More from Flume Gorge Hike

 Here and there were spots of fall color on our hike to and from the Flume Gorge at Franconia Notch State Park.  [If you missed the first post on this hike, use the link below this one to go back to older posts.]

Just a bit of color in the far mountains.

Here and there leaves have changed color.

Coming back from the Flume is a lovely wide trail.

Boulders strewn everywhere.

Dan's doing his part to keep this one from tipping over.

I saw an elephant in the woods, too.  See it?

The trail takes us across this covered walkway above the river.

The river looks delightfully cool below.

We ended up in the Visitors' Center.  This stage coach dominates the space.  Look there are seats on top like in the days of Dickens.

On the door is the painting of the Man in the Mountain, New Hampshire's symbol that is no more.

Time to head on to our next adventure? No off to lunch!

Postscript: In answer to John's question on last post about how the 93 year old woman found the Gorge, the description said she was fishing. 

2020 vs. 1920

 The year is 1920 "One hundred years ago."

What a difference a century makes!
Here are some statistics for the Year 1920:
The average life expectancy for men was 47 years.
Fuel for cars was sold in drug stores only.
Only 14 percent of the homes had a bathtub.
Only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone.
The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.
The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower .
The average US wage in 1920 was 22 cents per hour.
The average US worker made between $200 and $400 per year.
A competent accountant could expect to earn $2,000 per year.
A dentist earned $2,500 per year.
A veterinarian between $1,500 and $4,000 per year.
And, a mechanical engineer about $5,000 per year.
More than 95 percent of all births took place at home
Ninety percent of all Doctors had NO COLLEGE EDUCATION!
Instead, they attended so-called medical schools, many of which were
condemned in the press AND the government as "substandard."
Sugar cost four cents a pound.
Eggs were fourteen cents a dozen.
Coffee was fifteen cents a pound.
Most women only washed their hair once a month, And, used Borax or eggyolks for shampoo.
Canada passed a law that prohibited poor people from entering into
their country for any reason.
The Five leading causes of death were:
1. Pneumonia and influenza ( still have it )
2. Tuberculosis
3. Diarrhea
4 Heart disease
5. Stroke

The American flag had 45 stars ...
The population of Las Vegas , Nevada was only 30.
Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and iced tea hadn't been invented yet.
There was neither a Mother's Day nor a Father's Day.
Two out of every 10 adults couldn't read or write
And, only 6 percent of all Americans had graduated from high school.
Marijuana, heroin, and morphine were all available over the counter at
local corner drugstores.
Back then pharmacists said, "Heroin clears the complexion, gives
buoyancy to the mind, regulates the stomach, bowels, and is, in fact,
a perfect guardian of health!" (Shocking?)

Eighteen percent of households had at least one full-time servant or
domestic help...
There were about 230 reported murders in the ENTIRE U.S.A. ( not Chicago )

I am now going to forward this to someone else without typing it myself.
From there, it will be sent to others all over the WORLD all in a
matter of seconds!
It is impossible to imagine what it may be like in another 100 years.

Sent to me by a friend.  I can't vouch for its historical accuracy, but it seems plausible.  What do you think? 

Flume Gorge

New Hampshire is known for lots of things and the Flume Gorge at Franconia Notch State Park is one of those.  

This is one very popular spot to visit especially in the summer and fall.  With Covid concerns access is limited to online reservations only to enter and limited numbers of people at each time slot.

On Friday the 11th we had a reservation for 10 am.  There was a very short line to check in but as we hiked the 2 mile roundtrip route we made certain to keep our distance and pull up our masks.

The Gorge is not as accessible as it was pre-Covid when there was a bus to take sightseers to the Boulder Cabin where they then only had to walk .7 of a mile.  No bus now and some of the other trails are also closed off.

We had a beautiful cool day for our walk.  Come with us.

At first the trail is divided. We stay right to the Gorge.  The other side is the return trip.

There are lots of erratic boulders left from glacier days.

We have to go down before we can go up.

Here's the Boulder Cabin built in the 1930s.  Well maintained but closed for now.

The mountain sides are just filled with boulders and trees that one wonders how do they stay growing up straight?

We arrived at Table Rock where over time the waters exposed this large expanse of rock. Signs said "Slippery - stay on trail" but that didn't stop some folks from venturing out on them.

Water levels are low because of drought so much of the rock sruface was dry.

Access to the Gorge is by steps and boardwalks that hug the side.

Moss is plentiful on the layers of rocks.

Up we climb.

Looking back down from where we started.

Looking over the edge to the water.

During Spring runoff I imagine you can get wet from the spray.

Looking up.

Avalanche Falls is near the top.  This falls is recently formed - 1883 during a storm that washed away an overhanging boulder.

At the top.

The guidebook says the Flume Gorge was discovered by 93 year old Aunt Jess Guernsey in 1808 by accident. Her family didn't believe her until she showed it to them.

I have more photos from this hike but I'm fed up with Blogger.  When I upload the photos, it keeps mixing up their order.  I also used to be able to size the photos by hitting the + but now I have to pull out the corners.  What a pain!

 

A friend sent this to me.