Halloween Hike

How scary is this! This is the exact kind of tick I keep finding on me, and Evvy. As I looked up info on the tick, I found that some call it a "dog tick", some call it a "deer tick". No matter really, any tick can carry diseases. Today only one tick on me, one on Evvy. We drove over to a Nature Conservancy trail off of Rte. 63, not far from here. At the trailhead there are a couple of cellar holes, with a brook running through the site. The trail heads uphill, some steep terrain on this trail. Then we took a trail called "Cave Loop" but I never did see any caves, not even a boulder cave. There was an imposing cliff, and small boulder field. All in all though, just a good workout with sounds of gun fire off to the west. It is hunting season after all. What I did find troubling is this. Someone had defecated off the trail. If you know dogs, then you know what Evvy did. The smell is unmistakable. When we returned to the trailhead, I left a note at the kiosk. There was a sign-in sheet with space for comments. I reminded people to dig a hole and bury their excrement. There's barely anything more gross than riding in a small truck cab with a panting dog who has just eaten human poop.

Have mercy.

Mt Gilboa

I think this has been the worst year yet for tick infestations. Every single time I've been out with Evvy, ticks have found us. I check my pant legs often while I'm walking. The other day, I removed no less than six ticks from my pant legs at various points in the walk. Today I found two on me, and two on Evvy when we returned from our walk. I am careful to avoid tall grass, and especially goldenrod plants that hang over the trail. Ticks seem to love those plants.

Anyhow, this morning was fresh on Mt. Gilboa. There had been rain yesterday, so everything smelled so good. Wouldn't it be great to bring that freshness into the house? I put a bright fluorescent yellow jacket and bell on Evvy for her safety, as hunters are in our midst. We walked to the top of Mt. Gilboa which is pretty much in Westmoreland to the southwest of Christian Hollow. The top photo isn't the ocean, but you might think that if you look quick. It's the Cold River mine in Westmoreland, easily accessible from a well worn ski mobile/logging road that runs from the Rapids Rd. in Walpole over to Rte 12 in Westmoreland to Mac's Convenience Store.

When we first arrived at the mine, I thought of an old movie, "Planet of the Apes" don't ask me why. It looked so barren at first, moon-like. But in the sunshine, it was soooo warm. I could have taken a nap on one of those flat boulders. I could see Highland Hill to the south, and several peaks to the west. I always wonder if there are trails to walk all of those hills. I'd like to find out.

The second photo is a plant that I found. The area is loaded with this fragrant plant. When you crush the leaves, it smells like lemon. I'm sure I've smelled this in some handcrafted soap. I don't know what it is. Maybe a fern of some kind? The leaves are leathery, and the stock has a reddish color. If you know what it is, let me know. I couldn't find it in my wildflower or fern guides.

Indian Summer?

Hard tellin. We didn't have much of a summer, and fall has been unseasonably cold. But today, at 60 degrees, it was spectacular, and perfect for a mountain bike ride. I haven't been out for a ride in quite a while, so I take less risks, and go much slower down the hills. Normally, I would just sail down those wooded paths. Now the leaves have covered rocks, and roots, so it becomes more precarious. Maybe it's that I'm getting older and the thought of injury is daunting.

I rode up to the High Blue vista which is one of my favorite overlooks near Carpenter Hill. I had looked the area up in the History of Walpole. I found that it had been referred to as "Sunset Rock", as many west facing vistas are. I could clearly see Mt Snow in the distance.

Meanwhile, Evvy enjoyed waiting anxiously at the back door for any chipmunk that might happen by. She's "good like that". She always lets me know when there's a chipmunk at the bird feeder. Evvy tries with all her might to dig through the french doors, barking the whole time. Quite startling actually when you're otherwise occupied with reading quietly.

Birthday Hike

Sunday was my sister Kim's birthday. She and I are 47 years old for three weeks....Irish Twins.

We joined several other hikers on a 4+ hike/bushwhack to three hilltops in Stoddard: Brooks Hill to Melville Hill, and on to Dakin Hill. We started at the Aten Lodge near "Shinbone Shack" in Stoddard, NH. We walked up the Aten Rd. for about .25 mile, then left up a steep dirt drive to a trail which breaks off from there. The trailhead is not marked, but is well known by locals. The trail used to be known as "Meetinghouse Rd.".

Brooks Hill and Melville Hill are also known as "Twin Hills". Back in the day, these hills were pasture that overlooked Granite Lake. Kim's husband, Alan Rumrill gave us a bit of the history. His grandfather owned a great deal of the hundreds of acres in the area. He would move his cattle from pastures in Stoddard all the way to Brighton, Ma to market on foot! He would make a stop just before arriving, to allow the cows to drink all the water they could, so they would appear more "robust". Alan told us there had been Merino sheep farmed in the area until the woolen mills in the closed.

The foliage was stunning, as it is all over this region. Lots of reds and oranges popping out. We saw signs of bear, moose, and deer. Unfortunately as is usually the case when walking with a crowd, we didn't see any of these animals. We stopped at a cabin on at the edge of Chandler Meadow. What a perfect spot to watch the Canada Geese getting ready to head south. I could easily imagine a big bull moose walking in the swampy edges of the pond.

After our hike, we celebrated Kim's birthday with a great meal, and Grolsch at the Elm City Brewery, in Keene. Perfect Sunday.