DIVISION X 89

TRAIL IN WINTER

est is a cairn of stones called the Frenchman's Pile, that marks the spot where a traveler was killed by lightning many years ago. The views from both Nose and Chin are magnificent in extent and in varied beauty. North and south the billowing, wooded ranges of the Green Mountains stretch away to the far horizon, with such well-known peaks as Killington, Lincoln, Camel's Hump, Belvidere and Jay easily recognizable. Northeast across the deep and rugged Smuggler's Notch lie the Sterling Mountains, also named for an old town that long ago passed out of existence. To the east one looks down into the lovely Stowe Valley and across to the Worcester Range, while beyond, in the far distance are the blue outlines of the White Mountains. Westward is spread the broad and fertile Champlain Valley, with the blue, shining lake beyond and the sharp peaks of the Adirondacks against the sky, while on the northwestern horizon, a low hill, often hidden in a haze of smoke, is Mount Royal at Montreal.

On the east side of the mountain, reached by a short side trail, is the Cave of the Winds, a deep, dark crevice in the ledges into which only the more adventurous descend. A thick bed of ice forms the floor of its lower chambers throughout the year. North of the Adam's Apple the tiny Lake of the Clouds nestles in a setting of dense forest, the highest body of water in Vermont. The hiker who spends several days exploring Mansfield and its vicinity will be amply repaid for his efforts, and he will find Taft Lodge, on The Long Trail, a convenient center for his excursions. (See description, page 85.) Those wishing more luxurious accommodations may find them at the Mount Mansfield Hotel, which has stood since the 1850's on the summit ridge of the mountain just north of the Nose. It can be reached by auto via private toll road from the Toll House on Route No. 108. (For rates, bus time table, etc., see page 85.)

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