?***" T
By Le Roy Jcffcrs
Nfr<ii'a"'"/ Bwrseu Associatcd Mountaineering
Clubs: Librariav American Alpine Club
THOSE! of us who live in the eastern part
of the country cannot turn to moun?
tains of great height for our week-end
J,fi and holidsy excursions; but there are
ffltay delightful strolls which one may take
,,vor the hills at no great distance from New
?\crk or Boston. In the Catskills and Adiron
acks of New York. the Green Mountains of
Vermont, the White Mountains of New Hamp?
shire. or the Berkshires of Massachusetts, one
?.ay find an intoresting variety of beautiful
seenery and ample opportunity for good ex
,rcjse. A little further afield there are the
Black and the Great Smoky Mountains of
vorlh Carolina to allure one; or Mount Katah
<;;n jn Maine, with the most interesting cliffs
that a climber will find east of the Rockies.
On all these trips topographioal maps of the
V. S. Geological Survey should be taken when
fcey are available for the region,
Xunierous outdcor and hiking clubs arrange
trips to view those regions for the man or
woman who is socially inclined; or one may
roam alone with sleeping bag, provisions and
^ap, discovering the country anew for himself.
}'oremost among our eastern organizations
vhich hold local walks and frequent excursions
io the mountains is the Appalachian Mountain
Ctub of Boston and New York. Organized in
1876, it has built and mapped many trails in
the White Mountains, to which summer and
winter parties are often conducted. This year
its camp is from August 6 to September 3 in
the Franconia Mountains, New Hampshire.
Its clubhouse and camp on Three Mile Island
in Lake Winnepesaukee is open to members
from 'July 1 to September 7; and its recently
established Cold River camp at North Chath
w, N- H., is open from June 27 to September
17.
Many who have followed the trails over the
White Mountains have found food and shelter
iii the stone huts that are constructed by the
club near the summit of leading peaks. The
Madison Spring, Carter Notch, and Lakes of
the Clouds huts are available to the traveler
from July 1 to September 15. In all, about
|wo hundred and fifty miles of trail are main
feined, and the club owns seventeen reserva
tions ui Massachusetts, New Hampshire and
Mainc. An indfspensable pocket Guide to the
Paths in Liie White Mountains and adjacent
regions is published by the club at 1050 Tre
Building, Boston. In the vicinity of Bos
i'i' walks are held on Saturdays and holidays,
fhd on Tuesday e :enings in summer. Chap
the club are maintaincd in New York
City and Worcester, Mass., where Saturday
and holiday walk<J are also scheduled. Mem
krship in the club is by invitation, and a pro
Bpective member must usually show his or her
fitness on the trail as a guest of some member
of the club. The chairman of the New York
'hapter '-, J. D, Merriman, 2 Rector Street,
and its secretary ia Ellen R, Peck, 34 South
Tenth .Street, Newark, N. J.
Climb of Mount Washington,
White Mountains
in the summer one may take an evening
tiain from New York, arriving the next morn?
ing at Crawford House near the head of the
Crawford Notch. With rucksack containing
'provisions and sweater, he can start on the
trail leading over Mounta Clinton, Plcasant,
lranklin and Monroe, to the Appalachian hut
?t the Lakes of the Clouds. After leaving the
spruce woods there are fine views into the val
?fye. and beyond the hut it is a steep climb over
tfce slabs t<j the summit of Mount Washington,
(-90 feet. If on'j has not lingered on the way,
there will be time to follow the Gulfside trail,
?iaversing the northern peaks, Mounts Clay,
"'efferson and Adams, to the Madison huts,
'A'here there is welcome, food and shelter for
;lie night, ln the morning one may descend
'othe railway at Appalachia. There are many
"'her trails from the summit of the range that
)%l downward through attractive scenery.
?He climb of Mount Washington should not be
sttempted in stormy weather, as conditions
'?ten develop which are impossible to face, and
iivea have sometiraes been lost.
