Miscellany: A Trip to Mountain Lake
Dublin Core
Title
Miscellany: A Trip to Mountain Lake
Subject
travel, nature, mountains, camping
Creator
[Unknown]
Source
http://addison.vt.edu/record=b1775388~S1
Publisher
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Date
February 1884
Contributor
Kayla McNabb, Joel Sprinkle
Rights
Permission to publish images from The Gray Jacket must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
Format
Text
Language
English
Type
article
Identifier
LD5655.V8 L4, ser.2, v.1, no.1 (February 1884), p.5-6
Coverage
Mountain Lake, Virginia; Cascade, Virginia; Blacksburg, Virginia
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
Our esteemed President promised all the Cadets a trip to the country. The preps., juniors and ints., for the greater part, prefered a visit to New river, as 'twas then the fishing, swimming and boating season of the year; but the "seniors," who were then dreaming of the Fourth of July, chose the Lake as their place of retirement. (As a large majority of them were Commencement orators, &c., this seemed to offer great inducements to the young sons of Cicero.)
Everything being in readiness, we left Blacksburg by misty moonlight while the cocks were yet crowing for the peep of dawn. When old Sol appeared in the eastern horizon, the first thought was that "we would melt;" but being assured that we were neither butter nor oleomargarine, and finding that several miles of mountain roads were passed, we reconciled ourselves by thinking about the many attractions which were at no great distance.
By the way, I must not fail to mention [unintelligable] lay the bottomless sheet of water, the Lake. Both of them were enchanting; but which should we first do, ascend the peak or ride upon the silvery lake? Quite a difference of opinion prevailed, but the calm waters seemed more inviting; so some of the party hired a boat from the proprietor, and in a short while we rode merrily, as if 'twere across the ocean blue, singing
Merrily now we roll along;
Across the dark blue sea.
The boat landed near the palace, and from thence we visited the Indian wigwam, which indeed looks quite natural. After several hours of such merriment as rowing, singing, shooting, and, above all, looking, we went back to the boat and steered straight to the dock from which we departed, and from thence to the camp. The day had unconsciously almost passed, and hunger was beginning to make quite touching appeals to some; but 'twas too much to miss seeing the setting sun from Bald Knob. So we mounted our vehicles and in a few minutes were landed upon this pinnacle as it seemed. 'Twas a sight too grand to behold. The sun, whose last open countenance lay in an illimitable sea, was smiling its last smile of serenity upon old Terra, and, ere the organs of vision had been half gratified, it sank behind the western hills.
Having conversed with some of the participants in this sight, one of the boys spoke off his oration to the hills; then we descended the peak, at the rate of a steamboat, our driver being in a somewhat reckless mood.
Next, where could we protect ourselves from the unseasonable winds of this highland region? After a short consultation, our captain thought it best to drive to the nearest cabin. It was somewhat troublesome to find the way, but after a short drive we came to a favorable camping ground, and stretched our tent for the night; but lo! those vicious winged insects called gnats preyed so harshly upon our bodies that it seemed impossible to spend the night without being entirely devoured. What was to be done? Quite fortunately, an inhabitant of these regions made his appearance. Some of the nervous portion of the crowd insisted that he was a Lucas; but the kind person recommended a fire built close by, and in a few minutes all the "varmints" had disappeared.
For the rest of the night quietude prevailed, and early the next morning we were ready for a day's enjoyment. The next place to visit was the Cascade. The day seemed favorable for such a trip, and when the many favored spots around the Lake had been visited, we left, bidding adieu to the old camp ground, silvery lake, and preying gnats, and glided over beautiful moss-covered hills and valleys, until the roar of the cataract was plainly audible. The carriage way extended in a half mile reach of the place, thus necessitating a walk for the rest of the distance. However, we tripped merrily down the stream until at last the roaring cataract could be seen and its thundering echoes heard and felt. The water falls almost perpendicularly for a distance of a hundred feet, leaping between two rocks that separate two distinct mountains. We scrambled our way up the rocks until we stood under the gushing water. 'Tis here that most of us registered, leaving behind the initials "G. H. S., J. R. W., V. A. M. C.," &c.
Our time for appearance at the College was approaching, and as 'twas our last trip for the summer, we thought it best to take in a little of New river, too. And ere the last peals of eloquence had resounded, our drivers warned us of the readiness of wagons, carriages, &c. ,cutting short, no doubt, some strain of eloquence, and in no great while we were again traveling rough mountain roads, this time for New River White Sulphur Springs.
We arrived here about dusk, and the kind host receiving us quite civilly, all necessary arrangements were made for the night. Part spent the time fishing, "getting nibbles" now and then; but this fun was broken up by grampi, turtles, or some big fish breaking all the hooks.
