By Sarah Sherwood, SCA Franconia Notch State Park Interpretive Ranger and NH Corps Member As New Hampshire’s preeminent state park, Franconia Notch attracts visitors from all over the world. Hikers tackle the Franconia Ridge Loop, skiers and boarders shred Cannon Mountain, and casual travelers take in the Flume Gorge and the Basin. Little do many […]
Category: The NH State Park Experience
Animal Signs of the Woods
Signs of animals are much more common and less likely to flee at the sight of a person. By taking time to observe the small details on a hike, you can see evidence of all sorts of life around you.
Animal of Interest: Moose
By: Thomas Cummings, SCA Interpretative Ranger for Umbagog Lake State Park Alces Alces is the Latin name for North America’s largest member of the deer family that is still alive today. Moose are known for their impressive size, which makes finding one as you explore New Hampshire a real treat. By understanding their behavior and […]
Where the sky & earth almost meet
By: Matt Pyster, Interpretive Ranger at White Lake State Park & Ellacoya State Park. On a recent hike up Mount Chocorua, I took the Brook Trail up, and the Liberty Trail down. The following is a journal entry that I made when reaching my first breathtaking sight of the lands around me… “I see mountains […]
At the Heart of the Notch: Lafayette Place
By: Eilís Donohue, Interpretive Ranger at Franconia Notch State Park A few weeks ago, I drove up I-93 to Franconia Notch State Park (FNSP), and pulled into my new home and workplace: the Lafayette Place Campground. I am one of two Interpretive Rangers stationed here at FNSP for the 2019 season. For the rest of […]
Pawtuckaway’s Mountain Trail: A trail worker’s perspective
By Kyle Krupa, Interpretive Ranger at Pawtuckaway State Park Buckle in, folks. Today’s post is a long one. For outdoor enthusiasts living on the southern side of the state, the caldera mountains of Pawtuckaway are some of the most accessible and rewarding summit’s for a casual weekend day hike. From the top of South Mountain […]
Hiking Home(s): Monadnock and Bear Brook State Parks
By Nell Davis, Interpretive Ranger at Monadnock State Park Oliver Wendell Holmes said “Where we love is home. Home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts.” For me, this rings true: home is encapsulated in places I love, specifically natural areas. Working seasonally, my coworkers are constantly rotating in and out of my […]
Rhododendron Bloom Report: June 26, 2019
Hey folks- I was at the grove on Tues 6/25 this week-it was a bit wet, so I didn’t get much in the way of pictures. Now is the time when exact prediction of “peak” bloom gets quite tricky-the way I see it, the local weather has a great influence on timing. If it stays […]
The Corps of Our State Parks
By Molly Ryan, SCA Interpretative Ranger for Bear Brook State Park, Wallis Sands State Park, and Odiorne Point State Park. If you have ever visited Bear Brook State Park, you may have used the bathhouse at Catamount Pond, hiked one of the over 40 miles of trails, or rented a restored cabin at Bear Hill […]
From Tourist to Tour Guide
By Sarah Sherwood, SCA Franconia Notch State Park Interpretive Ranger and NH Corps Member June 12, 2019 was arguably the most exciting day of service for the Interpretive Rangers of the SCA New Hampshire Corps. On this sunny Wednesday we departed Bear Brook State Park, our home of five months, and went our separate ways […]