Monadnock. Lightning in the South.

August 4.

It rains from time to time on our way to the mountain, the mountain-top being constantly enveloped in clouds. 

Crossing the immense rocky and springy pastures, cattle and horses gather around us while we take shelter under a black spruce from the rain.

We are wet up to our knees before reaching the steep ascent where we enter the cloud. It is quite dark and wet in the woods. 

We emerge into a lighter cloud and, choosing a place where the spruce is thick in this sunken rock yard, I cut out with a little hatchet a space for a camp.

We are wet through up to our middles, but kindle a good fire under a shelving rock, and in an hour or two are completely dried.

It begins to clear up and a star appears.

Lightning is seen far in the south. Cloud, drifting cloud, alternate with moonlight all the rest of the night.

H. D. Thoreau, Journal,  August 4, 1860

August 4. See A Book of the Seasons, by Henry Thoreau,  August 4 

Thoreau visited Monadnock on four occasions: a solo overnight on the summit in 1844, a quick day-hike in September 1852, and more extended stays in 1858, : June 2, 1858, June 3, 1858, and June 4, 1858; and this visit of  August 4 1860, August 5, 1860. August 6, 1860, August 7, 1860, August 8, 1860, and August 9, 1860. See  Also  Monadnock pencil drawings (1860)

Lightning in the south –

clouds alternate with moonlight

all rest of the night.

.

A Book of the Seasons, by Henry Thoreau, Monadnock. Lightning in the South.

A Book of the Seasons, by Henry Thoreau,

"A book, each page written in its own season,

out-of-doors, in its own locality.”

~edited, assembled and rewritten by zphx © 2009-2025