The next day being the last in the week, we decided to hold prayer meeting, and after some hours' debate it was decided best to wait until we arrived at Blacksburg again; but the unanimous cry was "let not the day be profaned." However, there was a splatter of water, a wielding of fishing poles, and pulling of oars.
The time for departure at last came, and feeling the moral necessity of taking leave of such pleasant scenes, we bid adieu to host and hostess, river and canoe, fish and hook, and all that was grand, beautiful and sublime, and reached Blacksburg in time to attend night prayer meeting.
Everything being in readiness, we left Blacksburg by misty moonlight while the cocks were yet crowing for the peep of dawn. When old Sol appeared in the eastern horizon, the first thought was that "we would melt;" but being assured that we were neither butter nor oleomargarine, and finding that several miles of mountain roads were passed, we reconciled ourselves by thinking about the many attractions which were at no great distance.
By the way, I must not fail to mention [unintelligable] lay the bottomless sheet of water, the Lake. Both of them were enchanting; but which should we first do, ascend the peak or ride upon the silvery lake? Quite a difference of opinion prevailed, but the calm waters seemed more inviting; so some of the party hired a boat from the proprietor, and in a short while we rode merrily, as if 'twere across the ocean blue, singing
Merrily now we roll along;
Across the dark blue sea.
The boat landed near the palace, and from thence we visited the Indian wigwam, which indeed looks quite natural. After several hours of such merriment as rowing, singing, shooting, and, above all, looking, we went back to the boat and steered straight to the dock from which we departed, and from thence to the camp. The day had unconsciously almost passed, and hunger was beginning to make quite touching appeals to some; but 'twas too much to miss seeing the setting sun from Bald Knob. So we mounted our vehicles and in a few minutes were landed upon this pinnacle as it seemed. 'Twas a sight too grand to behold. The sun, whose last open countenance lay in an illimitable sea, was smiling its last smile of serenity upon old Terra, and, ere the organs of vision had been half gratified, it sank behind the western hills.
Having conversed with some of the participants in this sight, one of the boys spoke off his oration to the hills; then we descended the peak, at the rate of a steamboat, our driver being in a somewhat reckless mood.
Next, where could we protect ourselves from the unseasonable winds of this highland region? After a short consultation, our captain thought it best to drive to the nearest cabin. It was somewhat troublesome to find the way, but after a short drive we came to a favorable camping ground, and stretched our tent for the night; but lo! those vicious winged insects called gnats preyed so harshly upon our bodies that it seemed impossible to spend the night without being entirely devoured. What was to be done? Quite fortunately, an inhabitant of these regions made his appearance. Some of the nervous portion of the crowd insisted that he was a Lucas; but the kind person recommended a fire built close by, and in a few minutes all the "varmints" had disappeared.
For the rest of the night quietude prevailed, and early the next morning we were ready for a day's enjoyment. The next place to visit was the Cascade. The day seemed favorable for such a trip, and when the many favored spots around the Lake had been visited, we left, bidding adieu to the old camp ground, silvery lake, and preying gnats, and glided over beautiful moss-covered hills and valleys, until the roar of the cataract was plainly audible. The carriage way extended in a half mile reach of the place, thus necessitating a walk for the rest of the distance. However, we tripped merrily down the stream until at last the roaring cataract could be seen and its thundering echoes heard and felt. The water falls almost perpendicularly for a distance of a hundred feet, leaping between two rocks that separate two distinct mountains. We scrambled our way up the rocks until we stood under the gushing water. 'Tis here that most of us registered, leaving behind the initials "G. H. S., J. R. W., V. A. M. C.," &c.
Our time for appearance at the College was approaching, and as 'twas our last trip for the summer, we thought it best to take in a little of New river, too. And ere the last peals of eloquence had resounded, our drivers warned us of the readiness of wagons, carriages, &c. ,cutting short, no doubt, some strain of eloquence, and in no great while we were again traveling rough mountain roads, this time for New River White Sulphur Springs.
We arrived here about dusk, and the kind host receiving us quite civilly, all necessary arrangements were made for the night. Part spent the time fishing, "getting nibbles" now and then; but this fun was broken up by grampi, turtles, or some big fish breaking all the hooks.
The next day being the last in the week, we decided to hold prayer meeting, and after some hours' debate it was decided best to wait until we arrived at Blacksburg again; but the unanimous cry was "let not the day be profaned." However, there was a splatter of water, a wielding of fishing poles, and pulling of oars.
The time for departure at last came, and feeling the moral necessity of taking leave of such pleasant scenes, we bid adieu to host and hostess, river and canoe, fish and hook, and all that was grand, beautiful and sublime, and reached Blacksburg in time to attend night prayer meeting.