Bald Ledge Scenic Vista

On Wednesday, October 19, 2016 I hiked with Jim Cluett, W1PID and Dave Benson, K1SWL up to the Bald Ledge scenic vista. We were blessed with a bright sunny day with temperatures pressing up against 70 F. In the sun it felt more like 80 F.

This plain sign does a great job of downplaying what you're to see should you venture down its path. (C) Copyright 2016 Tim Carter

This plain sign does a great job of downplaying what you’re to see should you venture down its path. (C) Copyright 2016 Tim Carter

The fall color was at its peak and it was mesmerizing to be walking through the woods to experience Mother Nature’s handiwork. Jim and Dave were going to try to see how many QSOs they could extract from the ether during the CWT sprint.

This is a fast-speed contest and there’s no way my CW, or Morse code, skills are at that level to compete. I was just there because I love the outdoors, Bald Ledge is one of my favorite hikes and the view this day would be stunning.

Bald Ledge was created by the last period of continental glaciation here in North America. The enormous glacier, thousands of feet thick, slowly crept over the landscape grinding and tearing at solid bedrock. It did this over thousands of years starting at the North Pole on its way to New Hampshire eventually covering all of New England and much of the upper Midwest of the USA.

It’s direction of travel was from the northwest here in our part of New Hampshire and as it passed over mountains it created a gentle slope facing northwest but plucked rock from the southeast-facing slopes of all the terrain around much of eastern New England. This plucking action created steep rock faces just like Bald Ledge. You can clearly see this in a topographic map. Here’s just a small section of a topographic map of New Hampshire.

The red arrow points to Bald Ledge. (C) Copyright 2016 Google Maps Google Inc.

The red arrow points to Bald Ledge. (C) Copyright 2016 Google Maps Google Inc.

This was to be a simple hiking trip for me to soak up all the splendor as autumn is my favorite season. You’ll see why as you peer at the following photos.

We started our journey from 90 acres I own in New Hampton, NH. (C) Copyright 2016 Tim Carter

We started our journey from 90 acres I own in New Hampton, NH. (C) Copyright 2016 Tim Carter

Here's more of the 90 acres. (C) Copyright 2016 Tim Carter

Here’s more of the 90 acres. (C) Copyright 2016 Tim Carter

Looking across the Pemigewasset River from Old Bristol Road in New Hampton, NH. (C) Copyright 2016 Tim Carter

Looking across the Pemigewasset River from Old Bristol Road in New Hampton, NH. (C) Copyright 2016 Tim Carter

Stunning color heading up Dana Hill Road in New Hampton, NH. (C) Copyright 2016 Tim Carter

Stunning color heading up Dana Hill Road in New Hampton, NH. (C) Copyright 2016 Tim Carter

Jim's hiking boots on the Class VI road leading to Bald Ledge. (C) Copyright 2016 Tim Carter

Jim’s hiking boots on the Class VI road leading to Bald Ledge. (C) Copyright 2016 Tim Carter

Dave and Jim walking up through a tunnel of color on the Class VI road. (C) Copyright 2016 Tim Carter

Dave and Jim walking up through a tunnel of color on the Class VI road. (C) Copyright 2016 Tim Carter

"We're walking on a carpet of color," mused Jim Cluett, W1PID. (C) Copyright 2016 Tim Carter

“We’re walking on a carpet of color,” mused Jim Cluett, W1PID. (C) Copyright 2016 Tim Carter

This is the primary view. In person, your eyes convert this to an 85 mm lens view. The mountains in this photo seem so far away. In person, they're much much closer. (C) Copyright 2016 Tim Carter

This is the primary view. In person, your eyes convert this to an 85 mm lens view. The mountains in this photo seem so far away. In person, they’re much much closer. (C) Copyright 2016 Tim Carter

Jim (left) and Dave (right) enjoying the vista before getting ready to get on the air. (C) Copyright 2016 Tim Carter

Jim (left) and Dave (right) enjoying the vista before getting ready to get on the air. (C) Copyright 2016 Tim Carter

Jim caught me in a trance looking out at the Squam Mountains that protect Squam Lake from fierce winter winds. (C) Copyright 2016 Jim Cluett

Jim caught me in a trance looking out at the Squam Mountains that protect Squam Lake from fierce winter winds. (C) Copyright 2016 Jim Cluett

Jim is on the air and capturing invisible radio waves that bring him immeasurable pleasure. I wish you could be with him to see how much happiness a QSO creates for him. (C) Copyright 2016 Tim Carter

Jim is on the air and capturing invisible radio waves that bring him immeasurable pleasure. I wish you could be with him to see how much happiness a QSO creates for him. (C) Copyright 2016 Tim Carter

