Posted By whitemtnguy on July 2, 2009
Crawfords Purchase , Coos County, NH , USA
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| I originally heard conflicting reports on the accessibility of this waterfall. Some sources indicated the surrounding area was posted, while others cited this as a great swimming hole. According to the 2nd edition of “Waterfalls of the White Mountains”, it is once again accessible. In June 2002, I made a visit and found that the falls are no longer posted. One way or another, in high water, the hole below the falls has caused the accidental drownings of several people. When Bryan Swan and I visited the falls on a warm summer day, we saw a man ride the falls. We were scouting for photos, and weren’t paying much attention. We heard a woman say, “That man didn’t come up!” With a growing uneasy feeling, we were pondering what course of action to take, when the man popped up to the surface after 45 second to a minute of being underwater. He looked a little agitated. My feeling is that he got a scary ride in a recycling current. There is a nice footbridge over the gorge. The water sculpted granite is amazing. The Ammonoosuc River approaches the falls in a display of rapids and short bedrock dips before plunging into a turbulent pothole. The outlet of the pothole drops over a short (about 1′ tall) ledge and opens into a larger pool which in turn drops over another 1′ ledge into the final pool. |
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| The falls have carved a tremendously sculpted gorge in a mass of the Two Mica Granite (formerly known as the Bickford Granite) |
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| This is one of the more photogenic waterfalls I’ve been to. There are seeming endless compositions available, so have a good look around. While looking, think about macro compositions too. You could spend a whole day there. You’ll want a tripod and a polarizer. I think a warming filter might render the falls a little too warm, but that’s a matter of personal taste. Overcast days are best, and I strongly advise an early morning shoot, particularly in the summer time. If you show up on a warm summer day, you’ll find dozens and dozens of visitors. A wide range of focal lengths are helpful here, but for the most part, you should be able to capture the falls and environs with a 35-105mm lens. |
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| Take Route 302 to Fabyan and turn north on Base Road, leading to the Cog Railroad. Look for a wide dirt spot on the right side of the road about 2.3 miles from the Route 302 intersection. There is a short trail leading to the footbridge over the falls. |
Category: Waterfalls of New Hampshire |
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Posted By whitemtnguy on June 18, 2009
Harts Location , Carroll County, NH , USA
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| Ripley Falls is the kind of waterfall that will stand on its own as a destination, but has so many other good waterfalls nearby that it doesn’t have to. Ripley Falls is a neighbor to Arethusa Falls, Coliseum Falls, Bemis Brook Falls, Kedron Flume, Nancy Cascades, and suspected waterfalls on Davis Brook and Willey Brook, not to mention the waterfalls at the Gates of the Notch. Ripley Falls has a signed trail head, ample parking, and to boot, the hike is pretty easy. The falls are well worth the trip. With a bit of daring, and a healthy dose of common sense, it is possible to make it up the right side and come out above the falls. Make absolutlely sure to stay well away from the cliff’s edge. I climbed to the crest in low water, when the rocks were dry. The view is magnificent. Do not do this if the rocks are even SLIGHTLY wet! A 100+ foot fall to the boulders at the bottom of the falls would be fatal. Besides, I did the work for you! As a bonus, there is a forgotten waterfall called Sparkling Cascade about half a mile upstream. When Avalanche Brook forks, take the tributary on the right. |
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| The falls slide down a New Hampshire-shaped face of Mount Osceola Granite. |
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| This waterfall shouldn’t be missed. You’ll want your tripod, a polarizer, and a warming filter. Normal focal lengths (28-80mm) should be adequate to capture the falls. The northeastern exposure could be sun scorched in the mid afternoon on a clear day, so shoot on overcast days, or during sweet light. Late afternoon light is very very flattering here. |
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| Take Route 302 into Crawford Notch. About 3.4 miles south of height of land, you’ll turn into the well marked parking area for Ripley Falls. Park in the ample parking lot and the falls are 6/10 of a mile and 400 vertical feet away. |
Category: Waterfalls of New Hampshire |
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Posted By whitemtnguy on June 12, 2009
Bristol , Merrimack County, NH , USA
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| Profile Falls is a large and wide waterfall on the Smith River a little ways outside of the town of Bristol in New Hampshire. It is the focal point of the Profile Falls Recreation Area. The falls are named for a “profile” of a face on the rocks to the right of the falls. This can be seen in silhouette if you stand in the right place. |
