Time To Visit The Majestic Mountains
An automobile trip up Pack Monadnock Mountain in New Hampshire
Pack Monadnock’s peak is only 2209ft. in elevation, yet it is the highest peak in the Wapack range. It is located less than an hour's drive from my home.
I’m being driven up the road to the peak of Pack Monadnock at Miller State Park, the oldest state park in New Hampshire. Leaves are starting to turn as Autumn advances.
It may be small as far as mountains go, even for here in New Hampshire, yet the views are expansive, and the air is fresh and clean.
Driving higher and higher up the mountain road. The roads sharp turns circle smaller with the increasing altitude.
A hazy day like today.
I took these photos on a warm day at the end of summer. I even remember this same under-the-weather feeling that I’m feeling now, not having the energy to climb. Driving up would have to be enough.
I’m looking out at 400 million-year-old exposed rock. Originally sedimentary rock lay down and buried with the dust and detritus of almost endless seasons. Transformed into the metamorphic rock by a combination of the heat of molten magma floating up from below the earth’s crust and the compression from our planet’s tectonic plates slowly colliding.
These peaks of mostly schist and quartzite remained when the surrounding land was eroded away.
Wind and water rushing through millennia. Glacial movement dragged abrasive rock across these ancient plains with the advancement and receding of ice ages.
We look out at the cause and effect of time scales beyond easy human comprehension.
For this week’s prompt of Dr. Preeti Singh’s nature column for Reciprocal, ‘Majestic Mountains,’ I wanted to go to the mountains and feel the magnificence in person.
When we want to feel nature’s grandeur in its fullness we start walking or climbing up for a better view. What could be more natural?
But then I and my wife came down with COVID-19 here on September 22. I will stay at home this time. I sure don’t want to go out and infect others.
So I thought about past trips to so many majestic mountains and decided to write about this 2016 trip to Pack Monadanock.
Just thinking of the fresh mountain air and a smile crosses my face.
So many birds of prey make this mountain top a not to be missed trip for local birders.
Winding our way back down. Back to everyday life.
Everything about a mountain is exhilarating.
I hope this quick mountain drive helps to elevate the spirits. It has mine.
Find out why, Dr. Preeti Singh is in love with the peace and calm of the mountains, and learn about the Reciprocal nature prompt below…
Please read Hayden Moore’s thoughts on nature at night and so much more…
and also PseuPending (Seu)’s moonlight wonder…