Up close and personal with not 1, but 2 magnificent moose!!!

If you haven't figured it out by now I have quite the obsession with New Hampshire's famous wild friend, the moose. These beautiful girl's were by far the best moose we have yet to observe.

Three weeks ago while we were camping in Franconia Notch State Forest, we decided to hit the roads around dust in hopes of finding a moose grazing in moose muck. We have been successful with this dozens of times but never have we had the opportunity to observe these marvelous creatures for more than a few minutes. Most of the time we catch a glimpse and maybe a few minutes of observing before the animal disappeared into the great thickets of forest. On this occasion however we lucked out and found a pair of moose that were willing to hang out in the open and dismiss our presence.

We had driven up to Whitefield to get a pizza for dinner and decided to take Route 116 South back towards where we were staying. It was along this route that we spotted these fabulous ladies. As we drove by them they were emerging from the woods and headed towards some moose muck that was along the side of the road. We happened to pull over right across the street from where they were headed and couldn't have gotten a better front row seat had we paid a zoo to get us up close and personal with a captive moose. I sat outside the window of our jeep and took dozens of photographs of them. We ended up sitting there for about a half an hour, just eating our pizza and watching the moose that was about 35 feet away from us. I was amazed at how she just kept eating away and would occasionally glance up at us to make sure we weren't up to any funny business. This truly was the most tolerant moose I have yet to come across and I felt blessed to have been able to watch her for as long as I did. We probably could have sat and watched her till darkness set in and they disappeared into the shadows of the night. I will never forget feeling the immensity of her size and taking in her natural behavior. It truly is quite the sight to see such magnificent wild animals going about their natural business in their intended environment.

Moose Falls Flowage

Three weeks ago while my husband and I were camping at Deer Mountain Campground, located in Pittsburg, we discovered this wonderful little pond. Hidden away behind the campground was Moose Falls Flowage and personally the name could not be more appropriate. This remote pond which is part of the Connecticut River, offers wildlife viewers a supreme location to sit back and observe nature in its purist form. As we stood and took in the surrounding area I couldn't help feeling a sense of peace and tranquility. The area was so quite, untouched, and peaceful it forced us to sit back and relax. Although we did not actually see a moose grazing in the shallows, I truly believe that a patient enough observer could be graced by the presence of New Hampshire's most popular wild animal. We plan on visiting the area again and would really like to launch our kayaks into the pond and see if we can't find a grazing moose for ourselves.

Moose Falls Flowage is a place of beauty and the perfect spot to kayak or picnic. Hiking trails are also assessable from this area, however I could not tell you where they lead to. The pond is easily accessible by following a foot trail that begins at the campground. The links that I have provided will also offer you information about additional access trails that I am not familiar with.

Ideal Mirrored Image...

As I was going through all of my photographs of New Hampshire when I first started this blog, I found this amazing shot that offers a great mirrored image effect. I honestly cannot fully remember exactly where I captured this landscape but I do know it was located somewhere around Errol, possibly on Route 16 towards Rangeley Maine. I have chosen to post this shot simply because I think it is so cool and really depicts how a natural wonder can transform into a marvelous backdrop. I never anticipated such a great photograph and in reality I never really do, however I saw something here and captured the landscape at a pristine, calm, and artistically valued moment. I love how the clouds are reflected off the lake and the slightest touch of fall can be seen with some colorful foliage peeping through the lush green leaves. New Hampshire truly does have marvelous hidden natural wonders around every twist and turn, you just need to open your eyes and embrace the beauty that can be found. 

Oh what a night, Sky that is!!!

 

Three weeks ago my husband and I decided to take a few days off and visit Pittsburg and I'm sure glad we did because I don't think I'll capture a shot like this one ever again. We had been driving up and down Moose Alley (Route 3) looking for you guessed it moose, and as the sun sank lower and lower amazing colors of pinks and oranges painted the sky. At one point we had pulled over for several minutes near a promising moose hangout spot and I lost track of the changing sky. When I came back to reality and looked up I could hardly believe the magnificent purples that were transforming the sky to darkness. Since purple happens to be my favorite color I was memorized by the gorgeous colors and amazed that the sunset had created such a breathtaking night. While I was taking the photographs of the sky I was really only trying to capture the colors themselves. At the time I was uninterested in what else was in the shot, I only wanted that purple sky. It was after I came home and downloaded my photos onto my laptop that I realized how awesome the silhouetted trees look as well. I really must say this is one of my favorite photographs and was by far the prettiest colors I have ever seen emerge from a sunset. 

The Iconic Loon

Oh what a Loon! I often catch glimpses of Common Loons floating down river's while driving up Route 16 from Dummer towards Errol. This stretch of highway runs along the Androscoggin River which provide the perfect habitat for these ancient marvels. Lucky for us we were able to stop and observe this gracious creature floating amidst the river right from the side of the road. I often have a very hard time capturing decent photographs of these native beauties since I always seem to find them in an area where it is nearly impossible to pull over and jump out of the car. This particular Common Loon was right in the open and actually close enough to the river bank to zoom in and capture a great photograph. It was amazing to watch this threatened species wade amongst the current and float so effortlessly and peacefully. What I wouldn't give to have their ability to just chilli out and let the current float me along. I watched this lovely bird for several minutes and admired how lucky I was to be watching a species, who's numbers have been dwindling for decades, thrive in it's natural ecosystem. With conservation actions in full effect I hope to one day see Common Loons in abundance like I see Canada Geese in such high numbers all over Rhode Island.

