Time for a Climb
October 19, 2019 by New Hampshire Garden Solutions
I like to see what the fall colors look like from above so each year I climb a hill or mountain to have a look. I’ve been climbing at Pitcher Mountain in Stoddard for a few years now because it’s a relatively easy climb and because it has a 360 degree view from the summit.
Beech trees are changing into their bright yellows down in the lower towns so I thought they’d be well along here. They were indeed, and if I went by the colors along the trail I guessed that I was going to see plenty of color at the summit.
A few months ago when I was here I noticed that someone had placed what they must have considered a special stone on to of a boulder. I was happy to see that people had thought enough of the person who put it there to leave it alone. When I first saw it I picked it up to look at it and almost tossed it into the woods but thankfully I realized it meant something to someone, so I put it back where I found it.
In May I saw a big black bear right here in the meadow, but on this day I saw Scottish highland cattle. These pastures are for them but I don’t see them here very often. I’m guessing that the scent of the bear was long gone, because they seemed to be at peace and didn’t even look my way.
With views like this who wouldn’t be at peace?
Up we go along the trail that parallels the pasture. I should say that good, sturdy hiking boots would be a good idea here. The trail gets very rocky and there are many tree roots.
An old apple tree along the trail bore a considerable crop of fruit. Pitcher Mountain gets its name from the Pitcher family, who settled this land in the 1700s, but I doubt this was anything they planted. It was an old tree but not that old.
I noticed that nobody had boarded up the open window on the ranger cabin yet, and that got me wondering how often forestry officials actually come up here.
I took another look at the 1940s interior. I don’t know if a bear got in here or not but something or someone had been foraging, by the looks of things.
In all the years I’ve been coming here I’ve seen someone in the fire tower just once, and that day they were letting people in. There was such a line waiting though, that I passed it up. This is considered a manned fire tower but I wonder when. It is possible that it’s only manned during times of high fire danger, I suppose.
There was plenty of fall color on the summit. The red of blueberry bushes and yellow of ferns made a beautiful scene, I thought.
There was a haze in the distance but you couldn’t beat the color nearby.
This shot shows the meadows where the highland cattle were from above.
There were lots of people up here on this day and most were either simply staring or taking photos. I did quite a lot of both because it was so beautiful.
There were lots of blueberry bushes that had lost their leaves but there were still lots of berries on them.
I took far too many photos but I think you can probably see why. It was just breathtaking up there.
It appears as just a speck in this photo but there was a dark eyed junco bathing in the water that collects in the natural depressions in this bedrock. That’s why I call them the birdbaths.
A tiger moth must have flown up here at some point because I saw a couple of wooly bear caterpillars on the summit.
The rocks of the summit are covered with many different lichens and I always try to stop and take a look at one or two of them.
On this day I chose common goldspeck lichens (Candelariella vitellina) for a close up photo. Look for this bright yellow crustose lichen on stone, especially slate. I see it on older gravestones quite often and it grows by the thousands on some hill and mountain summits. It shouldn’t come as a great surprise that, at high magnification, the body of the common goldspeck lichen looks like it’s made up of tiny golden specks. The book Lichens of North America describes the body of this lichen as “little cushions of flattened granules.” This lichen is sometimes sterile, with no fruiting bodies present, but these had a few. Crustose lichens form crusts that tightly adhere to the substrate that they grow on and usually can’t be removed without damaging it.
One last look at the colors on the summit.
I’ve often said here that I don’t climb for the view because if I did I’d be disappointed about 9 out of 10 times, but on this day I did climb for the view and I wasn’t disappointed. In fact I could have stayed up there all day but what goes up must come down and so I started back down the trail. Though I’m still 18 in my mind my body keeps interrupting that dream and one of my knees has been acting up lately, but I told myself that if a 5 year old, her grandparents and their dog could do it then so could I. Despite a little discomfort I made it down without a hitch, so I was happy. What a wonderful day it turned out to be.
The events of the past day have proven to me that I am wholly alive, and that no matter what transpires from here on in, I have truly lived. ~Anonymous mountain climber.
Thanks for coming by.
Posted in Nature, Scenery / Landscapes | Tagged Blueberry Fall Color, Canon EOS Rebel T6, Common Goldspeck Lichen, Fall Colors, Lichens, Mountain Climbing in New Hampshire, Native Plants, Nature, New Hampshire, NH, Olympus Stylus TG-870, Pitcher Mountain Fire Tower, Ranger Cabin, Scottish Highland Cattle, Stoddard New Hampshire, Wooly Bear Caterpillar | 35 Comments
Gorgeous!! I have been up Pitcher Mtn many times in the summer – used to go to a music camp nearby and it was a tradition to climb it for sunset at the beginning of each session. Never saw it in autumn, so your photos were a lovely treat.
