You can first see the bride from above before you start to switch back down the trail. Once there you can see that this bridge looks almost new and well cared for.
The bride was first built in 1871 with a Paddleford truss and spans 50 feet in length. There is a foot path on the bridge for hikers to cross. The bridge itself is used to bring tourists and maintenance works into the Flume Gorge, a very popular tourist area in Franconia Notch.
Date:
12-31-2021
Location:
Franconia Notch, NH
Water Body:
Pemigewasset River
Year Built:
1871
NH Bridge Number:
39
Bridge Length:
50′
Truss Type:
Paddleford Truss
Parking
10+ Cars
Interesting fact: Many people debate whether or not this bridge was originally built at this site or moved from another site.
It was first constructed in 1939 and has been repaired several times since. It got its name from a large pine that is said to have stood over 90 feet high and over 5 feed in diameter.
Date:
12-31-2021
Location:
Franconia Notch, NH
Water Body:
Pemigewasset River
Year Built:
1939
NH Bridge Number:
38
Bridge Length:
60′ 5″
Truss Type:
KingPost
Parking
10+ Cars
Sentinel Pine Bridge
This pine was known as the Sentinel Pine that overlooked the pool below. In 1938 a hurricane blue this tree and a number of others over. Workers then constructed this bridge to cross the river and named it after the tree.
The bridge was built as a foot path over the fallen pine and the water. The bridge spans over 60 feet but It is only 8 feed wide with only five feet of width to walk across.
Looking through the Sentinel Pine Bridge
The SPC uses a King Post Truss design. The bridge is held together with wooden pegs. It is fun to walk across a piece of history. This bridge has a lot of character.
Ive done this hike many times in different seasons. It is beautiful in all of them. While this post is of a winter hike around it is also a great time to visit in the summer or fall. It is a must see if you are in the area.
There are a lot of beautiful places in New Hampshire and many different ways to experience them. One hike I suggest everyone should experience is the Flume Gorge Loop in Franconia Notch during the winter.
My cousin and I decided to go for a quick hike up to Lonesome Lake but when we arrived in the Notch the clouds were thick and low and everything was socked in. Since my cousin had never hiked the Flume Gorge we decided to change plans and hike that instead.
Date:
12-31-2021
Location:
Franconia Notch, NH
Distance:
3.2 mi
Elevation Gain:
542′
Total Time:
2 hr 29 min
Parking:
10+ cars
Difficultly Rating:
Easy
We parked in the Flume parking lot. This is a very popular spot in the summer time filled with tourists, buses and campers. Today it was cold and gray with only a few cars in the lot.
We started out by the Visitors Center (Closed in winter) and headed toward the gorge first. We passed some large glacial erratics and a few other hikers on their way out.
Entering Flume Gorge
Soon the trail started to switchback down toward a bright red covered bridge (Flume Covered Bridge). The bridge was built in 1871 but looks like it is in great condition and very sturdy compared to other covered bridges I’ve seen.
We crossed the bridge using the foot path along the side and started hiking toward the river. As we got close to the gorge parts of the half frozen river starts to cascade beside us.
Inside Flume Gorge is covered with Ice
Soon we are at the entrance to the gorge, The granite walls rise up vertically and are covered with large ice flows perfect for ice climbers. We make our way in for a little bit and get some photos. We then hiked up to the top of the ledges to get a better perspective.
At the top of the gorge next to Avalanche Falls
Once we got to the top there is a waterfall called Avalanche Falls. This was flowing really good and was covered with ice all around. A great spot for some photos. There is also a small rain shelter we stopped at for a small snack and a drink.
From here we continued on the loop toward the second covered bridge, the Sentinel Pine Covered Bridge. This was only a foot bridge and is not wide enough for any wheeled vehicles. We could see the bridge from above as we approached it. Once we crossed we decided to go to another viewing point below the bridge. Again great photos opportunities.
First view of the Sentinel Pine Bridge
From this point we were not far from the entrance where we started. We soon found the split of the loop near the giant glacial erratic. And continued back to the car.
On this day the trail was hard packed with snow and we used our Microspikes. We saw many others bare booting it but the spikes just made things easier.
Sentinel Pine Bridge
This a fun and easy hike full of covered bridges, streams, waterfalls, gorges and some rolling hills. This is a great family hike that is good for all ages. If doing it in the winter it is wised to have some sort of traction you. The trail can be slippery sometimes.
Selfie at a lower view of the Sentinel Pine Bridge
One of the big attractions to Estes Park is the Stanley Hotel. This is the famous hotel that the book “The Shinning” was based on.
To me, the hotel reminded me of the Mt. Washington Hotel. When we took the tour of the Stanley we learned that the Stanley’s were from Massachusetts and likely were inspired by some of the architecture from the east coast.
Date:
04-25-2021
Location:
Estes Park, CO
Total Time:
1 hour
Fees:
$22
Difficultly Rating:
Easy
The entrance sign to the Stanley Hotel
I was also surprised to learn that the filming of The Shinning was not done at the Stanley Hotel. It was just the setting for the movie but it was actually filmed elsewhere. However, I was additionally surprised to learn that the film “Dumb and Dumber” was filmed at the Stanley even though it was supposed to be set in Aspen CO. I guess you learn something new every day.