Common Loons can be found throughout most of the state and in fact are the only species of Loons that breed in this area. They are amazing creatures that have become fully adapted to life on the water and are rarely ever found on land. If your looking to observe a Common Loon for yourself grab a pair of binoculars and head out to any area that contains some sort of water body. You can also be certain there are Loons around by listening for their very distinct calls.

Kancamagus Highway...

The breathtaking White Mountains can best be captured by taking a drive down the Kancamagus Highway. This drive across the magnificent mountain range should be experienced by anyone visiting the White Mountain National Forest. The highway provides you with several scenic vista viewing areas which offer amazing scenery and spectacular views of the incredible mountains that cover the region. The strip of highway (Route 112) that offers the breathtaking scenery runs from Lincoln to Concord and is approximately 35 miles in length. Along your journey across this incredible roadway one will find numerous hiking trails that venture off to some wonderful gorges, ponds and picnic areas. Weather your an outdoor adventurist or just want to cruise down the mountains, the Kancamagus Highway has something to offer everyone. The easiest way to access the roadway is to follow I-93 to exit 32, this will place you in the heart of Lincoln and at the start of the spectacular stretch of highway. Remember to gas up since you will not find civilization until you reach Concord on the other end of the vast mountain range. 

A Moose in Moose Muck!!!

This hungry gal was seen on route 16 in Errol. We found her along the side of the road in what we like to call "moose muck". It was around 8am in mid-August and we were heading back to Rhode Island after a week of camping in Rangeley Maine. This stretch of route 16 which runs from Rangeley to Errol has dozens of great "moose muck" areas and we have seen several moose along this stretch of road. This moose in-particular was not bothered by our presence and at one point she even stopped eating and approached our vehicle, which was a bit intimidating since she was easily 9 feet tall at the shoulder and one charge could have caused some damage to our jeep. It has been my experience that some moose just don't seem to care when you pull over and watch them while others will flee out of sight as soon as they notice you. We were very lucky with this cow since she allowed us to watch and photograph her for well over a half an hour before we decided to drive away and let her eat in peace. Spotting a moose is one of the main reasons we visit the remote area of Errol and this part of New Hampshire has proven to be one of the best areas to see them along roadways. If your interested in spotting a moose for yourself I would recommend traveling up and down route 16 from the central part of Errol up to the Maine state line. We have had the best luck seeing moose at dusk and it is also recommended to look for them at dawn as well. Along this route you may catch one anywhere but it is most likely you will see one in "moose muck". So what is this "moose muck" I speak of? It is simply areas along the roadside that are yucky, muddy puddles of sorts. They are filled with large amounts of grasses which the moose depends upon and they also contain high yields of salt that has washed off of the ice treated roads during the winter months. These areas are depositories for the salt that washes off of the roads once the winter snow melts. The salt attracts the animals since their diets require high amounts of sodium. The photograph above portrays a great "moose muck" area and as we can see this moose is loving the nutrients it is providing her.

Beaver Brook Falls Natural Area

This beautiful waterfall located in Colebrook is a must see for any nature lover. It is the most amazing one that I have yet to see and provides a wonderful little picnic area for you to sit and relax or walk your dog. My photograph is only a shot of one section of the waterfall and does not even come close to capturing the immensity of this rushing water flow. To feel the cool mist splash your face as the water crashes over hills of mountain rock is mesmerizing. There are a couple of hiking trails that allow you to venture up the side of the waterfall and a quaint little bridge runs along the front of the fall which allows tourists to get up close and admire the tremendous falling water flow. Beaver Brook Falls Natural Area is the perfect place to hang out for an afternoon and take in the beauty of this magnificent natural wonder. The natural area can be easily visited by anyone, just simply follow route 3 north to route 145 (Park Street) north. The parking area is about 5 miles down route 145.

Silver Cascade

One of the most beautiful waterfalls that can easily be seen by anyone is the Silver Cascade. Located along the left side of route 302 (if your traveling east) in the Hart's Location of the White Mountain National Forest it is extremely easy for any tourist to find and admire. The waterfall is over six hundred feet tall and flows through the heart of Crawford Notch. Every time we visit the White Mountains we stop to photograph this beautiful landscape. I wish I was a better hiker and could make it to the top but there is no man-made trail that will lead you up this waterfall. If your looking for a good waterfall to hike up check out the Basin in Lincoln.

Big Moose!!!!

During Labor Day weekend of 2010 my husband and I were heading up Interstate 93 to check into Lafayette Campground. As we were driving through Franconia Notch dozens of cars were pulled over in the breakdown lane and people were lined along the side of the highway. We pulled over with everyone else to see what all the commotion was about and as we approached the crowd I saw him. There in front of approximately 40 people stood a massive bull with two cows. They were grazing in the muck that lined the forest edge about 75 feet from the amazed crowd which had stopped to admire these massive wonders that stalk the forests of New Hampshire. I was surprised to see them since it was mid-afternoon which is not the typical time to observe moose. It was also fascinating that they were not that bothered by the crowd of observers and simply went about their business feeding upon the lushes grass that grew in the muddy puddle. Over the years I have observed dozens of moose but never had I seen one of such magnitude. My best description for this bull is a hunters dream. His rack was as wide as I am long and he had to have been at least 10 feet tall as his shoulders. We were able to take in this amazing sight for about fifteen minutes and then with no warning and three simple lunges he was masked by the immense thickness of the woods and out of sight. We have yet to see another bull that compares to this one and have yet to catch another moose feeding in this area. I will never forget what it felt like to be in the presence of such a spectacular creature, the natural rush that comes over you while standing in front of a creature of this size is unexplainable. Want a chance to see a bull for yourself? Try looking in the muck holes that line Interstate 93between the Kancamagus Highway (exit 32) and Echo Lake (exit 34C).