A Thousand-Mile Walk 
woods. After a few miles of level ground in 
luxuriant tangles of brooding vines, I began the 
ascent of the Cumberland Mountains, the first 
real mountains that my foot ever touched or 
eyes beheld. The ascent was by a nearly regu- 
lar zigzag slope, mostly covered up like a tun- 
nel by overarching oaks. But there were a few 
openings where the glorious forest road of Ken- 
tucky was grandly seen, stretching over hill 
and valley, adjusted to every slope and curve 
by the hands of Nature — the most sublime 
and comprehensive picture that ever entered 
my eyes. Reached the summit in six or seven 
hours —a strangely long period of up-grade 
work to one accustomed only to the hillocky 
levels of Wisconsin and adjacent States. 
