Dreams Come True near Crawford Notch State Park


I’m back! I thought I was done here, but I just had to share my story of hiking Mount Eisenhower near Crawford Notch State Park. Last Saturday, hearing that it was going to be a balmy 60 degrees, my future apartment-mates Molly, Caroline, Susan, Emily, and I headed up to tackle another 4000 footer. Joining the AMC 4000 Footer Club is on my bucket list. Although I’ve only climbed 3 out of 48 so far, those 3 have been since November. I’m on my way!

We climbed via the classic Edmands Path, rejoicing the fact that the road to the parking lot was no longer closed for winter. What started out as a warm spring day quickly changed back to winter as we climbed up the trail.


We quickly accepted that our feet were going to be wet from the slushy conditions, and soon we were rewarded for our efforts by some awesome views.

The Mount Washington Valley Hotel in the distance!


After an icy scramble, we summited 4780 foot Mt. Eisenhower. Although it’s the tallest mountain I’ve ever climbed, it was dwarfed by the monster Mt. Washington nearby.





The descent down to the parking lot was hilarious. The snow was melting, and every so often the trail would just disintegrate under our feet. I wish I had a recording of us shrieking as we constantly sunk knee deep into the snow.

After a quick hammock session near the trailhead, we got back into the car to head back to school.

I was stuffing my face with a sandwich when Emily stopped the car and pointed to the side of the road.

Could it be?

IT WAS. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

Thank you to Susan for letting me use all your awesome photos!

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Theresa Conn, New Hampshire State Parks Winter Intern

Hi all! My name is Theresa Conn, and I’m a sophomore Environmental Conservation Studies major at the University of New Hampshire. Growing up in suburban Massachusetts, my family always ventured north to Lake Winnipesaukee and the White Mountains to hike and relax. When it came time to look at colleges, UNH was an easy choice; between its great location, variety of majors, and college-town feel, I was instantly hooked. In the Environmental Conservation program here, I’ve been learning about New Hampshire’s diminishing natural resources. The more time I spend in nature, the more I realize how important it is to conserve the natural spaces we have left. Keeping parts of New Hampshire wild is critical for the health of the planet and ourselves. What I’m interested in exploring while writing this blog are the people and stories behind the parks. Be it talking to hikers on the trails, going out with animal trackers to learn about wildlife, or meeting with the stewards who protect our lands, I want to know who’s out there and why. People are the force that drives land protection, and I hope that I can share their stories using film, photography, and journalism. Grand intentions aside, I can’t wait to find new ways to enjoy the long winter months. Staying pent up inside is boring, and I’m excited to find ways to get outside like dog sledding, snowshoeing, and cross country skiing. I’m ready to explore all that New Hampshire State Parks have to offer, and look forward to sharing my adventures with you!

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