The latest edition of Dark Horses: The Magazine of Weird Fiction just dropped with my story, “Red Sands at Morning.” And look at that cover. Thank you Wayne! Available at Amazon.com for $2.99 (Kindle) or $6.99 (paperback) if anyone is looking for something fun to take to the beach.
Location: Franconia, NH
Date: 5/22/22
Finally got some kayaking in, much later than usual. This is Echo Lake, at the base of Cannon Mountain.
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- Not huge at 39 acres, but Echo Lake is surrounded by some great scenery.
- Echo Lake with the Franconia Bike Path and I93 running along it.
- Definitely done skiing for the season at Cannon.
- Artist’s Bluff! From the bottom…
Location: Hart’s Location, NH
Date: 4/6/22
They list it as a moderate hike, but honestly, there isn’t much in the way of difficulty here. It’s probably best to avoid it after a snowfall, as a section of it runs right along a steep ridge (the AllTrails comment about a ski pole going right through and finding air gave me some pause). Very short – one mile out and back – but the falls definitely makes it worth it. The whole area out on the Crawford Notch Rd. (before you hit Attitash) is gorgeous, with many trails and trailheads.
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- Tracks at the start of the trail.
- These are just off a parking area, which you might have to hike into in the winter (short).
- Looking in the other direction at the trailhead.
- Spots can be icy, so crampons recommended.
- Ripley Falls trail.
- A bit of small stream fording in the winter – not sure if it runs in the summer.
- Ripley Falls
- Ripley Falls
- Willey Station
- Across the road from Willey Station.
- Same shot, but looking along the range more. I think they shut the dam and flood this area in the summer, but I only seem to hit in the winter time.
Location: Lincoln, NH
Date: 3/26/22
Heavily trafficked in the summer (and fairly expensive to get in), the Flume Gorge is incredible in the winter. Definitely a must-hit if you find yourself in the Franconia corridor in the winter (crampons are a must, however). A bit late in the season, but the snow pack was still lighter than it usually is in late March.
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Location: Carroll, NH
Date: 3/22/22
Mt. Willard is always a great hike, summer or winter. The overlook/payoff is amazing, especially in the winter.
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- Crawford Notch Station, at the trailhead
- The trail is largely wooded
- Mt. Willard Summit 1
- Mt. Willard Summit 2
- Mt. Willard Summit 3
- Rail line at the base of Mr. Willard
- The obligatory Omni Mount Washington shot… probably five miles from the trailhead
Contracts are signed, so time to start plugging this. @BlackHarePress has accepted my short story, “The Weight of One,” for inclusion in their upcoming Grimdark anthology. This should be a great one, and I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy!
A shout out to Dark Horses magazine, who have accepted my short story, “Red Sands at Morning.” A bit of a taste:
Amid the buoys, bits of fishing nets, and jagged tree limbs sat a red sandcastle. Only, not a sandcastle, not really. It certainly had the FEEL of a castle, with walls and swooping turrets and exposed angles that looked defensive in nature. But it was rougher, wilder, and should have been pulverized in the storm had it been built before it. And it certainly wasn’t new; there was no one else in sight.
“Can we see that sand, Daddy? Please please please…” Alan set the girls on a sturdy tree trunk and made his way through the debris field to the red castle. The closer he got to it, the more sinister it became, with some of the spires topping the thing looking almost razor sharp. It also appeared to have washed in with the rest of the storm junk. As he approached it from the ocean side, there was a clear line between the off-white of the beach sand the solid red of the castle.
Location: Lincoln, NH
Date: 3/9/22
A very short and easy trail that is probably mostly used as a starting point for other trails. Still, a nice walk in the woods, although it is fairly heavily trafficked on the weekends. You can access this just north of the Flume Gorge at the Liberty Springs Trailhead parking lot. For a bit of a loop, hike the length of the trail and take a right at the end of it to hike the bike path back to the parking lot (not the best idea on a weekend – snowmobiles abound!).
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- Start of the White House Trail.
- Still a fair amount of snow in early March.
- There is a bit of elevation here, but not much.
- You won’t see the river until the end of the trail. This runs along the bike trail.
- Actually part of the Franconia Notch Bike Trail (which become the Franconia Notch Snowmobile Trail in the winter).
- End of the White House Trail.
Location: Woodsville, New Hampshire
Date: 2/20/22, 2/24/22
Tucked away just north of Woodsville is the Lone Oak Trail, maintained by the Upper Valley Land Trust. While short, this moderate trail features a bit of elevation, making it steep in places (particularly as you reach the summit). It’s definitely worth the effort, though, as you can see from the view. I had a crampon blow out on this one, so actually had to make a couple of runs at it before getting to the top.
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- The trail is easy to find, and offers limited parking at the trailhead.
- Trail is well-marked.
- The last third is of the Lone Oak Trail is fairly steep.
- Several staircases built into the trail can become frozen waterfalls; crampons are a must.
- The same staircase four days later. It’s amazing what a difference a couple of 50 degree days can make.
- The view of Woodsville from the top.
Location: Montpelier, Vermont
Date: 02/21/22
Just north of the statehouse in Montpelier, Hubbard Park is a 194-acre park packed with hiking trails, shelters, fire places, and a large stone tower at its highest point. There are multiple parking areas and access points; we parked on Parkway Street and hiked up, which was under two miles in and back, with some elevation. There is nothing too strenuous here, but it is a great place to do some light hiking, although I imagine it probably is pretty well-traveled at times.
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- A small pond and bridge mark the start of the trail from the parking area.
- The trail is pretty much all elevation leading up to the tower, but it’s not too strenuous.
- A sure sign that spring is on the way!
- Through the trees, a tower appears.
- The tower, added to the park in 1915-1930.
- The inside of the tower, which is open to the public.
- You get a 360 degree view of Montpelier and the surrounding area…
- … and ants. Be careful if you go in the winter, as the top can be icy.