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Hiker's Guide to the Mountains of New Hampshire |
Paperback |
Jared Gange
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Thousands of miles of hiking trails wind through New Hampshire's forests, past lakes and waterfalls and along boulder-choked mountain streams. Glacial valleys, cirques, granite cliffs, and barren, rocky summits with sweeping views make this region a mecca for hikers, skiers, and climbers. The most scenic areas-popular destinations for over a hundred and fifty years-are rich in history. Over time, hikers have paid these mountains, and Mount Washington in particular, a great deal of attention. Once, grand hotels graced the mountaintops; these exist no more. A cog railway, constructed in 1868, still carries passengers up Mount Washington in the summer. Some of the old carriage roads and graded walking paths survive as trails to the present day. A system of full-service mountain huts, started in the last century, is alive and thriving. The summit areas of Mount Washington and the other main peaks of the Presidential Range (Adams, Madison, Jefferson, and Eisenhower) form a large arctic-alpine zone of about 8 square miles. Although often very pleasant, the weather can change quickly, revealing its harsh side about half the time.
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