The White Mountains always seems to have a surprise up its sleeves. No matter how many times I come I find new roads to travel. We all know I love roads, especially dirt ones or ones less traveled.
Todays trip took us up Mt Clinton road, though paved it would be less bumpy if it was dirt. Not much to see but it winds around Mount Clinton eventually crossing Base Camp Road and onto Mount Jefferson Road. The signs here are unclear, a Jeep and Bocx Truck X-ed out, underneath it says No Unauthorized Vehicles. But the map shows parking lots for the hiking trails. So we took it. Nice dirt road that follows a river, nice climbs and turns. And eventually we reached this sign.
Thats 154 feet higher than the highest point on the Kancamangus.
From the other side of Mt Jefferson Road we followed Route 2 up into Lancaster by Santa's Village of which brought back childhood memories. We ventured further north into New Hampshire in areas we've never explored. Route 3 north to route 110 also known as Stark highway. A more country look of New Hampshire where the mountain get smaller but still substantial in size. Following a river like most New Hampshires main roads do and along a rail road line.
This whole trip our eyes were open for moose sitings. Along this route was no different. We passed over a river, then a swampy area, on the other side was a field bordered by woods and against the bright green of the field I spotted a dark animal. With seemingly long legs, big body and long neck this large animal was grazing on meadow grass. "Moose" I said and Alex found a spot to turn around for another look. Sure enough, with my luck, it was a Cow. Hah!
Back on the road laughing about it we followed 110 into Berlin. An old mill town that looked as though it once seen better days. I found this informative link recalling Berlin's history. http://www.berlinnh.gov/pages/berlinnh_webdocs/berlinhistory
Just driving through you can really feel the rise and fall of this city by its surroundings.
From the City of Berlin we went into Gorham only eight miles away. I stopped and browsed in an up and coming bead store, and a great general/gift store. We then headed down through Pinkhams Notch and back into North Conway for some more people watching and dinner.
After dinner a quick trip up Hurricane Mountain Road and back. If your not familiar with this road two words describe it; roller coaster. Its only about five miles long. Two tight switch backs and many hills that you can't see the bottom of, some turn but you can't really tell until the last second. Blind curves, drops, and whoomps, add frost a heave filled pavement and you have the right ingredients to mimic an old wooden rickety roller coaster. So its alway a cheap thrill across and back. I did manage to get this photo of a stone house before you get to the hairy part of the road.
After Hurricane Mountain Road went back up into Pinkhams Notch parked at the visitors center and hiked a short trail across the street. We crossed over the marsh and ponds via a wooden walkway much like the bog walk at Ponkapoag Pond. Then into a very dark forest moist with the day's periodic rain showers, and dark with the shadows of the mountains from the setting sun.
Just about twenty feet into the trail that read Ladies Lookout, I had started climbing the large natural stones that lead up the steep trail. I turned to look at Alex an on my next step there was a very loud "Woooshhh" sound from above. Almost that of a plane just above the trees with no engine. It was weird and eerie, not that of a bird but that of turbulent wind over head, and it sounded large. We both looked at each other an exclaimed, "what the hell was that?!" Of course I have my own theories of what it may have been.
The photos below are from the hike.
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