Post Card of the Stanley Hotel when it was first built
One of the main things that interested me besides the famous films was the fact that the Stanley Hotel is a haunted hotel. Not just haunted by one spirit but haunted by many! In fact, we learned that in the early years of the hotel Mrs. Stanley would often hold Séance’s with some of the other women staying at the hotel.
Hall of Owners staircaseTop of the Haunted Hall of Owners at the Stanley Hotel
As you enter the hotel the grand staircase is right in front of you and has portraits of all the owners of the hotel along with a number of mirrors. It was said that the mirrors were often the portals between this world and the afterlife and this is how the ghost would enter. However, if a ghost was to see its reflection then it would realize it was dead and return to the afterlife.
A vintage Stanley Steamer Automobile invented by the Stanley’s on display at the hotel.
There is one ghost in particular that makes this hotel famous that resides in room 217! This ghost is based around the hotel housekeeper from 1911 named Elizabeth Wilson who almost died in a 1911 gas explosion.
The most haunted room in the Stanley Hotel. Room 217
Me standing on the back patio of the Stanley Hotel
Throughout the tour we learned about the lives of the Stanley’s and their famed hotel. This hotel has an interesting history and has gone through many ups and downs over the decades. Lots of famous people have stayed here included Houdini, Rockefeller’s, Vanderbilt’s and many more.
If you are in the area and looking for something “indoors” to do I would highly recommend the Stanley Hotel.
My mother and I flew out to Colorado for my cousins wedding up in Estes Park. What a beautiful town. During some of our downtime we explored a bit of Rocky Mountain National Park and the town of Estes Park.
Date:
04-25-2021
Location:
Estes Park, CO
Total Time:
5 days
Fees:
$25
Difficultly Rating:
Easy
We started the day driving into Rocky Mountain National park. The views and the wild life did not disappoint. All along the road through the Park we were treated to mountain vistas and beautiful scenery. The road switched back up the mountains until we came to a gate where the road became snow covered and unsafe.
Even though we only toured a small section of this park it made a huge impact or me. I look forward to coming back out and hiking around some of these smaller peaks and exploring some trails.
Enjoying some morning coffee in our cabin at the Della Terra
Our first night in town we stayed at a wonderful Airbnb with lots of room for family and friends to gather. There were a number of bedrooms, a separate apartment on the house and a huge indoor swimming pool.
Sun set in the Mountains
The following two nights we stayed at a cabin at the Della Terra Mountain Chateau (wedding venue) right at the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. The cabin (MacGreggor) had three bedrooms, kitchen, living room and dining room. It was very cozy and it was nice to be on the same property as the wedding. The wedding itself was beautiful. The reception was a lot of fun with great food and drinks.
Between many of our trips between the Cabin and the Airbnb we were able to see a lot of Elk and even some Big Horned Sheep. The wild life here is amazing.
Heard of Elk sitting outside the AirBNB.
I wish we had more time to spend in this area but there is always next time. If you find yourself in Estes Park, make sure to take time to explore the town. It really has a lot to offer and if you don’t pay attention you might miss something.
It’s been a while since I’ve been in the Belknap Mountains. My Cousin and I decided it would be a great hike for a cloudy morning and hoped things would clear up by the afternoon.
We set out to hike up Piper Mountain, Belknap Mountain and Gunstock Mountain. We parked at the gate to the carriage road and started up the piper trail and were the second car to arrive that morning.
Date:
10-16-2021
Location:
Gilford, NH
Distance:
5.3 mi
Elevation Gain:
1701′
Total Time:
5 hr 53 min
Parking:
5+ cars
Difficultly Rating:
Moderate
Trail Adoption Sign
In the Belknaps, most of the trails are adopted by volunteers who maintain the trails. On some trails, these individuals or groups are acknowledged with trail signs at the start of the trail.
On our way up things were very damp and large drops of water and even larger acorns were falling from the trees most of the way up. The trail rises the hardwoods. Mostly covered with damp colorful leaves. As we approached the summit there were a few ledgey sections. The moss and lichen on these sections was extremely slippery.
At the summit of Piper there is a look out that was completely socked in with clouds. The only thing visible was the stone chair. We each took a seat in the chair and imagined the view that was behind the clouds.
After a quick break we went on our way over to Belknap Mt. This is the tallest mountain in this range and has a fire tower to boot. We followed the BRT trail down piper and up Belknap. Once at the top the clouds were still thick so still now views. We sat had a snack then moved on toward Gunstock.
Me sitting in char on top of Piper Mountain
On our way to Gunstock the rain had completely stopped and we even saw some blue peak through the could once and a while. Once we got to the gunstock summit the clouds were breaking and offered some views of the New Hampshire foliage and Lake Winnipesaukee.
No views today on top of Piper Mountain
There were a number of leaf peepers out that had taken the chair lift up to grab some views.
From here we made our way down the Gunstock trail back to the car.
I had forgotten how steep some areas of this trail are. So there was a lot of careful stepping on the way down.
Heading toward Gunstock Mountain in the clouds
By the time we got back to the car the weather was beautiful and the sky was blue. The sun really brought out the colors of the foliage in this area.
Views from the op of Gunstock Mountain
Over all it was a great hike with very few people on the trail. I’ve done this loop a few times and it never disappoints. I Highly recommend this hike for a half day jaunt or evening hike.