The Green Mountain Club of Vermont, with
1 lourishing section in New York City, offere
'trail from the Massachusetts border to John
Wn- Vt, four-fifths of the way across the state
?ward Canada. Only the southern portion of
^rmont has been mapped by the Geological
'Urvey, and there are several hundred peaks
'^ging from 2.009 to over 4,000 feet in height,
""ly of which are unnamed and little known.
??"ey are forest covered in the south, but have
tar?? rocky Bummrts in the north. From Ben
^'gton to Camel's Hump, or Couching Lion,
^h is 4,088 feet high, the Long Trail affords
111 attractive camping hike, rcquiring sleeping
'H, food, ax, eompaaa and matches. North
*Camel's Hump one will find lodgings, and it
" on'y nece.ssary to carry lunch. In this sec
2? are the highest peaks, culminating in
0,Jnt Mansfleld, 4,407 feet, from which ther
*n extenssive view across Lake Champlain to
*! Adirondacks in the west, while the White
'?'Itt<WUins are seen to the east. The Guide
r*F 'he Long Trail, which gives full in
,Jtto?tion for th? trip, may be secured from
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H So, Here Are Directions, Routes and Practical Helps for Climbs Throughout the East;
Maine, the White and Green Mountains, the Berkshires, the Adirondacks,theCatskills. Take
Your Choice, Hard Climbs or Easy Ones, From Lonely Katahdin to the More Sociable Foothills
Mount Katahdin, Maine, from Sandy S
E. S. Marsh, of Brandon, Vt The club has
built about two hundred and eleven miles of
trail, along which it has erected numerous shel
tf>rs for the convenience of hikers. It has five
local sections throughout the state and another
in New Yrork.
From New York to Mount
MansHeld in Vermont
The New York section of the Green Moun?
tain Club conducts local walks and has con
structed trails on the attractive Wyanokie Pla
teau in New Jersey. Prof. W. S. Monroe, of 83
Portland Place, Montclair, N. J., is the presi?
dent, and A. C. Tate, of Stamford, Conn., is
the secretary. A cordial welcome is given to
!!icn and women who are interested in the work
of the club and who would contribulo to its
wellbcing.
To obtain a glimpse of the Green Mountains
one can leave New York of an evening and ar?
rive at Wraterbury, Vt., early the next morn?
ing. Here on week days an electric line runs
to Stowe, where one can hire an auto to Smug
glers Notch and climb Mount Mansfield by the
trail from Barnea Camp. If one arrives on a
Sunday, or if he would enjoy a line all day
t.-amp on a week day, an auto may be secured
at Waterbury for Nebraska Notch to the south
of Mount Mansfield. It is a winding road that
flnds its way over picturesque old bridges and
around fern covered hills on which the yellow
birchea and happy pines are awakening to the
first rays of the sun. Starting as the morning
mists are lifting, there are miles of gradually
ascending trail through thicketa of ferns and
tream Pond. Katahdin's eastern cliffa
wildemess, thirty miles fr
elusters of Clintonias, with their china-blue
berries. At last the trail rounds the forehead
of the mountain and climbs steeply upward to
the nose, which is the highest point, 4,407 feet.
In storms it is scarcely possible to stand erect,
and there are thrilling glimpses into the dis
lant valleys, as the wind driven clouds open
and close in an instant, At the Summit House
one may secure delicious raaple sugar, and then
kavo for Smugglers Noteh by the trail. A
more interesting route for a mountaineer is
to continue north over the chin and down to
the Lake in the Clouds. Just before reaching
the lake a precipitous brook bed offers the
r.hortest route into Smug ;rs Notch, but there
is no trail and one must clmg to trees and vincp,
while he. descends the slippery, moss covered
rocks. The walls of the Notch tower over 2,000
t'eet above the road, and giant blocks of gran
ite from the cliffa have formed a cave which
one may enter. It ia ten miles by passing auto
to Stowe.
Isolctted Mount Katahdin,
Toughest Climb of All
Mount Katahdin, 5,273 feet high, in the Maine
wildemess, affords the best climbing on its
eastern cliffs in this part of the country. The
t&vr.*,
afford the best climbing in this part of
om the nearest settlement
usnal approach is by the Bangor & Aroostook
Railroad to Greenville Junction, on Moosehead
Lake, where a steamer leavea for Lily Bay.