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| You’ll want to walk around and explore the area, including both sides of the river. There are several vantage points. Have your tripod, polarizer, and warming filter ready. Various focal lengths, 35-105mm, will be helpful. The falls have a southeastern exposure, so later in the day, or preferably on an overcast day will be best. |
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| Take Route 3A south from Bristol. About five miles from Bristol, you’ll see a town line marker for Bristol and Hill adjacent to a stone bridge. Take the left just before the bridge onto Profile Falls Road. Follow this road about 1/4 mile turning into the well marked parking lot on the right. Park in the lot and and follow the short path to the falls. |
Category: Waterfalls of New Hampshire |
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Posted By whitemtnguy on June 6, 2009
Stratford , Coos County, NH , USA
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| Like many of the waterfalls of New Hampshire, I first learned of this waterfall by reading Bruce and Doreen Bolnick’s excellent “Waterfalls of the White Mountains”. Any waterfall enthusiast, especially those of us in the northeast should obtain a copy of this fine book. This waterfall is more a series of slides over a wide granite bank than a classical waterfall. To wit, it bears more resemblance to a bobsled run. The upper falls, and the lower falls are short straight drops. What happens in between is a small brook trying to cover a wide bank of granite in a thin layer with dips and slides everywhere. The rocks are stained dark by the organic compounds in the water. The dark rocks tend to reflect more heat. The day I went, the sun was out on a fairly hot August afternoon. It was very warm, except for a cool draft that was moving above the rushing stream. The remoteness of this waterfall, along with the complete lack of development in the Nash Stream Valley made this waterfall a treat. While it’s not vertical or boisterous, it’s one of the cooler falls I’ve been to. |
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| The falls drop, dip, and slide over the Long Mountain Granite. |
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| This waterfall offers a lot of opportunity to the photographer. Visit the falls on an overcast day and you’ll have dozens and dozens of compositions. Have a tripod, polarizer, and a warming filter. Also, bear in mind that wet granite is slick, so try for a dry overcast day. Focal lengths in the 35-105mm range should suffice. |
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| The access is a little less straightforward than some other waterfalls, but you can still drive to within a few hundred yards of the falls. From Groveton, travel east on Route 110 about 2.8 miles to Emerson Road. Follow Emerson Road across the Upper Ammonoosuc River, bearing right at the T intersection. In about a half mile, take a left on Nash Stream Road and drive 4.8 miles, parking just beyond the Pond Brook culvert. A trail leads up the north side of Pond Brook to the falls. A word of caution, watch for the orange painted rocks that occasionally stick up out of the gravel road, one in particular could eat the oil pan of the unwary traveler! |
Category: Waterfalls of New Hampshire |
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Posted By whitemtnguy on June 6, 2009
Woodstock , Grafton County, NH , USA
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| This waterfall is located in Lost River Gorge and Boulder Caves. I’m not always crazy about paying to get in to see a waterfall, but this was well worth it. Not that the falls are spectacular, they are actually rather modest, it’s the setting that can’t be beat. It is a simple 20 foot drop into a deep green pool. The attraction here is the gorge. The bedrock in the gorge is a quartz monzonite with very well developed faults and fractures. Huge blocks of bedrock have filled the gorge for the last several thousand years. Lost River flows through, over, under, and around these immense blocks of stone. There are several talus caves that visitors can climb through. Some are fairly easy, others are tight and constrictive. If you are the least bit claustrophobic, stick to the walkways. At one particularly tight squeeze, called Parallel Rocks, I noticed a rather large gentleman descending the ladder into the crack between the slabs. I had just gone through this cave, and one very tight squeeze had to be made in order to get through. I remarked to another visitor who had also just exited this cave that a bookie with a black heart could probably make a lot of cold hard cash at this location. The rather large gentleman came out of the cave with no problems. His kids were delighted, and he had a broad grin on his face. You’ll have to fight the crowds on a nice day, and you’ll have to pay admission ($11.00 in the 2005 season, $7.00 for children), but it’s a neat way to spend an hour and a half, your kids will find it completely cool, and it’s not the type of geological feature you’ll commonly encounter. For all my waterfalling travels, I’ve come across nothing like this, not even close. |
