Road Trip to the American Northeast
Kancamagus Highway
Part Two: Lost in the White Mountains
I spent almost two days in New Hampshire. While there, I drove
scenic roads, explored beautiful trails and places of the region. I
lost myself in nature, rarely picking up my journal camera to
document the experience. My medium format, 4x5, and digital cameras
were the primary tools most of the time.
Nevertheless, in the moments between driving and exploring, or
even on the go - without looking in the viewfinder, I captured a few
frames making a sketchy diary of those days. Random and not
connected by a common theme, the images still represent the timeline of my
adventures in White Mountain National Forest. More importantly, they
serve as a reminder that I should plan a proper visit to this place
and attempt to enjoy it without a need to squeeze as much as
possible in one brief visit.
The road to the White Mountains took me almost five hours. When
passing Boston, clouds rolled in, and I hoped it would be the same
from now on, but as soon as I left Massachusetts, the sky cleared up
again and remained almost cloudless throughout my stay.
Clouds Above Boston
In the late afternoon, I reached the mountains. It was time to
check in at my hotel, but I had an urge to stop somewhere and
take in some scenery first. I noticed a parking lot by the road in
the woods and pulled in. It was the Chocorua Lake Scenic Area.
Mount Chocorua and Chocorua Lake
I checked in an hour later and spent the rest of the day
driving mountain roads and enjoying the scenery and the evening
light. The next day was almost entirely dedicated to hiking and
driving from one location to another.
Somewhere in White Mountain National Forest
On a few occasions, I pulled out my camera to snap a picture,
but I felt that I had been forcing myself to make them. Later, when
I developed the film, my impression remained the same, except for
one photograph of Mount Garfield and the evening light.
Mount Garfield
The following morning I checked out from the hotel and set my
course to Vermont. The shortest route suggested driving to the
North, almost through the middle of the White Mountains, but I
decided to take a longer way to the South via Kancamagus Highway.
Morning for Near North Conway
My original idea was to start the New Hampshire part of my trip
by taking a picture of this sign. I thought it would make a good
introduction image in the journal chapter. But I captured it on my
way out, not on the way in, and finally decided to keep it in the
chronological line of the day.
White Mountain National Forest, Kancamagus Highway
Swift River runs along the highway. A few minutes past the
sign, I made another stop at the Lower Falls Parking Area and spent
some time there with my medium format camera.
Swift River
I discovered Lilly Pond by accident a few years ago, and
stopping here was a matter of reviving that first memory of the
place.
Lilly Pond
My final stop was at an unnamed pullover by Hancock Overlook.
After capturing the view of these mountains for the last time on
this trip, I hit the road and left off to my next destination.
Near Hancock Overlook, Kancamagus Highway