New England Deep Cuts: The Great North Woods
What lies north of the White Mountains?
One of the perks of having editorial control of your own newsletter is that you can introduce a new recurring feature series whenever inspiration strikes or if readers suggest something particular. And lately, I’ve been thinking that amid the spotlight stories on strange and unusual hikes across New England, it could be helpful to occasionally step back and size up New England with a more regional lens. For instance, a few weeks back, I wrote about a beguiling hike in Florida, Mass. that involves bypassing a train tunnel and a stone wall to reach some pretty waterfalls. How many of us know that Florida is an actual township in Massachusetts? How many people have driven the Mohawk Trail scenic byway that passes Florida?
I’m still learning about New England’s more mysterious realms, even as a near-lifelong New Englander. A lot of what you see/don’t see in New England is informed by social tradition. Growing up, my family and I logged heavy mileage in the White Mountains, Midcoast Maine, and Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. But it was only in the last couple of years, working on guidebooks like the forthcoming Moon New England Road Trip that I began to acquaint with the other faces of New England—even the more well-trodden destinations such as the Berkshires or Cape Cod. This is a roundabout way of saying that if mentions of the Mahoosuc Range or the Metacomet Ridge within this newsletter ever leave you going, “WHERE?!?” rest assured that not only have I been there as well, but when it comes to certain parts of New England, I’m still there.
So what I’m rolling out today is the first installment of a regional micro guide to New England’s more far-flung, peculiar, and unsung rural and urban locales: New England Deep Cuts. Think of this as a series of postcards from across New England, with just enough of a glimpse of weird hikes, decadent local cuisine and libations, and unique history to have you reaching for the keys. And to kick things off on a pine-scented note, we’re going to begin with a visit to New Hampshire’s GREAT NORTH WOODS.
