Mount Eisenhower (4,780')

without a pause long enough

I would have never noticed

the branches framing a side

view of colors, miles before the summit

or learned the difference between

the low croaking call of a raven

and the cawing of a crow

or heard her say, “You’re almost to the sun”

or seen the round rock, balancing,

exposed on a dark green ridge

or come to know an alpine zone

looks just like a coral reef,

changing to the dark red 

color of witch hazel in autumn

We had the good luck of running into a naturalist on the summit. She explained that this reddish plant pictured here is called diapensia and is a low-growing alpine zone shrub that flowers in the summer and changes to this color of red in autumn.

 

At the summit of Mt. Eisenhower with a view of Mount Washington in the background (sign credits: Rose Kiok-Kirshenbaum)

Hike level: Moderate

Location: Carroll, NH

Driving distance from Boston: About 3 hours

Cost: FREE to hike

Description: The shortest way to the summit of Mount Eisenhower is up Edmands path via Mt. Eisenhower loop, 6.6 miles round trip. It's a relativity easy hike for an amazing view and a chance to get to the alpine zone in the White Mountains.