Hidden Obstacles Along Autumn Trails
Fall foliage draws countless visitors to New Hampshire’s scenic walking paths, but a seasonal hazard can turn a familiar trek into a surprising physical challenge. The walk took place on a day when temperatures reached the upper 70s, at a location not far from the radio station where she sometimes likes to plant herself on a rock and stare at the waterfalls when she wants to think.
Sullivan headed to the Gonic Trails, a familiar local recreation area featuring water features and looping paths. While following the yellow trail, she encountered a sign at the end of the route that says, Leaving Main Loop…. Last Marked Trail to Main Parking.
Although she could have kept going because she knew her way and it is a loop after all, she decided to transition to a steep red trail leading up an embankment.
Canvas Shoes and Hidden Roots Complicate the Climb
The choice of footwear quickly complicated the ascent. Wearing casual canvas Vans featuring bright sunflowers and linen trousers worn to the studio that day rather than technical hiking gear, Sullivan encountered a steep incline with limited nearby trees to use as close-by handholds to hoist herself up the embankment once she got about halfway up and got stuck. The thick carpet of fallen leaves masked roots, loose rocks, and grade changes that made footing unpredictable, leaving her with a slightly bruised ego that she noted needs a good kick every now and again anyway.
Upon taking an initial step up the embankment, a water bottle tucked into her jacket slipped from her pocket and slid all the way back down the hill. Feeling in tune with nature and hearing a voice of reason in her head tell her not to keep going up the hill, even though she joked that God would not actually call her a nit wit, she opted to heed the good advice from Above. She slid down the incline in her linen pants to retrieve the item rather than continuing up the steep, unpaved route, and ultimately retraced her path back to the waterfall section where she knew she was only about 10 minutes away from her car, returning to her vehicle relatively unscathed.
Safety Considerations for Late-Season Hiking
Reflecting on the outing, the essay emphasized the importance of proper preparation when tackling autumn trails across the state.
For individuals planning outdoor excursions through hikes here in New Hampshire, monitoring trail conditions and respecting personal limits remain essential practices as seasonal changes alter familiar terrain.
