Today is a bit of a wind-down day as our trip to New England is coming to a close. As usual, we squeezed a little bit more than we planned before leaving.  

We took our time sleeping in a bit, then set off for another look at the town of Lincoln, NH. Decided to get some breakfast at The Moon Cafe which is eat in, or take out, or enjoy a covered table outside like we did. We highly recommend it if you are looking for some unique and yummy breakfast sandwiches, smoothies, and baked goods.

Is that snow up there on that mountain?

Last night, Paul bought tickets online for the historic cog train up Mount Washington today. We headed off to explore the Franconia Notch area before our assigned departure time at the mountain. We found a dirt road through the national forest with markers for rustic camping spots. The area gets closed off in the late fall and winter. The sites were spaced about a quarter-mile apart along a dirt road in super good condition. Not recommended for our camper, but a nice place for OG roughing it. Warnings were posted that all food must be stored securely against bear.

The train ride completed our experience of the mountains (hiking, biking, driving, and training) and brought us to the highest elevation yet (5500 feet). We were in the snow above the treeline, although not quite up to the 6288 foot summit which was already closed for the season.

We didn’t know much about Mt Washington when we set out. We had figured the White Mountains name originated because they are usually snow covered, but found out some attribute the name to the mica and granite illuminating the mountainside. It turns out that Mt Washington is the most dangerous (the most deaths), windiest (the record holder for human-observed, non-tornado winds), along with the most unpredictable weather.

 

Some promised stories from yesterday’s adventures follow below.

The Russell-Colbath House was built in 1831 near Albany, NH. The center-chimney style house was eventually handed down to Ruth Russell who lived there with her husband Thomas Colbath. One fine day, Thomas said something to the effect of, “I’ll be back.”  But, he didn’t come back that night, so Ruth lit an oil lamp in the window for him. She continued to do so awaiting Thomas’ return every night until her death 39 years later. Thomas returned 3 years hence, 42 years after stepping out. Ruth’s estate had been settled on the presumption that Thomas was dead, so he was unable to reclaim the property as he had hoped. Perhaps the moral of the story is: it’s nice to be a man of your word, but time is of the essence.

Taken from across the road with its own special pull off to admire it. Note that Mount Washington is just to the right of the hotel but it is under that big cloud. you can just make out the scare of the rail on the mountain.

The Mount Washington Hotel is one of the last remaining gilded age hotels. The dude who put up the money was Joseph Stickney, who had made a fortune in the coal industry. In 1881, he purchased 10,000 acres in the area. The lavish hotel was constructed in a single campaign and completed in 1902. The hotel was an immediate success, thanks to access from dozens of daily trains and extended families that often stayed for the entire summer. Unfortunately, Stickney died of a heart attack one year later.  Perhaps the moral of the story is: it’s nice to have a lot of cheese, but time is of the essence.

Main hotel entry point.
That large white blob in the bottom left third is the hotel, as seen from the historic cog train parking lot high up on the mountain.

So this ends our adventures in New England. Tomorrow early we make our way to our next campground in NY State. There may be a few more postings before we head back home on the 23rd.