Once again I have had the privilege of spending a week on this mountain. All who work here are happy about it and their enthusiasm for this place is contagious. I caught the bug a while ago and every trip here infects me with a new passion for its beauty and reminds me that life is good and we are blessed to walk under the stars, the moon and the sun in the Great Spirits Realm. I cannot express well in words my feelings for these hills but I know they cleanse my soul and renew me when I can spend time here. I hope Mike Dickerman at Bondcliff Books won’t mind if I quote John Spaulding from his “Historical Relics of the White Mountains”.
“All who seek health and pleasure in this pure mountain climate, or a gratification of curiosity for the wonderful in sublime scenery, will find here ample accomodations for their comfort, both day and night. The changing scenes and reflections connected with every sunset and sunrise, enjoyed from this elevation, are remarkable beyond description. Here too sunlight plays upon the bald rocks, while black storms, armed with wind and thunder, move like the shadows of destroying giants in the habitated regions below. Here the moon with its starry host, sends down its solemn light upon the gray crags, kindling into a fiery glow a hundred lakes, ponds, rivers, and dashing mountain streams, and strangely enlivening every shady glen with flitting lights and shades for the somber world. Never did seer from the land of the pyramids, or Chaldean stargazer, study the heavens from an observatory like this. Ye who would enjoy the sports of stream and forest, come to these mountains! Ye who delight to behold the works of nature in their most sublime flights, come to these mountains! Ye who have a love for novelty and a desire for true pleasure, come and behold God’s wisdom displayed in the bold outlines of this gigantic monument of His almighty power! Here the underlying features of grandeur were moulded in imperishable materials by His hand!"

Couldn’t have said it better myself! If you would like to see the photos I took on this visit and many others please visit my website at:

ghostflowers.com

I hope you get the chance to visit this mountain and the surrounding hills and valleys this fall. I think this is the most beautiful season to spend time here!

Kevin Talbot - Summit Volunteer