Here's Dave doing fast CW. In just a matter of minutes he made contact with five other radio operators. (C) Copyright 2016 Jim Cluett

Here’s Dave doing fast CW. In just a matter of minutes he made contact with five other radio operators. (C) Copyright 2016 Jim Cluett

A quite tall tree is growing on top of solid bedrock at the vista. It's gnarled roots stretch and grasp the cracks in the rock looking for nutrients and water. They've done a magnificent job for years. (C) Copyright 2016 Tim Carter

A quite tall tree is growing on top of solid bedrock at the vista. It’s gnarled roots stretch and grasp the cracks in the rock looking for nutrients and water. They’ve done a magnificent job for years. (C) Copyright 2016 Tim Carter

After hiking back to the cars, we were treated with this eye candy. "I need four more pairs of eyes," exclaimed Jim while we talked to each other on mobile radios in our trucks and cars. (C) Copyright 2016 Tim Carter

After hiking back to the cars, we were treated with this eye candy. “I need four more pairs of eyes,” exclaimed Jim while we talked to each other on mobile radios in our trucks and cars. (C) Copyright 2016 Tim Carter

I wish my wife Kathy had been with me. This is one of her favorite color combinations. The fall of 2016 in central New Hampshire was absolutely one of the best. (C) Copyright 2016 Tim Carter

I wish my wife Kathy had been with me. This is one of her favorite color combinations. The fall of 2016 in central New Hampshire was absolutely one of the best. (C) Copyright 2016 Tim Carter

36 thoughts on “Bald Ledge Scenic Vista

  1. Pingback: Sky Pond State Forest Amateur Radio | W3ATB

  2. Pingback: Bald Ledge NH QRP Afield 2018 | W3ATB

  3. Fantastic photography, now I have finally realized that I miss our home in New Hampshire. Retirement in the great Southwest isn’t all that its cracked up to be. Few leaves out here to rake, never cold enough for the colors.

  4. Thanks, you have reminded me of my husband’s family slides. I always enjoyed them They were from the Northeast and I’ m from Texas.We don’t get the show of colors that you do. Thanks again for sharing. Maxine

  5. Was that “spot” of snow that melted out April 27 from that huge pile on the same day as “ice out” on the lake below? Our town has a pond that melts out one day before Walden pond (think Thoreau). It does this every year even though they are 10 miles apart.

  6. Just watched the scene from Titanic you graciously provided Tim and I just want to say T H A N K S ! I have enjoyed this newsletter better than any before (and I’ve been reading them for years).
    My sincere condolences on your family’s loss.

  7. Thanks for posting this Tim,

    Here in Australia, we have no deciduous trees, so the vision of whole forests changing to a blanket of colour is something we never see here, except in limited street plantings of Northern Hemisphere trees.

    Beautiful!!!!!

  8. Could I use a couple of your pictures as inspiration for a painting? I am learning to paint landscape pictures and the pictures are beautiful.

  9. Tim, these are absolutely some of the most beautiful pictures I have seen! I just love the season from August through December and then the beautiful colors of Spring appear. Hear in Arizona it’s all desert unless you go up to Flagstaff where all the trees seem to hang out. Thanks for sharing.

  10. Thank You for the most wonderful photos WoW Fall is my favorite time of year, Thanks for the news and tips enjoy the newsletter Gerald Feist Rock Creek B.C. ca

  11. Beautiful pictures – brings back memories of vacations at my grandmother’s home in Maine (1943-49). On a clear day we could see Mt. Washington in the distance. Fast approaching 82, but I have it on my bucket list to take my wife up to Maine to see one of my favorite places of all time. Your words also caught me off guard but reminded me that life is truly what we choose to make of it
    Cheers and 73,
    Bill W4WBW

  12. Your first picture Tim has given me the final layout that I will use in a quillow that I am making for my son’s 50th birthday. The red/orange up front with the yellow and light green behind it. A quillow is a 45 x 60 quilt with a 16″ square sewn at the foot of the quilt. When it is not in use; it can be folded in thirds and again in thirds and then folded into the quilted pillow part. Your pictures sure have made me yearn to plan a Fall trip back East. Thank you so much.

  13. Thanks for sharing your hike with all of us.
    Great way to ease into my Saturday morning.
    You have inspired me to go take a hike today.

  14. Gorgeous! Everything in GA is brown, including shubs from the ongoing drought we’re having. Just trying to save what I can here. A. Warren

  15. Beautiful photos, beautiful prose. Thanks for starting my morning out with such a great adventure in nature…. stirring up great memories of the years I lived in New England, sir…. Bob KK8ZZ

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