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Porcupine Falls |
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Forty Foot Falls Cascade, Surry, NH |
I
like to think that I know all the significant waterfalls around the Monadnock
region, and so it is simultaneously exciting and annoying when I, for the first
time, hear about a nearby display of falling water. The number of dramatic
waterfalls within my corner of New Hampshire is remarkable. I have several
articles about some of the most beautiful, as well as more general reviews of
many others within Cheshire and Hillsborough Counties.
- Waterfalls of Cheshire County
- Chesterfield Gorge Album
- Waterfall Treasures of Hillsborough County
- Photographing the Magic of Velvet Water
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrF6I-gkTfLODmAk__J9_5t71eQ9Vi8GJG4WiJR_f50c9BMDvgPSqcsiowWeAm5eVzheN23mGlNjBkhFnEVM2tAQUKngrw7I0wYZYonwGQDEAhWn6NR3R9F_bX16hXdqEzLXQtFCbwCTzX/s400/170415RivuletGilsumNH.jpg)
After
I got over the annoyance, I became excited that there are still new falls to
explore. A quick Google search gave me all the information I needed.
I discovered that Porcupine Falls is a feature of the Calhoun Family
Forest in Gilsum New Hampshire.
Calhoun
Family Forest
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLQnOz_98iNZ1cqHazJfCi5mA8erOKoc7qA25VHAxGrhDf2Pm2agmo9AgeR3NYx2L0itF5QnavoqA4H6bkJTKdOEtRT9aPVuFlTco1Np9m3aH785gjvkCBC1FahHMeRgEW0gfxgVaKLVx1/s320/170415CalhounSignGilsumNH.jpg)
From a small parking area,
the White Brook Trail follows the brook to Porcupine Falls. It is an easy
0.4 mile stroll. The trail is nicely maintained with sturdy bridges,
walk-ways and a lovely set of stone steps.
Chute and Cascades
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The Chute |
The
falls is most notable for a chute of water that blasts from an elevated rock
formation. The chute was interesting, but I found it difficult to capture
a dramatic composition. To me, the many
cascades, below the falls, were more interesting, especially given the strong
seasonal flow. I suspect that during the
dry seasons these rivulets are less impressive, but I spent much of my time
trying to find angles which incorporated both the main chute and some of these vigorous
cascades.
It
is great to discover a dramatic waterfall, but what I enjoy most is the “working
of the location” to find as many visual angles as possible.
The Swimming Hole?
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip_2i-eS6y_EHlcZDpUajEUHkZibz_VxG2AuSOqap9tD2tA_ohwnokGuCkbeOSbsaQp8iVvjkVJlBAcWpza4Pqhkso6sa0SKW2Sq2CpLuVoiq1zsrVLjhdQTaZaSuicqz4kWSsMczTEbYX/s400/170415PorcupineSwimmingHoleGilsumNH.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWIkAeOL8RR5BehPwMctfGNEfLz_2LcL134Jwl8TMzS__pP1KvuWac5azQ0AOx2JA3XiLRwMfkSzzFqI6LCui7EFEGCtwjPQUWbV4ThgTh8jyZfvViqCX6yTObDVxV29lo2nEO01j-L1RZ/s640/170415BridgeOnWhiteBrookGilsumNHC.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2W8CSazmA2ilpsfDuTXM-K1YlaFDaXqdeoPexDba-pOtXYG7iUaX0DuzRyrT1vL5WZqPN2LvYHU5P8F6UQqjkSRsrhpEOrwxyxoaqU-JTs9cGyJlb0C_8u_4yNqvwfyttkxTBWljTUGeY/s400/170415BirchStepsGilsumNH.jpg)
It
was a lovely and fruitful little hike up the White Brook to Porcupine Falls. I will be back often. It might be worth a trip with my up-coming
Spring Waterfall Workshop. Thanks for
the tip Dan. I forgive you for finding
it first.
Jeffrey Newcomer