"Welcome to New Hampshire. Here's some trees"

"If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent" (essextee) 02/02/2020 at 16:01 • Filed to: None

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Driving in this state always feels like an alternate reality. I’m barely an hour north of Boston and there’s no sign of civilization other than the road I’m on. Towns are sp read out across miles of wilderness without any sort of discernable main drag. I don't get how people can live here. I don't know if I could survive living somewhere where the nearest grocery store is a 30 minute drive 

OPPOsaurus WRX > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/02/2020 at 16:49

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Nobody around  for miles? Sounds awesome.  

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/02/2020 at 16:53

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Driving into New Hampshire from MA isn’t nearly as jarring as driving into Canada from VT. You drive into Canada and suddenly its completely flat with no trees for miles. Massive change from the hilly forested terrain you were in 5 minutes ago.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > OPPOsaurus WRX 02/02/2020 at 17:06

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At least these are the kinds of high speed loopy hilly roads my car really comes alive on

Nick Has an Exocet > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/02/2020 at 18:39

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I grew up in MA, and always thought NH and VT were pretty sparsely populated until I moved to CA. Parts of the West give new meaning to “middle of nowhere”. Then I took a trip to Scotland and explored the Highlands... Next level of nothingness achieved. Australia is probably next.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Nick Has an Exocet 02/02/2020 at 18:48

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There's nothing here but powersports dealers and run-down local restaurants.

Nick Has an Exocet > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/02/2020 at 19:37

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The locations I mentioned don’t even have that.

Isle of Skye in particular is desolate. We drove 3.5 hours to go to a leather tanning place. We inquired about a place to eat, they pointed us to the pub, but the pub only cooked food 2 days/wk. Next available restaurant? 25 minutes away.

Nick Has an Exocet > Nick Has an Exocet 02/02/2020 at 19:41

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NH has a population density of 57 per square KM. Isle of Skye is...6.

Dusty Ventures > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/02/2020 at 20:04

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If you think NH is empty you need to drive out west

functionoverfashion > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/03/2020 at 10:05

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*Resident of Central NH here* 

Yeah, that highway does go through a bunch of woods. I happen to live in a nice little pocket of activity / civilization, next to a college town, in an area flooded with tourists especially in the summer . But yeah, there are some sparse areas around here.

And, a s others have pointed out, this place is downright claustrophobic compared to a lot of western states.

functionoverfashion > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 02/03/2020 at 10:07

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It always feels like we just drove into Iowa or something, when we go up to Montreal. 

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > functionoverfashion 02/03/2020 at 10:32

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I’m in C onway for the next few days which isn’t too bad. There’s an actual town center and branded gas stations, at least.

functionoverfashion > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/03/2020 at 11:21

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North Conway has a nice little town square with businesses and a nice little park. Conway “proper” is a bit worse for wear, considering the outlet mall extravaganza that lies just up the road.

Have any free time while you’re up there? I have a lot of suggestions of places to go if you’ve got time, and depending on what you’re into. 

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > functionoverfashion 02/03/2020 at 12:00

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I’d love some suggestions. I’m over at Attitash with family today and tomorrow. I was hoping for a hike or scenic overloo k but they all seem to be closed for the season.

functionoverfashion > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/03/2020 at 12:46

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I rode my bike up to the top of White Horse ledge this summer. The hiking trail snakes around, I’m sure it’s doable in winter with microspikes or snowshoes, but I wouldn’t do it without . You come out on some fairly flat exposed rock up top with good views, not near the edge of the ledge itself where it’s steep. I think the trailhead is at Echo Lake (not to be confused with the other Echo Lake that’s in Franconia Notch about 30 miles away over the mountains.

I’d hit up Moat Mountain Brewery & Smokehouse for some food and beer post-Attitash. Or if you’re into liquor, it’s worth the drive to Tamworth Distillery - talk about a small town, there’s little else there besides a very nice distillery and a neat little coffee shop.

There’s a cool outdoor equipment store called International Mountain Equipment   (IME) run by one of the first Americans to summit Everest, and leader of Mountain Rescue Service. This is a serious outdoor shop.

Are you skiing at Attitash? My in-laws go to Wildcat all the time, just up the road, and quite a bit higher in elevation - the snow tends to be much better up there.

The other places recommended to us by some real locals are Barley & Salt (very trendy) and Almost There (very local-y, but my in-laws go there and say it’s good, they’re from MA too).