Neighborhood Expedition

Today I packed lunch and took my soul on a 10-mile neighborhood expedition from my house to Cedar Tree Neck and back via Lambert’s Cove Beach. What a gorgeous sunny day to be in nature. Winter is a local’s dream on Martha’s Vineyard; it’s when private beaches open up and tourists are long gone. Wildlife watching, exercise, beach combing and quality time with myself reflecting on 2020 was great for the soul. A warm meal and full moon views are in my near future. 

Middle Carter

Today, I woke up in the Pinkham Notch visitor center parking lot. The temps dropped down to the 20s, but I stayed warm. After drinking some hot tea, and making breakfast (a banana), I headed for the trailhead to Imp Trail. I didn’t see anyone on trail today. It’s surprising to see no snow on the ground yet - only pockets of ice in high elevation. I hung out on top for a bit to feed the gray jays and take in the midday sun before heading down. 

 

Chocorua

Today, I woke up in the parking lot for Piper Trail trailhead. After hiking Willard yesterday, I went south to Concord so I could take a free and much needed shower at the YMCA, then went grocery shopping. When I arrived here last night, it was gushing rain - I knew it would be a mild but soggy slog today, and it was. I’ve hiked all the 48 four-thousand footers in NH and I can confidently say that Chocorua is one of the best all around hikes. So if you’d like the views, changing forests, varying terrain, waterfalls and rivers, and whatever else a hardy NH hike brings- hike this mountain! Not to mention, it has some of the best old growth spruce-balsam fir forest I’ve seen anywhere. Today was the day my body and mind fully adjusted to being on vacation, and it feels good after a busy fall. It always takes a few days. So much to be thankful for this year. Great hike!