Wandering Out WestyAdventure is Out There!

The Flume, Franconia Notch, NH

We left Bangor early in the morning and drove through Maine into New Hampshire. The white mountains were spectacular, even though it was very rainy. The mist hid the peaks from view. Late afternoon we arrived at our destination, The Flume! For the next three hours the clouds held in their loads and let us explore the unique geographical feature almost drip dry. Hiking the Flume was a wonderful treat. On the foot of Mt. Liberty in Franconia Notch lies the Flume: steep ninety foot fern walls gorged by a rushing river with waterfalls galore! A wooden boardwalk is placed artistically amongst the excitement crossing the river on wooden bridges and close enough to feel the fluffy moss walls and catch the drips falling from the fern leaves. Sediment in the river causes the water to appear like a frothy root beer float and stain the rocks a magnificent rust orange. Toward the end of the gorge the trail veers right to climb on your hands and knees through a dark wet rock cave. Once through, the trail continues through a hardwood forest with trees, roots growing exposed, on the sides of gigantic boulders. It was an awesome experience. By now it was getting late so we stopped to camp and feast on curried rice pilaf with stir fried vegetables.