12.28.12 Well, here we are with the last Monadnock Trails Report of 2012. It has been a great year here at Monadnock State Park and we’re ready for 2013! Unlike this time a year ago, we actually have snow here at Grand Monadnock. While our neighbors to the south were experiencing mostly rain from yesterday’s […]
Monadnock Trails Report 12.21.12
12.21.12 So, the calendar has finally turned to the anticipated date of December 21st, 2012. About two inches of snow fell overnight in the Monadnock Region, it is now steadily raining outside of the Park Office, the world as we know it still exists, and the cold, gray, miserable weather matches the feel of the saddened […]
A Parallel Universe
I had the pleasure of exchanging several e-mails this past week with Roger Ahlgren who currently resides in Nevada. Roger, who retired from the State of New Hampshire long ago, worked for NH State Police in the Radio Maintenance Division which takes care of all the state police mountain-top radio transmitters including those on Mt […]
Monadnock Trails Report 12.14.12
12.14.12 I’m back at Monadnock after taking last week off; a week of heavy reading, projects around the house, (scheduled) doctor’s appointments, playing with the dogs, listening to my NY Giants dismantle the New Orleans Saints last Sunday, and reflecting on the absolute perfection of The Ramones’ 1977 album, “Rocket To Russia”. While I also […]
AMC’s Cardigan Lodge
The ride to Appalachian Mountain Club’s (AMC) Cardigan Lodge is an adventure in itself. As you proceed down the back roads of Alexandria, AMC sign leads the way. Trust them, not your instinct or GPS device and eventually you’ll arrive at your destination, Cardigan Lodge. One might consider it the “road less traveled” and more […]
Monadnock Trails Report 12.7.12
12.07.12 “The mountains were his masters. They rimmed in life. They were the cup of reality, beyond growth, beyond struggle and death. They were his absolute unity in the midst of eternal change.” ― Thomas Wolfe Man, I could read Wolfe all day long. And I have had a chance to as I am off […]
Monadnock Trails Report 11.30.12
11.30.12 “I walked abroad in a snowy day, I ask’d the soft snow with me to play; She play’d & she melted in all her prime, And the winter call’d it a dreadful crime.”- William Blake That is the poem “Soft Snow” from the exceptional English poet and artist, William Blake, who’s birthday was this past […]
Pure Tranquility at White Lake State Park
While driving down White Mountain Highway (Route 16) on a brisk Thanksgiving eve, I proceeded to take a left onto State Park Road in Ossipee, New Hampshire. As the road narrows, pine trees thicken on either side, suggesting that I had arrived at a peaceful place. At road’s end I discovered the glacial depression known as White Lake. Looking […]
Monadnock Trails Report 11.21.12
11.21.12 Here is a quick pre-Thanksgiving report from the Monadnock Trails this week. The trails are all in good shape following a week’s worth of favorable November weather, which will mostly continue through the holiday and weekend. Turkey Day (would it be Tofurkey Day for us vegetarians?) and Black Friday look like they will be […]
Monadnock Trails Report 11.16.12
11.16.12 “November has tied me to an old dead tree. Get word to April to rescue me.”- Tom Waits Last week, I was able to happily report of the first snowfall of the season on Grand Monadnock. Especially with the little amount that fell, not surprisingly, it is now all gone. And once again, Monadnock’s […]