Yesterday I woke up to bright sunny skies in Southern New Hampshire. I’m staying just west of Nashua, so I don’t have to drive very far to get some good  scenery. In fact a short drive to the west takes us to one of the most climbed mountains in the world: Mount Monadnock. With its close proximately to a major metro area (Boston), its relative ease to hike, and payoff of a rocky peak at the top, Mount Monadnock is a very popular hiking destination.

Frosty Mount Monadnock

Although I’ve hiked up Monadnock many times, we had no plans for hiking on this cold January day. With temperatures well below freezing, and a blustery wind to make the weather feel even colder, it was best to enjoy the views of Monadnock from a distance. On this sunny blue bird day, driving around the Monadnock region would present many potential photo opportunities assuming one was willing to brave the cold.

Frozen Cemetery

One thing I really enjoy about exploring the back roads of New England is one often encounters graveyards up on a hillside. I think these cemeteries have a lot of character, and it’s fun to explore the site and read the gravestones. However on the bitter cold January day, I’ll have to enjoy the view from a distance.

Lakes Around Monadnock

There are a lot of lakes and streams in the Monadnock region. At this time of year, the frozen water blanketed with fresh snow adds to the frosty character. I didn’t see any ice fishing huts though, suggesting the lakes don’t stay frozen long. I have seen ice fishing huts in northern New England, but never this far south. I had hoped to shoot video of an ice encrusted stream, but the bitter cold encouraged me to stay in the warm car.

View from the South

As always the beauty of the Mount Monadnock region did not let me down. I’ve always liked this place, and it makes returning to the gloomy, overcast Midwest all that more depressing. Perhaps old man winter will lighten up a bit and let me take some sunshine back to Indiana.

To see more pictures from my photowalk around Mount Monadnock, click on the thumbnails below.