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Camping Page 2

September 2012

from of our 2012 camping and hiking trip report:

Wednesday morning, cozy in our tent, we could hear some rain echoing on the tarp. The forecast had predicted rain off and on all that day. So rather than hiking on Wednesday, we investigated some options for future trips. There are some hikes on the other side of Mt Washington that we are interested in trying, and they will likely require a different campground. You can see that the foliage has started to turn. There was a substantial difference between when we got there Monday night and when we left on Friday. This picture is, of course, from Wednesday.

Man sitting on the open tailgate of the pickup truck with lunch supplies and a blue sports drink on a rainy morning

Near North Conway is a state park called Echo Lake and Cathedral Ledge. The ledge is a popular rock climbing location, with it's sheer face and varying degrees of difficulty. We are not rock climbers, so we did not try it, and we did not see any one attempting in during our visit. But there is also a drive to the top, which we took advantage of.

View from Cathedral Ledge across the forested valley toward layered mountains under low gray clouds

Cathedral Ledge rising as a pale cliff above the road and green pines

That night was a bit chilly, although it stayed above freezing the entire trip. For breakfast that morning we had oatmeal, plus apples with peanut butter. These are Macoun apples that we got from Gibson's Orchards in Bethel on Monday afternoon. I am also preparing lunch. We had the same selection each day. It is an invention of Paul's, the Fluffernuterella. I highly recommend it. Fluff, peanut butter, and nutella.

Woman sitting at the campsite breakfast table in warm layers, with the tent behind her and supplies spread out in front

Two open tortillas spread with Fluff, peanut butter, and Nutella for lunch preparation

I bruised my heel on Tuesday, it seems, so we did a hike where I could wear my Land's End shoes rather than my hiking boots. (They have great traction, but don't have the same support as hiking boots.) We selected the Great Gulf Wilderness. There is a trail leading right from the campground that goes along a cross-country ski trail before ascending. There is really only one viewpoint on this trail, but it goes along a lovely river and through very pretty woods.

Small cascade rushing over dark rocks in bright morning light along the Great Gulf Wilderness trail

Boulder-filled river winding through bright autumn foliage beneath a clear blue sky

The rocky cliff of the Imp rising above early fall foliage under a pale sky

Paul was much more fashionable than I was.

Man with a backpack and trekking poles standing on a small wooden bridge in the forest

Woman with a red backpack standing on smooth rock beside the river in dappled autumn light

Lunch

Man sitting on a sunny rock ledge at lunch with food and a purple drink bottle beside him

Our lunch view. This first picture is Mt Adams, which we hiked last year (from the other side of the mountain).

Mount Adams rising above dark evergreens with a cap of cloud over the summit

Autumn forest view from the lunch ledge with a rocky outcrop below the colorful trees

Cloud bank hanging low over a rounded mountain summit above a dark evergreen ridge

Wide view into the Great Gulf with steep forested mountain walls and autumn color in the valley

Bright red maple leaves hanging against a vivid blue sky and white clouds

On the way back to the campsite, Paul took this great picture of the Imp.

Mountain slope with a pale cliff face and scattered early fall color

My first hike with my hiking poles was on Imp Trail. (Here is a picture of me on the Imp's head.)

We then went to stock up on apples from Gibson Orchard, which we brought home the following day. To get there, we drive over the Androscoggin River.

Sunlit Androscoggin River curving past dark pines with a rounded mountain beyond

Man in an apple orchard holding a long fruit picker beside trees laden with red apples

Updated April 2026