Green Mountains - White Mountains

Little Rock Pond in Vermont's Green Mountains

With Maine on our minds, we left the Adirondacks and New York behind and headed to Vermont first, and then New Hampshire.  We decided that we would stay only a few days in each of those states now as we would be coming back through the area in September to enjoy the fall color. Although not yet in brightly colored fall leaves, Vermont and New Hampshire were gorgeous, green and lush. 
 

Vermont has many 'swimming holes'

 

Our first stop was at a campground on Lake Bomoseen.  We were just on the edge of the famous Vermont Green Mountains and near the Appalachian Trail again.  The temperatures were finally out of the 90s but still very humid and warm, so our first few days we took short hikes and did some car touring of the area. 

 

Bentley House B&B across from Green Mountain College in Poultney

 

 

We went into the nearby town of Poultney to see Green Mountain College.   David has been interested in the college’s environmental science program for many years and wanted to visit the school.  Recently our friend, Sasha, was accepted for an on-line master’s program at Green Mountain College and we will get to see her there over the Labor Day Holiday when she does her orientation and residence requirements.

 

AT in White Rocks National Recreation Area - very rocky 

 

 

We looped through the southern part of the Green Mountains and hiked a section of the Appalachian Trail in the White Rocks National Recreation Area.  It was good to be back hiking on the AT again after being away for almost a month.  We also visited the Cabot Cheese Factory.  We went to the Tillamook Cheese Factory in Oregon last year, so it was only right that we should compare.  It was great getting to taste all the different cheeses Cabot makes.  Many I had never seen in stores before.  I think Tillamook has a bigger presence in Texas.

Cabot Cheese Factory

After a few days in the southern portion of Vermont, we traveled north to the Groton State Forest and Stillwater State Park for a couple of days before heading to New Hampshire.  Stillwater State Park was a breath of fresh air.  For one thing, the temperatures finally were back in the ‘normal’ summer range of 70s in the day and high 50s – 60s at night.  That was so welcome!  But the park was also nestled on the shores of Lake Groton which was the home of several pairs of nesting loons.  We felt like we were ‘On Golden Pond,’ with our mornings and evenings marked by the haunting calls of loons.

 

Road to the Sky, Mt. Washington, New Hampshire

 

 We crossed into New Hampshire and headed for Moose Brook State Park in the White Mountains.  This was certainly a beautiful area.  The famous Presidential Range of Mountains was just ten miles away with Mt. Washington being the highest peak in the Northeast and known for the worst weather in the world.  The highest wind speed ever recorded by man, 231 mph, was recorded on Mt. Washington’s summit in 1934.  The building where the wind speed was recorded was actually chained down!

 

At the summit of Mt Washington, looks like you could walk on clouds...

 

The Appalachian Trail summits Mt. Washington and there are several other trails to the top as well.  But we took the ‘Road to the Sky’ to the summit. The Road to the Sky is an amazing and historic road.  It was completed in 1861 and was first traveled in horse-drawn coaches built by the same company that built the stagecoaches used for travel all over the west.  That would have been some trip!  Driving the road in a comfortable car was still pretty exciting.

 

The AT is also 'Crawford Path' near the summit

 

Follow the rock cairns but the trail is almost as rocky...

There were many places on the road to stop while on the way to the top and many trails to hike.  It was so incredibly rocky.  We met some hikers on the AT near David’s and my ages. Their knees were wrapped and they were hiking with poles and they really looked weary.  Even younger hikers were treading carefully and slowly.  David, Maya and I walked on a small portion of the trail at the top and it was very slow going.  This was one part of the AT that I didn’t envy the hikers.

 

The trail may be rocky but the view is from the top of the world

We hiked a few other sections of the AT near Pinkham Notch just a few miles from our campground.  They were not as steep but in places, those sections of the AT were pretty rocky too.  These Appalachians Mountains are some pretty old and rugged mountains. 

Silver Cascades near Pinkham Notch

Lost Pond - but we weren't...

David’s Stats:

Days Hiked   2

Rain Days   1

Total Miles Hiked    10.33

Ave. Miles per Day      5.17
Total Elevation Gain       1,394

Ave. Elevation Gain per Day   697