Thank you. I hope you have a chance to see it in the fall yourself some day.
What a beautiful autumn day, and those views!
Yes, Pitcher Mountain is one of the few places you can find a 360 degree view.
Good timing on your climb. It is very beautiful there, thanks for sharing it with us!
You’re welcome Chris. I hope you’re seeing some good color this year!
We just came in from a walk, it was raining, and 60 degrees. It was absolutely beautiful. Even with the rain all the golden leaves brightened things up! I’m so glad we decided to go even though we needed umbrellas!
Colors are coming along, mostly yellows, still many green leaves too. We have not had a frost yet this season.
You’re lucky! We’ve had nights lower than 30 but lots of leaves are still hanging on.
I’m glad you saw some good color!
What a stunning foliage season it has been! You timed your hike perfectly for peak color. Gorgeous views.
It sure has been beautiful this year, Eliza and being up there seemed to make it even more so.
I am so pleased you were able to get up to the top, see the glorious colour and descend again, despite the painful knee. The goldspeck lichen is very attractive and brightly coloured too.
Thank you Clare. I’m hoping the knee will be fine if I treat it better.
Yes, that lichen is a bright one that’s easily spotted. There is an orange one that’s much like it called sidewalk firedot.
I hope that your knee keeps in good order because I am already looking forward to your next ‘time for a climb’ post. This one was very rewarding for your readers.
Thank you, I hope so too! I doubt I’ll be able to go too long without being able to see the world from “up there.” It’s very contagious.
GREAT POST and GREAT PHOTOS! It is such a great thing to be out in nature. The smell of the fresh air is great and the sounds of nature are amazing. Glad to hear there were a lot of people there as well. Thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome, and thank you. I can’t understand why anyone wouldn’t want to be out in nature but there are those who don’t, for whatever reason. I think I saw more people on the mountain than I ever have, including lots of kids. I was happy to see them!
That is really great when so many people have an appreciation for nature. I am glad to hear it.
I agree!
What a stunning day for a climb despite your wonky knee. I thought your quote said it all.
Thank you Susan. It was a great day with lots to see.
I like that quote too. It really does say it all!
The views back there are very beautiful! Trees out here seem to have a little more color this years as summer was milder, but they cannot rival New England’s autumn leaf show.
We have those little woolly bears out here, too.
I’m glad you’re seeing some color too. It’s been spectacular this year here.
Oh, the knees! I know just how you feel. Mine are extremely creaky. Glad you weren’t disappointed with the views. And to my way of thinking, there’s nothing like a pasture fringed with trees. Reminds me of beautiful England.
I’m sorry that you have knee issues too Laurie. I have to kneel quite regularly at work and standing up again is getting to be more difficult without something to hang on to.
I’ve never been to England but I’ve seen enough of it in photos to know that it can be beautiful!
Yes, yes! I have been lucky enough to go to England, to North Yorkshire, and it’s as beautiful as it looks in the photos. Maybe even more so.
Maybe someday I’ll get to see it. My family is originally (1550) from Ribchester in Lancashire. We lived on the banks of the River Ribble.
The River Ribble! Such a charming name. Hope you get to see England sometime. A beautiful place!
Thanks Laurie, I hope so too!
Gorgeous!
On Sat, Oct 19, 2019, 5:11 AM New Hampshire Garden Solutions New Hampshire Garden Solutions posted: ” I like to see what the fall > colors look like from above so each year I climb a hill or mountain to have > a look. I’ve been climbing at Pitcher Mountain in Stoddard for a few years > now because it’s a relatively easy climb and because it has a 360 degree” >
It was!
Sighhhhh, so lovely…
I was recently up top at the Anthony Peak Fire Station in Mendocino County California, literally in the clouds. The elevation is loftier that the summit of our Mt. Monadnock! Views are spectacular, and needless to say, the station is very important in this era of western wildfires. Its maned (and woman-ed) alternately by two rangers, a giant named Malcom, who regularly calls in his pet crow “Bob” for consultations, and a dedicated lady ceramics teacher and farmer. Both have a rugged commute in sturdy vehicles, and lots of time for introspection. And in Malcom’s case, the music of the spheres. A rare breed!
Thanks for the beautiful local color from the summit of Pitcher Mt., and as always, the included history lesson. I would guess all fire towers have unique people, some eccentric, with fascinating stories to tell.
Thank you Lynne. I’d love to man a fire tower. It would be right up my alley, I think.!
Words fail me. This is so beautiful. I’ve gone over it twice enlarging each picture and will return to it again later today. Thank you so much for showing us these lovely fall colors.
Thanks very much Jane, I’m so glad you enjoyed it!