Click on the image for a larger view.
Tag Archives: Summer in Maine
Earth, Wind, & Sky
Camden Hills State Park overlooks Penobscot Bay. Most of the area is covered in thick forest, but a few ridges are exposed. Wild blueberry plants hug the ground just beyond the grip of the wind. Click on the image for a larger view.
Summer Wind Storm
Living on a ridge, our field and forest are in the path of all kinds of weather. Strong winds on sunny, dry days are invigorating. They seem to make our small hill much taller. Click on the image for a larger view.
Black-Eyed Susan
Our lawn is in bloom. The black-eyed susan is the perfect summer flower—big, bright, and joyful. The ideal blossom to draw with a box of crayons. Click on the image for a larger view.
Mountain Sunset
Sun setting behind the Presidential Range in the White Mountain National Forest. Click on the image for a larger view.
Alpine Garden
Just below the summit of Mt. Wahington is an area known as the Alpine Garden. Being on the leeward side of the range, this meadow is sheltered from some of the harshest weather on the mountain. Click on the image for a larger view.
Mt. Washington
Mt Washington, located in the White Mountain National Forest, is the highest peak in New England at 6,288 ft. or 1,917m. While not particularly tall, the climate can be harsh. The fastest recorded wind gusts on the surface of the Earth were measured here on April 12th 1934: 231 mph or 372 km/h. Winters temperatures are extreme, reaching to below –40º. Even in the summer, the summit temperatures are rarely above the mid 50sºF, about 12ºC. And when you visit, there is a good chance of rain or snow.
The mountain was originally known to the Abenaki as Agiocochook, “Home of the Great Spirit.” The spirit of the revered Abenaki chief Passaconaway was said to have ascended into heaven from this peak.
This view is from just below the summit near Nelson Crag. Alpine Garden and the head of Tuckerman Ravine are just below. Click on the image for a larger view.
White Mountain National Forest
The White Mountain National Forest is one of the largest wilderness areas in New England, covering 1,225 sq. miles or 3,039 km². While many come to this area for the mountains, there is plenty to explore below the peaks. Ellis River runs off Mt. Washington and down Pinkham Notch. Click on the image for a larger view.
Crawford Notch State Park, NH
The White Mountains in New Hampshire is home to Crawford Notch State Park. The park is in the middle of one of the largest national wilderness areas in New England, the White Mountain National Forest. This area is known for its beauty and weather; rain and snow are a constant threat in these mountains. Crawford Notch is also the source for the Saco River that follows through Maine and into the Atlantic Ocean. Click on the image for a larger view.
The Strawberry Harvest
This year’s wild strawberry harvest has been great. We have been getting some of the largest fruit since we moved in. We left the wild strawberry to invade our lawn and did little else. Click on the images for a larger view.
