Aerial Tramway to the Summit of Cannon Mountain and Rim Trail

If you haven't been to Franconia Notch State Park and want to visit this summer, you might enjoy a trip up Cannon Mountain on the Aerial Tramway. The Tram runs from 8:00am and to 4:00pm. I enjoy going in the morning and when it's quiet. So this year I visited the tram in early June. The weather was fair, sunny and cool on top of the mountain. The views were beautiful and I enjoyed walking along the Rim Trail on top which is part of the Kinsman Ridge Trail. The trail takes visitors to the tower which is set high to give you a 360 view of the area. It's well worth the $16.00 dollars to ride as an adult. You can see stunning views from New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, New York and Canada on a perfect sunny day. I wanted to show a few pictures of my adventure this year up the mountain.

Leaving the station on the tram

The view of Echo Lake from the Tram

View of Eagle Cliff

The view of Fanconia Notch State Park and Parkway

One of the many views from the Tower

Another breathtaking view from the Tower

The Tram coming up to the summit

 There are two Trams, one being yellow called "Mustard" and the other one red called "Ketchup". One shown in the picture above is Ketchup. Both are the same, just different colors. The ride up has some swinging at the poles but the ride down in smooth. Great visit.

Happy Hiking and Visiting the White Mountains of NH!

A Hike To Lonesome Lake in June! Franconia Notch

 This weekend I hiked with a friend to Lonesome Lake in Franconia Notch. It's around 2.7 miles to the Lake from the Basin on Highway 93. The trail is easy, yet there are two places where you cross through Cascade Brook. You start at the Basin and follow Basin Cascade Trail to connecting to Cascade Brook Trail to Lonesome Lake. The view from the Lake is amazing! Many hike to enjoy the view or even go for a swim in the lake. The hut (Lonesome Lake AMC Hut) has an wonderful view as well if you ever want to stay. The hike was around 7 hours because we enjoyed lunch at the hut and hiked around the Lake which was almost another mile. If you ever wanted to hike and want to start easy, this is a great trail to start. You don't even have to go all the way to the Lake, you can also just stop at the top of the cascades. The top is about 1.1 miles from the Basin. Here are some pictures to show you the views from the Lake and around the Lake. 

The View from the Hut (Mt. Lafayette, Mt.Lincoln, Little Haystack)

The View from the other side of the Lake where you see the Hut

Mt. Cannon from the Lake

View from the porch of the upper Hut

My friend, her dogs and me at the Hut!

Happy Hiking!!! :) Enjoy your summer...in the Mountains!

Great Time to Hike in the White Mountains ... Autumn has arrived!

 I love hiking in the White Mountain and the best time of year is autumn! The colors are amazing on the trees and when hiking you will see patches of red, orange and yellow trees in the distance! I traveled through Crawford Notch over the week and saw such beautiful colors, so I drove down to Franconia notch with my mom and my dog Stitch to see the colors of fall in the White Mountains. We hiked the 1/2 mile loop and here are some pics I took along the way,

Cannon Mt

View from Bald Mountain

Stitch enjoying the view from Bald Mountain

(Only until the 28th! Help him win!) Dont forget 2 cast a vote 4 Stitch the Hiking Dog! He just loves 2 hike the White Mountains..He's smiles all the way! http://949whom.listenernetwork.com/Contest/2NBCDP/UGC/ViewEntry?submissionId=143816 …

Stitch and I on Bald Mountain

View from Artist Bluff

Autumn has arrived but it won't stay long so get to the White Mountains and enjoy the colors! Happy Hiking!!

Putting the Old Man back on the Mountain!

 He's Back! The Old Man is back in a unique way, YOU put the Old Man back on the Mountain...How, you ask? Well like this...

 

 You stand on your height, there are feet to stand on and look up! you will see this....

 Looks very much like the Old Man! This opened up a few years ago but now they are opening a gift shop for those that want to take something of the White Mountains home with them. I haven't been in the gift shop, it was still in the works when I visited the site in Franconia Notch, But it's opened now! Opened up on June 29th of this year..so check it out and get yourself a little something to remember the Old Man by!

Great place to stop if you are site seeing, traveling or hiking in Franconia Notch!
Happy Hiking Everyone!

