chapter 504

8/24-26/2018

The White Mountain National Forest

Live Free or Die

After hiking to one of New Hampshire's highest waterfalls, Aretheusa Falls we felt like we deserved a fine club sandwich lunch and some delicious local Tuckermans Pale Ale brew while lounging at the stunning Mt Washington Omni Resorts in Bretton Woods. While there, Colleen got a call from her daughter and husband that they were hiking Adams and Madison mountains in this Presidential Mountain Range just next to Mt Washington in the center of the picture. We were to meet up with them for dinner but they didn't get off the mountain till 9 pm in the dark. As we sat on the veranda I could see the Cog Steam Train going up Mt Washington with my telephoto.

It is gorgeous and historic at the same time. The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund were set up here at the Omni Mt Washington Hotel in 1944 before the end of WW2. Needless to say many Presidents and the Rich and Famous have stayed here. A bucket list item for sure.

On the way back home we hiked the Boulder Loop Trail off another bucket list journey on the Kancamagus Highway. Maybe it was the boulders that inspired the name of the trail. It is supposed to be a moderate 3 mile hike but Colleen thought it was pretty exhausting on a hot humid day. Had to remind of what the old Apache lady said in Arizona, "Everyday is a good day."

At the end of the loop we reached this overlook that was way better than I expected. On the way back the trail goes down over the top of the cliffs in the foreground. The valley below to where our truck was parked. (Free for my Senior Pass, ha ha) After this a dip in the clear cold Swift River Lower Falls was very welcome relief.

Our view from where we stayed at the 1785 Inn in North Conway was primo. It's one of the oldest homes in the area built by Capt Elijah Dinsmore a veteran of the French and Indian War. He served from Fort William Henry at the Battle of Lake George to defeat the French side. This was when we were aligned with Britain and some Indians before they and some other Indians became our enemies.

Rode the Mt Washington Cog Railway Steam Train. Has always been on my bucket list and it was the highlight of the trip for me. A hundred year old coal burner belches smoke and soot chuging relentlessly to get us up the steep slope by a toothed gear engaging with the centerline wooden channel. Took a gazillion photos but really couldn't capture the unforgettable feeling. Someday it will probably be extinct, maybe it already is. I'm still putting a bandaid on my arm where the small burning embers landed as I stretched out window to get shots of the engine.

Mt Washington is one of the highest peaks east of the Mississippi, elevation 6290 ft. and holds the world record for wind speed 231 mph.

Crawford Notch was amazing. Saco Lake here is next to the over-popular Appalachian Mountain Club Highland Center. We met several hikers of the cult who through hike the AT, the Appalachian Trail. Many had completed 1,800 miles of the 2,100 miles from Georgia to Nova Scotia. The trees are so happy here. So green, so thick, so lush.

Also visited the Ellis River Falls at Glen in the Pinkam Notch on the east side of Mt Washington.

Our trip was just a few days but we managed to get in a lot of highlights (with prior planning) without feeling over programmed or rushed. The place is beautiful, but just too far away for my 5 hour car ride, and try to avoid popular weekend crowds.

We lived free and we didn't die.

White Mountain National Forest