By Donny Palumbo, Interpretive Ranger at Umbagog Lake The winds up here in the North Country have begun to pick up. As I write, I notice some of the leaves have just barely started to turn. It may still be warm, but the smell of fall is not altogether indistinct blowing on the cool air. Autumn will […]
Month: August 2016
Extreme Makeover: Arethusa Falls Bridge Edition
Special post from the SCA NH Corps, Conservation Crew (by Megan Guy): On our last hitch, we were lucky enough to head up to Crawford Notch State Park to build a new bridge on the Arethusa Falls Trail to help users cross a brook getting up to the falls. Before our crews came onto the […]
Nightlife of the Notch
After my night programs, it is usually dark. As I walk home to our humble abode (the hiker cabin), I can’t help but notice the starry sky on a clear night. The constellations are so visible, it is unreal. Franconia Notch is just over 1,000ft above sea level. You don’t even have to climb a […]
Reliving the Flood: Clough State Park’s Lost Trail (And How to Find It)
Written by Interpretive Ranger Darren Lu: In 2006, Clough State Park experienced two consecutive seasons of heavy rains – enough so that by the summer of 2006, the entire park was underwater. Continued rain and snowfall the following year forced the park to close until 2008, and remnants of the deluge can still be seen […]
The Blueberry Islands of Pawtuckaway
Anybody who has visited Pawtuckaway State Park knows that it has a lot to offer. Whether people are visiting for the day, or are here for the whole weekend most will usually find themselves down by the water at Pawtuckaway Lake. Some people have been returning year after year to enjoy the cool waters of […]
Tidal Pool Treasures
New Hampshire’s coastline is filled with life! But do you know what creatures live within the shallow tidal pools along the coast? First, lets talk about what a tidal pool is. A tidal pool is a rocky tidal zone where small, shallow puddles can be found when the tide has receded. Pools further from the […]
Rhododendron Bloom Report: August 5, 2016
Welcome to this year’s last posting of the Rhododendron State Park bloom report: Last week I posted a fuzzy picture of an orchid (Epipactis helleborine – an exotic plant but not terribly invasive) currently in bloom at the grove. I took a much better quality photo this week. A close-up view reveals a pretty flower, […]
Fishing In Franconia Notch
Franconia Notch State Park is not only for hikers and campers. This state park hosts many other recreational pursuits as well. Bikers can enjoy the paved bike path that runs the entire length of the park, while people who enjoy kayaking can paddle in both Echo and Profile Lake. Perhaps one of my favorite recreational […]
Rhododendron Bloom Report: July 29, 2016
Well, folks – the 2016 blossom show is over at Rhododendron State Park. I did not see a single bloom this week. There is lots of evidence of a very dry spell – is it a drought? Not really, but dry enough to affect all those plants with shallow root systems. But wait a minute […]