Three of my favorite trails in the White Mountains

I love hiking. When I get the chance, I'll hike in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Every year, when I hike, I find that there are some trails I enjoy hiking more than others. I have seen the views and look forward to seeing them again. I few trails in the White Mountains I have to visit all the time, each year, to get what I call "My fix". When I see the views, I almost go into a calming state and can just stare for hours without moving. Some of the views on these trails, make me feel like I am in some sort of Lord of the Rings Movie, I can see beautiful mountains that stretch on for miles. These three trails seem to always give me a feeling of leaving this world and being place in another. If you would like to trail on these trails, here they are:

1. The Air Line Trail: the journey up this trail is always exciting for me. It starts on Route 16, you can see a huge parking lot on one side that is normally full of cars. There are other trails that start at the same spot, but I always go up Air Line. I first hiked the trail back in 2004 and since then has visited it again over the years. I love when I get to the sign for the Alpine Zone. My heart starts beating faster because I know how amazing the views are up there. The trail rings around to the Mt. Madison Spring Hut and I seem to just take my time, I enjoy each step and stop to see all the views. this was the first time I felt like I was in Narnia or the Rings Movie. I was exploring a new world and meeting wonderful people along my way. Start of the Air Line trail to the Air Line Cutoff is 3.5 miles. It's worth the hike!

One of the first views you see when hiking up the trail

The mountain range

2. Another of my favorite trail to hike on is the Crawford Path. It doesn't seem to almost matter where on the Path I am, I just can't stop staring at the views. I really live the Path when I get close to Mt. Washington. You are so high up and you can see views from almost all sides. When I get closer to the top of Mt. Washington, I find myself turning around and taking pictures. My friends who hike with me say that it drives them crazy, for I am always stopping to see the views, but I can't help it! I am always in some sort of trance. So, as you are hiking from the Lake of the Clouds to the top of Mt. Washington, take a good look around, stop and breath in that wonderful mountain air, and enjoy the sights around you. I have to say, that is my most favorite part of the trail, which is 1.4 miles long.

On the Crawford path, looking back and seeing the lakes, mountains and hut.

3. I love hiking in Franconia Notch area. I have hiked just about all the mountains, but I got excited when my friend ask me last year to hike the Franconia Ridge. From Mt .Lafayette to Little Haystack we hiked the Franconia Ridge Trail which is 1.6 miles long. We had to make so many stops along the way for I needed pictures. My camera never seen so much use. Both sides the trail had great views but I loved the side that had no Parkway (highway 93). I loved the side where you could see the mountains stretch on for miles and miles.  If you ever have the chance to hike on this Ridge, it's worth all the views!

The view of the Parkway Valley

A view of the Ridge Trail and the mountains in the background

Now, I have many other wonderful trails that I love to hike and enjoy the views, these just happen to be my favorite so far. My adventures in the White Mountains are endless and every time I hike up, its a new experience. What are some of your favorite trails?

Happy Hiking!

Calenders of the White Mountains designed and taken by Ariel Snow

I love hiking! I love the mountains! I love going on an adventure through the White Mountains. As I hike, I enjoy taking pictures at every great spot, view, and lookout in the mountains. In the past few weeks I have worked on a calender for my house and at the same time wanted to make it public for others to put up in their homes to enjoy. My first degree was graphic design and I enjoy taking breathtaking pictures. In this Calender you will see beautiful photos of Mt. Washington, Lonesome Lake, Franconia Notch, Crawford Notch, The Lakes of the Clouds and many more.

Come and check out this stunning calender and get one for your home to enjoy! 

Premium Calender $28.95

Standard Calender $17.95

These Calenders came be found on my Author's Spotlight called Adventure Shop:

 Click HERE

HAPPY HIKING! :)

Great Autumn Loop in Franconia Notch

One Great Loop to hike in the White Mountains is the Franconia Ridge.  It is a great day hike that takes about nine hours or so to do. The start is at Lafayette Place Parking. Hike up .2 to a two way path, one being Falling Waters Trail and one being Old Bridle Path. Doesn't matter which way you decide to hike, there are so many wonderful great views. You will also then hike along the Franconia Ridge Trail and view landscapes from three different mountains. The loop is 8.8 miles and worth every step! 

What you will see along this great hike:

• Stairs Falls
• Swiftwater Falls
• Cloudland Falls
• Shining Rock
• Little Haystack
• Mt. Lincoln
• Mt. Lafayette
• Echo Lake
• Greenleaf AMC Hut
• Walker Cascades 
• and many amazing views along Old Bridle Path

During Autumn the leaves are changing colors and the air is cool. You will see many views along the Ridge were the colors are beautiful. If you get a chance this fall to hike a wonderful loop, take this adventure in Franconia Notch! 

