1HappyHiker
10-19-2009, 11:11 AM
Over the years I suspect that trees now partially obstruct the view of the Franconia Notch from Mt. Pemigewasset which was once described as "striking" in a very old hiking guide book written in 1898 by Frank O. Carpenter.
However, there are still some "striking" views of the Notch to be had from a huge granite slab located about a half mile to the north of Mt. Pemigewasset's ledges. However, getting there requires a bushwhack. Also, this spot is more like a cliff than a ledge. Perhaps the photo below will provide some idea of the steepness of this ledge/cliff.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_jMddpAdzX0E/Stu5NnqVTaI/AAAAAAAAF_o/K1wWY_N4YIk/s800/SteepLedgeShot.JPG
In my opinion, it's extremely hazardous to venture out onto this rock slab. One misstep would result in a very nasty fall with some equally nasty consequences!:eek:
Fortunately, this slab is surrounded on all sides by trees. By using the trees to firmly anchor myself at the perimeter and then peering across the slab, I was able to get a "striking" unobstructed view of the high peaks on the Franconia Ridge.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_jMddpAdzX0E/Stu5O1-moMI/AAAAAAAAF_w/c_ZUObETiUI/s800/FranconiaRdg.JPG
This precarious perch also provided an opportunity for some "zoom" shots. Below are just two examples.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_jMddpAdzX0E/Stu5QSBQtKI/AAAAAAAAF_0/hgpWXh-KEQY/s800/ZoomLowerFR.JPG
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_jMddpAdzX0E/Stu5LvQcQeI/AAAAAAAAF_k/sjPrEdJEp_0/s800/ZoomUpperFR.JPG
Besides the great views of the Franconia Ridge, there was also another interesting view which I came across in the middle of the forest while bushwhacking to the ledge/cliff. The photo below shows something which I've never encountered before. I don't know exactly what you'd call it? Maybe a doorway or perhaps a bridge?:confused:
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_jMddpAdzX0E/Stu5SoaqpJI/AAAAAAAAF_4/kIPc4fO8ig8/s800/WoodlandStructure.JPG
On my way home, as I was driving northward up the Notch, I noticed a squadron of paragliders off to my left over Cannon Mountain.
I pulled into the Echo Lake parking lot and walked down to the shoreline with the hopes of getting some good photos of them. Well, I got a few photos, but none were really good. I was shooting toward the sun, plus the gliders were simply beyond the zoom capability of my little point & shoot camera. But anyway, below is one photo.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_jMddpAdzX0E/Stu5ZEBQaRI/AAAAAAAAGAI/iaBA_N-kWlM/s800/HangGlider.JPG
I was pleasantly surprised that there was some autumn color still lingering around the Echo Lake. I took a few snapshots.
Although none of them are award winners, they do show what might be some of the last gasps of Autumn 2009!
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_jMddpAdzX0E/Stu5W6YO3jI/AAAAAAAAGAA/d96tBt_wRrU/s800/Echo1.JPG
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_jMddpAdzX0E/Stu5X4_r0gI/AAAAAAAAGAE/f9_cJAhYKHQ/s800/Echo2.JPG
1HappyHiker
However, there are still some "striking" views of the Notch to be had from a huge granite slab located about a half mile to the north of Mt. Pemigewasset's ledges. However, getting there requires a bushwhack. Also, this spot is more like a cliff than a ledge. Perhaps the photo below will provide some idea of the steepness of this ledge/cliff.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_jMddpAdzX0E/Stu5NnqVTaI/AAAAAAAAF_o/K1wWY_N4YIk/s800/SteepLedgeShot.JPG
In my opinion, it's extremely hazardous to venture out onto this rock slab. One misstep would result in a very nasty fall with some equally nasty consequences!:eek:
Fortunately, this slab is surrounded on all sides by trees. By using the trees to firmly anchor myself at the perimeter and then peering across the slab, I was able to get a "striking" unobstructed view of the high peaks on the Franconia Ridge.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_jMddpAdzX0E/Stu5O1-moMI/AAAAAAAAF_w/c_ZUObETiUI/s800/FranconiaRdg.JPG
This precarious perch also provided an opportunity for some "zoom" shots. Below are just two examples.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_jMddpAdzX0E/Stu5QSBQtKI/AAAAAAAAF_0/hgpWXh-KEQY/s800/ZoomLowerFR.JPG
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_jMddpAdzX0E/Stu5LvQcQeI/AAAAAAAAF_k/sjPrEdJEp_0/s800/ZoomUpperFR.JPG
Besides the great views of the Franconia Ridge, there was also another interesting view which I came across in the middle of the forest while bushwhacking to the ledge/cliff. The photo below shows something which I've never encountered before. I don't know exactly what you'd call it? Maybe a doorway or perhaps a bridge?:confused:
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_jMddpAdzX0E/Stu5SoaqpJI/AAAAAAAAF_4/kIPc4fO8ig8/s800/WoodlandStructure.JPG
On my way home, as I was driving northward up the Notch, I noticed a squadron of paragliders off to my left over Cannon Mountain.
I pulled into the Echo Lake parking lot and walked down to the shoreline with the hopes of getting some good photos of them. Well, I got a few photos, but none were really good. I was shooting toward the sun, plus the gliders were simply beyond the zoom capability of my little point & shoot camera. But anyway, below is one photo.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_jMddpAdzX0E/Stu5ZEBQaRI/AAAAAAAAGAI/iaBA_N-kWlM/s800/HangGlider.JPG
I was pleasantly surprised that there was some autumn color still lingering around the Echo Lake. I took a few snapshots.
Although none of them are award winners, they do show what might be some of the last gasps of Autumn 2009!
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_jMddpAdzX0E/Stu5W6YO3jI/AAAAAAAAGAA/d96tBt_wRrU/s800/Echo1.JPG
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_jMddpAdzX0E/Stu5X4_r0gI/AAAAAAAAGAE/f9_cJAhYKHQ/s800/Echo2.JPG
1HappyHiker