Kate's HodgePodge Images

Lost River in North Woodstock, NH sits on land owned by the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests who bought it in 1912 to protect it from logging. The trails and buildings are currently leased and operated by the White Mountains Attractions Association. Each year, in the week before the gorge opens to the public, volunteers from the Forest Society spend a day getting the gorge, gardens, and Ecology trail ready for visitors. We start the day with a quick huddle to divvy up tasks, and I attempt a group photo. Somehow the photographer often ends up missing from the shot (completely accidental, honest), and this year I outdid myself: two tripods with no heads. Classic. I usually tag along with the crew that heads into the gorge. Some folks sweep or blow the boardwalks clear, while others tackle ice and snow packed into the caves. Past years have had us hauling out fallen branches and doing cleanup in the parking lot after storms, but this year the lot was unusually tidy. ...

Earth Day started back in 1970, and I’ve been marking it for the last four years by heading to Mount Major with the Forest Society for a day of service. We gather at the FS tent and get our marching orders. Folks are encouraged to pick up trash on their hikes, learn about the Mount Major Volunteer Trailhead Outreach Program, or hop onto a project team. Justin, the new FS photographer I wish I had never heard about graffiti on a mountain, but someone had defaced an area near the summit about 12’ square, so I headed up the Boulder Loop Trail with this team to see how they were going to tackle it. Walking through the oak and pine forest near the top, I couldn’t help thinking about the 2008 fire and how well the forest finds its balance when left to recover. Former burned area Former burned area We settled on a straightforward approach: spray the graffiti with Goof Off, then scrub with a wire brush. That combo seemed to work best. Matt brought some gray spray paint for stubborn spots tha...