Hiking along the Franconia Ridge

Greenleaf AMC Hut

 Happy Hiking :)

Trail Report: Cannon Mt, Kinsman Ridge Trail

Want to see views from the top of Cannon Mt. in Franconia Notch but don't want to take them tram? You can always hike the trail near by called Kinsman Ridge Trail which is a 2.0 miles to the top of the mountain. The trail starts at the Base Parking, you walk down a small construction road until you see a sign. The trail is not a rocky trail at first. It is mostly made of crushed small rocks, dirt, which can make the trail slippery on the way down. I fell once sliding, my stepson thought it was a fun ride! You hike past the slippery part to a more rocky area which then you can see the Echo Lake. The view is beautiful. Here are a few pictures of the start of the hike:

The starting sign for the trail

The trail on the way up, gravel rocks

The view of Echo Lake

Once you are about a little over half way to the top of Cannon Mt. there is a OUTLOOK, which you will see a sign for. There are some beautiful views. You are near cliffs so be safe when walking along them. I really enjoyed walking around and taking pictures. I am a bit of a daredevil so I did get as close as I could to any edge for pictures which made my party nervous for me. 
Here are some pictures taken on the Outlook:

The view at the Outllook

The view was so breathtaking that it was hard to leave!

Looking down at Highway 93 curving through the Notch!

Where I was standing at the Outlook to where my stepson and husband were, I was the closest to the edge

We continued up to the Lookout Tower after on Cannon Mt. There you will mix with travelers and people who came up on the tram. It gets a little crowded. You will also get some great views up there and see other views. I will say that it was a wonderful hike. My stepson gave it a 6 out of ten. He left it was a steep hike from the start for him. He wasn't into it as much as other hikes. He did enjoy the trail between the Outlook and the Rim Trail on top. You are out in the open more and you can see views along the way. The hike all together was 4.0 miles. It took about four and half hours for us to do and enjoy the views. Cannon Mt. was also a 4000 footer, being 4077'
Hope you enjoyed the pictures and HAPPY HIKING!

Trail Report: Bridal Veil Falls - Coppermine Trail

When hiking up to Bridal Veil Falls, you need to park at the beginning of Coppermine Rd as seem in this picture. There are many signs after saying you can't park for it's a private road.

This is the sign where you need to park. 

You will hike up the road where .4 miles to the start of Coppermine Trail which is 2.1 miles. The Trail is very open and easy to hike up. The interesting part of the trail is where the trail meets the brook. If you walk up the brook about .25 miles, you will see a plaque on a boulder. 

This is where the plaque is located

The plaque itself, up close

It is said that the plaque was put on the boulder by Betty Davis. She had meet Arthur on the trail when she was lost. They feel in love and married. Years later after he mysterious death, where Betty was put on trail for,  a plaque showed up on the boulder. They say if you get lost in these woods, you might find yourself being found by "the keeper of stray ladies".

There is a shelter at the top near the falls for those that stay the night and want to be out of the wind. There is also a fire pit near the shelter as well.

Hanging out with my wonderful dog Stitch at the Falls

This is the Bridal Veil Falls

 You can hike to the very top where you can see the Falls and the pool it leads into, then it falls the rest of the way down the to the shelter below. My husband and stepson hiked to the top of the falls while I stayed near the middle with Stitch. It seemed with it being spring the water was higher and moving faster, and I felt the dog would be safer below. Also there was a family with small children who didn't go to the top. It wasn't safe.

My stepson at the top of the Falls

It was a great hike overall. The hike itself was 5 miles and was an easy hike. If you are around the Franconia area and want to see the lovely Bridal Veils Falls, then travel down Route 116 to Coppermine Rd.

 Happy Hiking!

Franconia Notch and Crawford Notch this Spring

I just visited both Notches this week...Check out the Basin and the trails near by with my Stepson and Foster child this weekend in Franconia Notch ...plus check out the Cascades in Crawford Notch with my foster child this past Monday. The Rivers and Streams are flowing...check out these beautiful pics!

Franconia Notch

Franconia Notch

Franconia Notch - Basin Trail

Franconia Notch - Baby Flume

Crawford Notch - Silver Cascades

Crawford Notch - Flume Cascades

Mt. Washington on Monday April 16th 2012

I hope you enjoyed the Rivers and Cascades ...Soon I will be staying at the Highland Center in Crawford Notch...hiking the trails and enjoying the weather. More pics will be coming soon of that adventure. Have a Great week and Happy Hiking!