What does the description of the mountains suggest about their role?

Rip Van Winkle is a Romantic story. Romantic stories prefer nature to civilization. One reason Rip becomes tired in the mountains reflects the Romantic idea that nature is better than the city. Rip feels at ease in the mountains, where he is away from the nagging of his wife. The mountains are described as deep and wild, a very romantic notion. There role is to bring peace to Rip, so that when he awakes after his time on the mountains, he will be able to find peace.