Mt. Moosilauke (1817) - First Scientific Ascent
". . . Moose-Hillock is situated about forty-five miles, a little east to north, from Dartmouth College, and about fifteen miles east from the village of Haverhill, which adjoins Connecticut river. It is so called in consequence of formerly having been frequented by Moose.
The rocks, and also the fallen trees on the sides of the mountains, are covered with a thick bed of moss. Hard timber, such as Beech, Maple, and Birch, intermixed with a few Evergreens, grow around the foot of the mountain, but as we ascend, the Evergreens, Hemlock, Spruce, and Firs, wholly prevail; these as we approach the summit dwindle into mere shrubs, about three feet in height. Their branches are so interlocked that it is almost impossible to get through them; the summit of the north peak was burned over a few years ago, and is now entirely bald; a mere mass of bare granite rocks.
A silver mine is reported to have been discovered many years ago by some hunters, on the side of the mountain. The position of this reported mine, however, is not now known, though much vain search has been made to ascertain it. In haste, with the greatest respect,
yours, sincerely,
A. PARTRIDGE."
From "First Scientific Ascent" by Alden Partridge, pp. 306-311, The Moosilaukee Reader (Vol.2). ©1999.
