New Hampshire's Great North Woods

It's great when your wife is the one going to the conference and you can spend the weekend shooting! That was the opportunity I had this spring to discover New Hampshire's North woods for the first time. Based at the classic Balsams Resort in Dixville Notch , I wandered the region though the typically variable seasonal weather. Coming that far north at the end of May was like stepping back 2-3 weeks into early spring. The colors still had the lush variations of green that make spring New England's second fall. And like the fall, the show is just as fleeting. As can be seen here and in my set on Flikr(http://www.flickr.com/photos/27036710@N05/sets/72157619544063298/),

spring in New England is also about running water and the area around Dixsville Notch has some great examples. I didn't have time to extensively explore the great system of trails around the Balsams, but if you plan to take one easy hike I would suggest the short trail to Table Rock. This shear out-cropping provides a spectacular (and a bit scary) vista from the resort below into the notch.

I spent much of my time exploring cascades and water falls knifing through the dense forest, but my best surprise was discovering the village of Stark. Stark is east of Groveton on Route 110 and is one of the neatest, uncluttered examples of the small New England village I have found. Defintely worth the trip in any season, but I hope to get back in the fall and winter.

I only had a couple days at the Balsams, but the food was great and I only scratched the surface of the photographic possibilities there. It's a long way, but I will definitely be abck