The National Geographic Society has been exploring the world and igniting our imaginations since 1888. As it travels the globe, it educates us on the exotic and the challenging, the inspirational and the sublime. That’s why National Geographic can be found in the library at the Horse & Hound. And, as long as that continues to be its primary mission, it will remain on our shelves. Education, exploration, science and inspiration.
Two different writers from National Geographic have travelled the White Mountains and spent time exploring Franconia Notch. One even stayed at the Horse & Hound.
In our current society of social media and electronic entertainment, both writers remind us there’s something greater than ourselves, our obligations and commitments, or our increasingly electronic and virtual world. The Great Outdoors. They challenge us to explore – not through clicking and scrolling – but through actual travel and adventure. For those of us who are able to visit these places, they provide the roadmap and the reason. For those of us who are unable to make those journeys in person, the writers and their photographers allow us to be armchair travelers to some of the most spectacular outdoor spaces east of the Rocky Mountains.
How to Make a One Day Loop in New Hampshire’s White Mountains. (Robert Reid)
“With trails to hike, mountains to climb, and railways to ride, the White Mountain National Forest provides a full day’s worth of activities.” – Robert Reid, How to Make a One Day Loop in New Hampshire’s White Mountains
Robert Reid writes of the entire span of the White Mountain National Forest, which includes Franconia Notch, Crawford Notch and Pinkham Notch. He explores the region and suggests a variety of activities ranging from the Robert Frost Place to the top of Mount Washington via the Cog Railway. All with the backdrop of the Great Outdoors . . .
These 10 Hiking Trails Will Blow Your Mind. (Jonathan Waterman)
“Truly a rite of passage for explorers, this [Franconia Ridge] journey stays well above treeline for 2.7 miles . . . full of jaw-dropping panoramas . . . this is a quintessential eastern U.S. adventure.” – Jonathan Waterman. These 10 Hiking Trails Will Blow Your Mind.
Jonathan Waterman focuses on the Appalachian Trail as it traverses Franconia Notch above the treeline. The article combines the Franconia Ridge hike with 9 other trails around the world from Austria to Australia. Grouping the Franconia Ridge with such spectacular hikes and locations is a high honor to bestow, but Franconia Ridge is easily up to the competition.
People have been writing about the beauty and majesty of the White Mountains since they were first known to us. And, they will continue to do so and we will continue to thank them for it. For no matter how many times we hike these trails, drive past these mountains, or simply view them from a distance, we always feel a sense of splendor.