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| The falls were discovered in 1852 when brothers Royal and Lyman Jackman were fishing. Lyman slipped through a hole and fell 15 feet into a pool of water in what is today known as Shadow Cave. The brothers started guiding people to the boulder caves. |
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| This is one of the easiest falls to shoot. The view is straightforward, there are only a few possible compositions. You’ll need your tripod, polarizer and warming filter. I’d also suggest getting there early as it’s a bit more problematic to shoot the falls when you’re on a footbridge with heavy pedestrian traffic. If you get there early, late, or on a weekday off season, you’ll have an easier time of it. |
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| The Lost River Gorge is located on Route 112 in Woodstock, about 3/10 of a mile east of height of land in Kinsman Notch. |
Category: Waterfalls of New Hampshire |
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Posted By whitemtnguy on June 6, 2009
Carroll , Coos County, NH , USA
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| The first time I visited this waterfall, there were many people here. Its proximity to Route 302, the relatively warm water, and of course the scenic beauty make this a popular waterfall to spend time at. I have since visited the falls at the end of a long day, in near darkness. A 45 second exposure made a very satisfactory photo. The Ammonoosuc River drops about 30 feet, but in a series of 2 and 3 foot steps. There are ample ledges for exploring and pools for swimming. With the layered banks of granite framed by the trees on either side, this waterfall is very attractive. The route to the falls is a very easy walk over a level piece of the old Route 302. In early June of 2002, I shot the falls in the early AM. As I was walking to the falls, a large bull moose (velvety nubs of antlers this time of year dontchya know?) surprised me as I came around a slight bend in the trail that comes up from the downstream side. He seemed nonplussed. I estimate him to be in the ballpark of 1100 pounds and I guess my 230 pound body didn’t give him much cause for alarm. I patiently waited for the trail to clear and went on my way. |
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| The falls slide down a gradual stairstep formation of Conway Granite |
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| This waterfall has a great deal of exposed tabular bedrock. There will be a great deal of glare which will be nicely taken care of by your trusty polarizer. A warming filter will serve to enhance the red tones present in the rocks while compensating for the cooler tones of the water and trees. Move around and explore the formation, there are many angles and compositions to enjoy. You’ll want your tripod. You’ll also want to get out early as this is a popular swimming area and you’re likely to encounter lots of people, locals and visitors alike. I’ve been here at dusk and at just after dawn and apart from the aforementioned bull moose, I had the place to myself. |
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| Turn off Route 302 about 8/10 of a mile west of Fabyan, turn north onto Old Cherry Mountain Road, cross the river, turn left and park at the dead end. Walk down the old abandoned roadway to the falls. |
Category: Waterfalls of New Hampshire |
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Posted By whitemtnguy on June 1, 2009
Lincoln , Grafton County, NH , USA
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| Liberty Gorge Cascade is located about 3/4 of the way around the loop at Flume Gorge. You cross the stream at the head of the falls, continue for a couple of hundred feet, and go down the short spur trail to the overlook. There isn’t much to do, the terrain is too steep for exploration, just admire the view. Cascade Brook passes beneath the trail, accelerating down a granite bedrock slide that culminates in horsetail to the bottom of the gorge. |
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| The falls slide over a sharply sloping bank of Conway Granite. |
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| There is really only one composition available from here, the shot from the overlook. The rocks are reflective, so a polarizer is indispensible. The red bedrock serves to preclude a warming filter. You’ll definitely want a tripod here. The falls face southwest, and the sun can be an unwelcome force here. Overcast days are best, or you can elect to shoot early or late in the day. A 35-105mm lens should cover your focal needs adequately. |
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| This waterfall is part of The Flume-Pool loop trail. Parking is at the Flume Visitor Center, a clearly marked exit off of Route 3 in Franconia Notch. The falls are 1.4 miles from the parking area, but that figure is reduced to 9/10 of a mile if you take the shuttle to Boulder Cabin near the mouth of the flume. |
Category: Waterfalls of New Hampshire |
