You would think that a blog post about a train would involve Alden or at least Andrew, but it’s just Lindsay this time.  I volunteer for VRAP (Volunteer River Assessment Program) on the Ammonoosuc River (I did it on the Androscoggin River for many years too).  The other day was our last test of the season and my friend Leslie and I decided to go on a short hike to celebrate.

The last water test spot is on Base Station Road, near Bretton Woods Resort in Bretton Woods, NH and Leslie had the insider information that it is free to ride the chair lift to the top (okay, it isn’t that secret – but who knew that you could ride it free in the summer!).

Riding the chairlift.

We rode up on this beautifully sunny day, enjoying the short trip to the top, and followed the signs toward the summit of West Mountain.  The trail is easy to follow and mostly flat and took us less than 30 minutes to reach the summit.

Leslie on the trail.

Trail signs help visitors stay on path.

Lots of moss and lichen in the woods.

Starting to feel like higher elevation here.

Almost there!

As we came closer to the summit, we saw the train!  It’s used in the winter as a warming hut where you can sip hot chocolate before heading back down the mountain.  The trail that we were on is also a snowshoe trail.

Train on the mountain.

Just a short distance from the train is the summit of West Mountain, which offers extraordinary views south into the Pemigewasset Wilderness – an expansive wilderness area of 45,000 acres in the White Mountains National Forest.  Mount Washington can also be seen to the north but the mountain was in a cloud when we were there.

The Pemigewasset Wilderness

Mount Washington in the clouds.

We walked back down the trail with ease and stopped into Latitude 44 Restaurant for a quick drink before taking the chair lift down.  Looks like we found a new end of season tradition!

“V” for VRAP!