Preservation Services at Dartmouth College: What a Thrill!

Thursday, July 6, 2017

What a Thrill!

During the early summer months hiking in New Hampshire can be a sight to behold, even during the dreaded mosquito/black fly season. The trail I've taken this time is the Blueberry Mountain trail, located in Glenncliff, NH (on Rt. 25, 10 miles east of the Rt.10 jct. in Haverhill). It is a smaller mountain west of Mt. Moosilauke on the North-South Rd., the trailhead located a half mile from the winter gate prohibiting traffic. (This trail can also be reached on the western end via Lime Kiln Rd.) The Appalachian trail crosses N-S Rd. at the very beginning heading east towards Mt. Moosilauke, which is how I came across the trail.

Blueberry Mt. Trail (1.7 miles to the summit) begins at a parking area on a recently abandoned logging road, gently wandering through hardwood forests until veering up into the woods after an easy quarter mile walk. The trail is moderate and steady, but never too hard.


Logging road

Into the woods.

On this summer hike I saw nature at its best, many bright pink visions of Mountain Azalea bushes and something I hadn't seen in many years, multiple patches of Lady Slippers all along the trail side.


Mountain Azaleas

Lady Slippers

Halfway to the summit there is a clear cut area with a beautiful view of both of Moosilaukes' peaks North and South. On this humid and very hot day however, the clouds hid them.

Nearing the summit, the trees become more sparse allowing limited views to the south and east, with the trail becoming a bit more difficult and rocky.

Cloudy summit

The most impressive unobstructed view is of Mt. Moosilauke from just below the actual summit. A wonderful natural sitting area is where I usually stop for a snack and water. I know, wishful thinking on a hot day.

Returning down the same trail, I found another natural wonder directly across the road from the trailhead. A large mountain stream that snakes its way alongside North-South Rd. makes a spectacular turn that can be viewed by descending a steep ravine to the base of a gorgeous waterfall.

Nothing like life in the cheap seats...Enjoy!

Written by Brian Markee

No comments:

Post a Comment

Contributors

Deborah Howe Is the Collections Conservator at Dartmouth College Library. She's been involved in the book community for over 20 years. She is a member of the Guild of Book Workers and teaches classes in the Book Arts program.

Ryland Ianelli Is a cartoonist and Project Specialist in the Dartmouth Preservation Services department. He graduated from Reed College with a BA in Art History in 2008 and, more recently, from the Center for Cartoon Studies with an MFA in Cartooning in 2010. In addition to his work in Preservation and the Digital Production Unit, he is currently drawing and writing for various independently published comics and anthologies.

Barb Sagraves has been head of Preservation Services since its creation in 1995. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan SLIS program, has an MA in Medieval History from Michigan State University, and a BA in History from the University of Oklahoma. In her role as department head, Barb has overall responsibility for the preservation program and policies at Dartmouth College Library and is in charge of the Book Arts Program.

Jenny Mullins has been the Digital Preservation Librarian for Dartmouth College Library since May of 2014. Prior to coming to Dartmouth, she preserved video and audio collections, helped build a digital repository and worked in book and paper conservation labs. Jenny is a member of ALA and co-chair of the Preservation Metadata Interest Group for 2015-17.