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Posted By whitemtnguy on June 1, 2009
Lincoln , Grafton County, NH , USA
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| This waterfall is located on Cascade Brook in Franconia Notch. Follow the trail for about 5/10 mile to a signed viewpoint. It is a steep scramble down to the edge of the pool. Kinsman Falls is a 20′ drop into a wide pool. Cascade Brook squeezes through a narrow slot and plunges into a broad pool. The name Tunnel Falls was derived from Moses Sweetser’s “The White Mountains” |
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| The falls occur at an intrusive Kinsman Quartz Monzonite breccia. |
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| This is a rather scenic waterfall. You’ll have an abundance of large boulders in the foreground, and cliffs along either side to anchor your compositions. The rock here is quite reflective, so a polarizer is desirable. A warming filter is a matter of personal taste, but I skipped it here as the water is brown with tannin from the ponds above, and I felt a warming filter was overkill. A tripod will be very helpful here. The falls face more or less southeast. Overcast days will be best. You’ll find a wide range of focal lengths to be helpful, anywhere from the 28mm range up to about 150mm for the shot of the falls from across the pool. |
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| The falls are a short hike up the Basin-Cascade Trail. Parking is at The Basin, on Route 3/I-93 in Franconia Notch. |
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Posted By whitemtnguy on June 1, 2009
Harts Location , Carroll County, NH , USA
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| This series of cascades doesn’t often have much water. Low water is not necessarily a deterrent to me, it just gives me more af a chance to commune with the bedrock. If this were a full sized stream, this waterfall might be the most impressive in the area. With waterfalls like Arethusa Falls, Nancy Cascades, and Ripley Falls in the immediate vicinity, this is no small compliment. The trail to Kedron Flume starts behind the Willey House on Route 302 in Crawford Notch State Park. The trail is short, but climbs steeply. Before you know it, you have reached Kedron Brook. A shallow trench funnels the stream towards you as you make the crossing. Below the trail crossing, the stream starts it’s real descent. The trees open up and you can see the valley floor far beneath you. Topo maps show the total height of the cascades from the trail crossing to the valley floor might be in the area of around 600 feet. The one thing about this waterfall that disappointed me was the complete inability to climb down along the falls. I probably take more chances than I should, but I am certainly not stupid. Trying to climb down this waterfall would likely result in a fall of about 150 feet, then a tumble alongside the lower parts of the cascades, not the ideal way to see the falls. It is possible to see the lower parts of the falls by walking along the rail line, but be aware that this is an active line and walking on the tracks is both dangerous and illegal–stay well off the tracks! The postcard shows the portion of the falls just above the track. |
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| Kedron Brook slides over, and drops down the Mount Osceola Granite. |
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| It’s possible to get a telephoto shot of Kedron Flume from Route 302, a short ways north of the Ripley Falls parking area, but you’ll need at least 500mm to get a decent look. The photo I took was with 900mm of focal length, and the 1.6x magnification factor of a friend’s borrowed DSLR camera. The upper part of the falls is easy. You’ll need a tripod and a polarizing filter. The red granite bedrock would make the warming filter a bit over the top. Focal lengths in the 28-80mm range will suffice there. Overcast days are best for the upper part of the falls, but lower clouds will obscure the falls as seen from Route 302. If you shoot on an overcast day, make sure you have a fairly high ceiling. |
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| The trail to the falls is located behind the Willey House, about 1 mile north of the well-signed parking area for Ripley Falls (or about 2.4 miles east of height of land) on Route 302 in Crawford Notch. |
Category: Waterfalls of New Hampshire |
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Posted By Chef Melanie on May 31, 2009
Really not pudding at all. But a moist cake to be eaten alone or with ice cream or whipped cream.
Pudding Cake:
Preheat oven 350 degrees.
2 cups Flour
1 cup Sugar
4 tablespoons Butter
2 teaspoons Baking Powder
Rub this mixture. It will look like small pea size pieces
Add 1 cup Milk
1 beaten Egg
Mix until blended.
Fold in 1-1/2 cups fruit (peaches, blueberries, apples, strawberries). Really whatever fruit you desire. If using canned fruit, make sure to drain it well.
Pour into a 9 in x 11 in baking pan. Sprinkle top with brown sugar & cinnamon. Bake until light golden brown. Approximately 25 minutes.
Category: Cooking 'INN' Style |
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