Earlier this week, I had suggested to my boyfriend that we go hiking this weekend with his dad as a belated birthday present. I had picked out a small hike (~3 miles) in western New Hampshire and having never done it before, I was very excited to explore a new area. Well, explore we did!
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| Madame Sherri's Castle Ruins |
For starters, there are the ruins of a burnt down castle that once belonged to an eccentric Parisian lady with its massive staircase to nowhere. The foundation is still there, along with some large pillars, the fireplace and several more (though not quite as impressive) staircases.
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| Trillium, lots and lots of trillium. |
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| Watch out! Here comes Tarzan the monkey man! |
We then followed a small path through the woods, and then we lost it. Yep, we had no clue where we were. Obviously, we just kept going, following small footpaths, bushwhacking here and there, until we realized we should probably just go back to the trailhead and try again. About an hour and a half later, we found the trail, well-worn and clearly marked.
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| The cutest little addition to the trail kiosk. |
The trail gently ascends to Indian Pond, which was home to several beaver dams. My boyfriend and his dad were somewhat under the weather, and they stopped here while Bodhi and I continued on our way. Scrambling up a steep hillside, we soon came to the ridge, and from here it was an easy walk to Mine Ledge. From Mine Ledge, the views stretched across the Connecticut River and westward into Vermont.
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| Mine Ledge with its magnificent views. |
After a few minutes of taking in the view, I turned around and headed back down the trail with Bodhi trotting behind me. Much to my surprise, I ran into my boyfriend and his dad, coming up the trail. Hooray! Not sure if it was guilt, a competitive nature, or curiosity that compelled them to keep on going up the trail, but I was sure happy to see them.
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| Chesterfield Gorge Natural Area |
On our way back, we stopped at the Chesterfield Gorge Natural Area, which had caught the eye of my boyfriend's dad and myself. His dad loves to rock climb, and I just like rocks. It turned out to be way cooler and far more beautiful than the pullover on the side of the road would suggest.
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