Here an automobile stage runs to Ripogenus
Dam, where one may spend the night. It is
then about twelve miles through the woods by
trail to Yrork's Camp, on Daisy Pond, where
one is sheltered for another night. The next
day the mountain may be climbed from
the west and return made to camp. If one
would view the more interesting eastern face
of the mountain, he must leave the Bangor &
Aroostook at Stacyville and shoulder his sleep
ing bag and grub. It, is more than thirty miles
to the surnmit of Katahdin by ancient tote
road and pooT trail. At first the road leads
through the forest to a farmhouse called
Metagama, on the East Branch of the Penob
scot, where one may cross in a canoe. At
sorne points the trail is not marked, and after
leaving the Wassataquoik the new route offers
only occasional blazes. At last the overgrown
tote road is re joined and Katahdin Pond is
reached, on whose shore Cushman Camp is
located. This is often closed, and one may
continue to Sandy Stream Pond, twenty-four
inilcs, for the day^s tramp from Stacyville.
? ??'??n?.wi??ilimnxtilrjmteat?,'<?Kf
the country. The mountain rises in a
It is then four mfles into the South Basin,
where Chimney Pond is located, and two and a
half miles further to the summit by way of
a boulder slide at the head of the basin. The
more interesting route is to climb the chimney
above the pond, or to follow the trail up
Parnola Peak and traverse the knife edge above
the pond to the top of Katahdin. From its two
highest summits there is a magnificent view
over a vast forested region, dotted with many
lakes. It is about two miles across the tablc
land to Hunt's Trail, which descends a western
spur of the peak aniid gigantic boulders, and
then through the forest to a spur of the Milli
nocket tote road. York's Camp is finally
reached by road and trail, seven miles from
the summit. Ripogenus Dam and the auto
stage are about twelve miles distant by a very
circuitous route. One must first cross the
Sourdnahunk stream on a very dilapidated
dam,. and then cross the West Branch of the
Penobscot by another dam. When the water
is high this crossing must be made. on a Iog
boom, and it's not an easy matter, for the
boom is washed out at the central watergate
and at the west bank. At both of these points
a rope provides tiie only way of getting through
the swift current. The traverse of Mount
Katahdin offers one of the most interesting
excursions in the East, but it should not be
undertaken by the novice without a guide.
Mount Everett and Greylock
In Massachusetts
The southern Berkshires of Massachusetts
are within easy distance of New York and are
especially worth visiting. Leaving New York
iu the late afternoon on the Harlem division
Cairn marking the summit of Mount Katahdin, 5/273 feet above sea level, There is q magniRcent view overta vast forested region
IMMER?
of the New York Central, Copake Ironworks
is reached at a convenient hour, and one may
stop at the inn near the station. To the south?
east a road between Washburn and Ba:jhbish
mountains leads to Alander Mountain, 2,243
feet high. A romantic, fern-embowered trail
winds up ita treo-covered slopea. Following the
deep gorge of Bashbish Brook to the east from
the ironworks, one may continue to the trail
which ascends Mount Everett from the west.
It is an attractive atroll to the summit, 2,624
feet, which is the second highest in Massa
chusetts. Descending a little way by the trail,
one may turn to the east and gradually work
down a steep ravine through which tlie water
foams and tumbles. It is then a few miles
aeross country to the railway at Sheffield or
to an electric line, by which one may go north
to Pittsfield for the night. In the morning
the electric car may be taken toward North
Adams, stopping at the entrance to the trail
up Mount Greylock, 3,505 feet, the highest
mountain in Massachusetts. From the sum?
mit observatory there is an extensive view of
wooded mountains. The descent may be varied
by dropping down the Hoppcr on the north
western side of Greylock. The route over the
cliffs is rather steep for one who is not a
mountaineer, but its scenery is rewarding.
Hopper Brook and Green River are then fol?
lowed to the railway at Williamstown.
