
          *nearing the mountain, the road was very difficult indeed, filled as it
was with huge stones, interspersed with gulleys and small ponds.

411.

up from the surrounding country.  Fully four miles distant it stands
on the dividing line between Montgomery & Frederick Counties.  Many people
were questioned regarding its height, not one seemed to know; regarding
the distance we had various answers from 2½ to 4½ miles.  The day
was very warm so Mr. W. thought we had better ride.  The team was
ready by 10:20 and not long after we were on our way Mr. W. driving.
From D. the mountain lies almost exactly north, but as the best
way of ascending is in the north side we were obliged <s>the</s> to drive around
it.  The road was in fine condition and when close to the mountain
passes through the woods.  Reaching the base of the mountain we began
the ascent, we were told that we could drive to a spring about half
way to the top.  Now the path was extremely rugged and as we
proceeded became more and more so, several times we thought that
the carriage would topple over.  At length about 11:30 the spring was reached and
here our guide left.  From his account of the paths and how many
<s>people</s> times he had lost himself, one would almost have believed that
it would be utterly impossible to reach the top, and if you did of
ever getting back again.  We, however, thought we would try, and to be
on the safe side reached our path by prominent marks, here and there
by liberal displays of newspaper and at other places by the bending
        