A couple weeks ago, Dan and I drove north for a little adventure; through the Lakes area and in to the White Mountains National Forest. Our goal was to take the famous Cog Railway that climbs to the top of the highest peak in New England. Other facts about Mt. Washington in case you don't know: the strongest winds ever recorded on earth occur there and it has some of the worst and coldest weather in the world too and there is a weather station up there that operates year round to record all this. You can hike the 6,289 feet on foot (which I would like to do someday) that takes about 7 hours and you can also drive the treacherous auto road that goes up there and if you do, you get a bumper sticker telling the world that you did. We chose to take the train and it was very enjoyable and we learned many things as well. Most of the trip up is a 25% grade but there are a couple places over 30% and the brakeman at the back of the train car is standing 14 feet higher than the people at the front although you can't tell when you are sitting on your seats. It's not until you get up as if to walk around that you walk as if you are hiking a very steep trail. Pretty cool. Here are some pics of course.
Our trip really started at Calef's Country Store in Barrington NH on routes 109 and 125. This is a quintessential New England General Store and a great place to buy New England made food items, fun candy, homemade donuts and fudge, common crackers and cheese, and freshly made sandwiches. And the place smells wonderful. Connected to it are several small shops selling crafty and other New Englandy things. I stop by once or twice a year at Elfmade and Company and buy their fragrance oil concoctions that I use to add to my own homemade potpourris and room sprays.
The bountiful display of potpourri oils. This place also sells jars and bags of their own potpourris.
We drove up through the Lakes areas skirting the west side of Winnipesaukee and Squam Lakes. We stopped for lunch across the street from Squam and to my surprise, Dan ordered a lobster roll up here.
When we arrived at the base of Mt. Washington, the sun faded away as a huge cloud mass came rolling in. As it was, we couldn't see the top of the mountain and were told that visibility had been sketchy all day with low clouds passing through often and chances were slim we would have much visibility at the top. Oh well.
We were the first in the train car!
Heading up!
The trail is so steep that the buildings you pass look as if they are built very lopsidedly.
We're going in to the clouds here.
Look at those poor hikers! Actually I was quite jealous of their adventure.
This was the top and that's all you could see - no vistas, no Presidential Range, and it was 40 degrees and we have left 80 degrees F at the bottom. I had a flashback of winter and knew I wasn't ready for it.
Our ride down.
Our ride up.
As soon as we started the descent, the clouds blew out and the world brightened and visibility returned.
There are cairns (piles of rocks) frequently on the trail to help hikers stay on course in inclement weather which is frequent up here.
The hiking trail above the tree line.
After our rail adventure, we went on a very mild hike compared to Mt. Washington - a 45 round trip hike to Ripley Falls. By the way, that 7 mile Zealand Falls hike showing on the sign below is one I have done, about six years ago with four other women and it was a doozy and one that took from early morning until evening round trip. I popped Good N Plenties all the way up.
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