To the Top of Mount Marcy
ln the Adirondacks
It is an overnight trip from New York to
Lake Placid in the Adirondack3, where one
may climb Mount Marcy, 5,344 feet, the high?
est elevation in the state. An auto should
be taken to Heart, or Clear Lake, where the
trail begins. At the dam one turns to the
left, and further on the John's Brook traii
from Keene Valley is entered, which finally
reaches the summit of Marcy. In addition to
most of the Ieading peaks of the Adirondacks,
Mount Mansfield in Vermont is visible. A
trail continues down the southern side of
Marcy, reaching the head of upper Ausable
Lake, but it does not continue down the lakes.
It is possible, however, to follow the shore of
Upper Ausable, cross the stream between it
and Lower Ausable, and then traverse the
eastern bank of the latter lake, finally arriv
ing at St. Huberts. A steep slope srrewn
with fallen logs makes this route undesirablc
along Lower Ausable. It is far more inter
esting to descend the John's Brook trail to
the route over Mount Haystack and the
Gothics, which leads out to St. Huberts, where
an auto should be secured for Keene VahV
and return to Lake Placid.
The Catskills Offer
Slide Mountain
One of the oldest clubs in the country, or
ganized in 1877, is the Fresh Air Club of
New York. It consists of a small group of
men who join in Sunday walks of fifteen to
cighteen miles over the New Jersey hills and
in the Highlands of the Hudson. Favorite
climbs are up the rocky face of Storm King
and over ''rows Nest on the west bank of the
Hudson; or up Anthony's Nose, or Break
neck on the eastern bank. One must be a
good cross-country walker and able to keen
^he pace, as well as being socially agreeable,
)f he wishes to become a member of this club,
whose secretary i.s Mortimer Bishop, 8S Nas
sau Street. ln the spring the club visits tV
Catskills and follows the trail which they
have constructed to Slide, 4,205 feet, which ii
ihe highest peak in these mountains. Takinc
an afternoon train from ,the city, one ma>
sleep at Kingston, leaving early for Phcenicia,
where an auto may be secured to Lord's in
Woodland Valley. lt is a somewhat hiddeu
trail over Wittenberpr and Cornell to the sum?
mit cf Slide, but the view is very beautiful,
especially when the autumn foliage is at its
best.
Mount Mitchell Reaches
Altitude of 6,711 Feet
By leaving New York about noon one can
reach Asheville, N. C, the next morning, but
if you are a elimber in seareh of Mount Miteb
ell, which is 6,711 feet, and the highest eleva
fcion east of the Mississippi, you will drop off
the train with your rucksack at Graphitevill^
before Asheville is reached. If it is in June
the mountains will be richly covered with rose
purple rhododendrons, followed by flaming
scarlet and orange azaleas, with great area.;
of white and pink mountain laurel. At first
one must climb a steep spur of the Blue Ridge
and then, turning to the left, traverse the
peaks of the Black Mountains until Mount
Mitchell is reached. Some. years ago a mag
nificent forest covered these slopes, but it was
Iargely destroyed and burned over by destruc
tive lumbering. The view from the summit of
Mitchell is not of rocky peaks. but is a dreamy
blue sea of fiowing forest curves. In cross
country work one encounters innumerable
ridges, separated by deep and narrow ravines.
where he may easily become entangled in al?
most impenetrable rhododendron and laurel
thickets that are ten to twenty feet high. The
ira from Mount Mitchell may be by way
of Montreat and Black Mountain, where the
railway is rejoined. A logging railway, which
runs from Black Mountain to Mount Mitchell,
takes passeugers nearly to the summit of
? lountain,
Among other clubs which have local walks
around New York ia '.he Tramp and Trail
Club, of which Frank Place, of 17 We^lForty
third Street, ts president Sund%v walks of
ten Or fcwelve miles are attended by tuaa and
Phe (nkowa Club, of 12 West FortieL^
Street, vhieh Ellen K. Hamer is director,
l Saturday and Sunday walks for women,
v. ith travel parties and canoe and hiking trips
in the summer. A