Verplanck Colvin and the ADK Survey at Lyon Mountain - August 1878

Here I learned that the work of preparing the station on the summit was steadily progressing; but so dense was the small timber, and so large the area upon the summit, that with the present force a long time would still be required to complete the preparatory work.  After a brief rest, having left the large theodolite and astronomical instruments carefully packed in the log cabin near Chazy lake, I set out for the summit.  The trail had been nicely cleared, and it was easily and rapidly climbed.  About two miles from the lake we began to ascend a steep slope, from which we could look out through the forest upon the valleys, lakes, and rivers below.  The scenery now began to partake more of the wilderness of the higher mountains southward, while a dense growth of the black spruce made its appearance indicating a change of climate.  Here we came suddenly upon a beautiful sable in a tree beside the trail, peering down upon us with great curiosity, his bright brown eyes,soft, rounded ears, and dark brown fur, giving him altogether the appearance of a Lemur.  A pistol shot failed to bring him to the ground, and, in effecting his escape, he leaped over my arms extended to snare him.

Reached the summit of Lyon mountain about an hour before dark, and found the men busily engaged in clearing away the timber, so as to obtain a clear view for the telescope of the theodolite in the coming triangulation.  A glance over the summit troubled me.  It was a broad, flat area, a mountain plateau, seemingly vastly larger at close acquaintance than it had appeared as seen from De Bar mountain in the fall of 1877.  It would still require a week or more of labor to prepare the station.

August 15th.  ... (Description of arrangements with signalmen omitted. JH) ...

Meanwhile, the porters and packmen had commenced the transportation of the heavy instruments and baggage up Lyon mountain.  Four miles of distance, and a vertical ascent of several thousand feet, made this an exhausting labor, and at night two of the strongest men came in utterly worn out by their endeavors to transport the huge theodolite to the summit.  They had been able to bring it only half way up when night approached, and covering it with waterproof, were compelled to leave it to the mercy of the bears and make the best of their way up to camp.  The packmen, with the other instruments and provisions, all arrived in good season.

August 16th.  The guide who overtasked himself in trying to bring up the heavy theodolite, was now quite ill and confined to quarters.  My scanty medicine chest supplied little of value in this emergency.  Fresh men were sent down, and the instrument was brought forward some distance; but the weight of it, and the difficult ground, often steep and sometimes a soft spongy morass, made the work slow.

While the packmen were thus employed, I took altitudes of the sun for local time with reflecting circle and artificial horizon, and at noon for latitude.  In the afternoon, with great difficulty, I made my way over fallen timber and examined the progress of the work.  A dense smoke-haze prevailed and hid all the region, eastward and southward, from view; and I was informed by the assistant in charge of the station, that during the past fortnight, but one or two days had been sufficiently clear from smoke or haze, to render it possible to see Lake Champlain, whose broadest portion stretched from Plattsburg, southward, less than twenty-five miles distant.

August 17th.   The sturdy guide, who had been indisposed since his first effort at the theodolite, was so far recovered this morning as to express his  willingness to again assist in the transportation of the instrument, now within a thousand feet of the summit.  The men accordingly descended after breakfast, and about 2 P.M. made their appearance almost exhausted, bringing in the huge theodolite, which was at length deposited upon the solid rock of the summit.

The stand was immediately placed over the copper bolt marking the centre of the station, the bronze plates and four long heavy iron screws, serving as the feet of the stand, were adjusted in holes drilled in the rock; and, when leveled, the foot of each leg or screw was firmly leaded down into place.

The stand thus secured, the instrument was set up, the upper clamps of the stand being first rigidly tightened, the levels adjusted and the microscopes (micrometers), standards and collimation attended to.  This accomplished, and the smokiness of the atmosphere disappearing a little, I succeeded at evening in making the first angular measurements from the summit of Lyon mountain, observing upon two of the signals set by the signalmen on the shores of Chazy lake, at the head of the Chazy river; the large signal on Whiteface mountain being used as zero.

August 18th.  was Sunday.

August 19th.  A squad of French Canadians whom I had engaged as pioneers or axemen made their appearance, and I set them to the chopping.

The mountain summit now presented an animated appearance.  The vigorous pioneers or axemen urged forward their work.  Their mingled voices, in both Canadian-French and English, were heard, borne by the fresh mountain breeze to the observing station near the cabin.  Here the grand 20-inch theodolite stood sheltered by the signal, where the angles were taken.  The comfortable log headquarters, the guides' camp of logs picturesquely hewn; the bright flag fluttering over the well-secured roofs of spruce bark; the cheveaux-de-frise of felled timber; made a striking picture, to which the opening clouds disclosed a fitting background in the distant high peaks of the Adirondack.