{"id":713,"date":"2011-08-10T22:13:46","date_gmt":"2011-08-10T22:13:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bucksurdu.com\/blog\/?p=713"},"modified":"2011-08-11T02:17:41","modified_gmt":"2011-08-11T02:17:41","slug":"2011-vacation-days-ten-and-eleven-moosehead-lake-and-mount-washington","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/bucksurdu.com\/blog\/?p=713","title":{"rendered":"2011 Vacation: Days Ten and Eleven: Moosehead Lake and Mount Washington"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"At<\/a>
At the close of the unsuccessful moose canoe trip<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Our second day at Moosehead Lake began with a 0500 wakeup to meet our guide. \u00a0We took a 45-minute drive to a hidden pond in the back country, followed by a two-hour canoe ride to try to spot moose. \u00a0We had a false start at the boat launch, because two women proved to be completely unable to paddle or steer their canoe. \u00a0So Tommy, sporting his canoeing merit badge, took over their canoe and saved the day.<\/p>\n

\"View<\/a>
View from a canoe of our moose pond<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We saw some very nice scenery, but we didn’t spot any moose. \u00a0The guide claimed she saw signs that a moose had passed that way “recently,” but that may have been a canard. \u00a0In any event, the two hours in a canoe were great fun.<\/p>\n

\"Tom<\/a>
Tom and Sam on Moosehead Lake<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Moosehead Lake was designed to be some “down time” in a hectic schedule. \u00a0We spent the rest of the day lounging around the hotel, reading by the lake, and playing dominoes. \u00a0It was very windy, so we couldn’t throw the frisbee around. \u00a0We were wishing we had brought the bocce set.<\/p>\n

\"Washing<\/a>
Washing the dishes after breakfast<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We were a bit cold and wet from the canoe trip (we were in a light rain for most of the canoeing), so we made grilled cheese and soup for lunch in the room. \u00a0For dinner we had chili dogs and salad. \u00a0The we finished the dominoes game we began the day before. \u00a0We finished the day by watching some Mickey Mouse cartoons on the computer before calling it a night.<\/p>\n

\"Going<\/a>
Going uphill on the Cog Railroad up Mount Washington (the pine trees are straight up and down)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The next morning we drove through western Maine to Mount Washington, NH. \u00a0Though it was obscenely expensive, we took the Cog Railway to the top of Mount Washington. \u00a0Built in the 1870’s, the train uses a gear (cog) to pull the train up 30-degree slopes. \u00a0It was a marvel when built, and it is still awesome in its conception. \u00a0If you look at the picture above, you get a sense for the slopes the train climbs; the trees in the picture point straight up and down. \u00a0This picture is taken level with the window frames of our train car.<\/p>\n

\"Passing<\/a>
Passing another Cog train going downhill as we were going uphill<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The weather atop Mount Washington is known as the harshest climate in the world. \u00a0Because of its annual average temperatures and snowfalls, Mount Washington is officially classified as arctic tundra. \u00a0It is engulfed in fog 60% of the year. \u00a0Average temperature in July, it’s warmest month, is in the 40’s. \u00a0We were lucky. \u00a0Despite wind, fog, and rain, during our visit to Mount Washington, the temperature only reached the 50’s.<\/p>\n

\"This<\/a>
This building is held in place against the terrific winds by those chains going over the top of it.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We found this building interesting. \u00a0Originally built as a weather station, today it houses a gift shop. \u00a0Notice the chains that go from cement blocks anchored deep into the ground over the top of the roof and into cement blocks on the opposite side. \u00a0These chains hold the building from blowing off the mountain during heavy winds.<\/p>\n

\"It<\/a>
It gets windy up here<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The wind did not reach 231 MPH on our trip. \u00a0The wind probably exceeded 231 MPH on this record-setting day. \u00a0At 231 MPH the dynamometer broke off and blew down the mountain.<\/p>\n

\"While<\/a>
While the clouds became thick while we were on Mount Washington, this is the best view we had of the mountains below.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\""Jacob's<\/a>
"Jacob's Ladder," the most treacherous part of the journey<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This section of track is called Jacob’s Ladder. \u00a0It climbs a 37-degree slope and cants 30 degrees to the left. \u00a0The benches at the front of the car are twelve feet higher than those at the back of the car.<\/p>\n

\"Hiking<\/a>
Hiking toward Arethusa Falls<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After returning to the bottom Mount Washington, we decided to take a hike to see some falls in Crawford Notch. \u00a0It was getting late, so we had to force march the 1.4 miles to the falls. \u00a0There were steep grades, steps cut in the side of the trail held in place by 14-inch logs, and very rocky trails. \u00a0It was a relatively strenuous hike.<\/p>\n

\"Alethusia<\/a>
Arethusa Falls<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In the end, the falls were worth the journey. \u00a0After some of the spectacular falls we saw in Yosemite, Yellowstone, the Grand Tetons, and Rocky Mountain National Park, I wasn’t expecting much. \u00a0These are the tallest falls in New Hampshire and were very impressive to see in person.<\/p>\n

From Crawford Notch we headed to Lincoln, NH, and our hotel for the night. \u00a0We stayed at the Mt. Coolidge Motel, which is very “mom and pop.” \u00a0When we called to let him know we would be late (since we didn’t complete our hike back from the falls until almost 2000) the owner said he’d leave the light on in our room and the key in the lock; we could check in the next day. \u00a0I love mom and pop places run by personable people! \u00a0Lincoln New Hampshire reminds me of Granville, IL, near where I spent many summers as a kid. \u00a0Despite the tourist trade, it seems to have managed to maintain a small-town ambiance.<\/p>\n