water-worn boulders, descends through "the damp, 

 thick woods of oak, hickory, . . . elm, basswood (linden), 

 butternut, ash, beech and birch with a white pine and hemlock 

 . . . give color to the scenery, heightened by the green graceful 

 frondage of the scarlet-fruited sumac, the trailing cordage of the 

 wild grape-vines and numberless other wild plants." The old 

 Indian trail led up this valley; and where the precipice does not 

 exceed 20 feet in height stood the tree trunk — the old ladder, 

 which was in daily use as late as 1820. The cliff has been blasted 

 away for the roadbed. Overhanging the road at this point is 

 "The Dome," and the path beneath leads to a semicircular cavi- 

 ty in the cliff known as the Tory House. 



Following the Bear path along the base of the cliff, one comes 

 to a large spring of ice-cold water issuing from a dark opening. 

 The opening is about 3 feet high by 6 to 8 feet wide, narrowing 

 inward. The temperature of the air of this spring remains about 

 54°, the year round. Giant's Castle is the next object of interest 

 and then Small or "Dry Fall," falling unbroken 80 feet and 

 issuing from the talus in two cascades and then to disappear 

 again for some distance down the gorge. There was no water 

 in the waterfall to-day. 



Further east, the overhanging cliffs are 126 feet in height; and 

 here is the "Big," "Mine Lot," or "Indian Ladder" Fall, falling 

 116 feet. There is considerable water to-day; "a silvery rope of 

 spray, with a whispering rush, sweeping before it damp, chilly 

 eddies of fugitive air, that sways the watery cable to and fro." 

 But as the water strikes the huge rocks at the base, it is turned to 

 spray and from time to time wafted by the slight breeze stirring. 

 One of the species of Vaucheria, in large felt-like masses, grows 

 here and in the cold spring. There are several mosses here; but 

 only Amhlystegium filicinum (L.) DeNot. and Mniiim punctatum 

 L. with stolons were collected. 



Back of the Mine Lot Fall is what is known as the "Red Paint 



