Many students at Plymouth State College don’t make use of the wonderful outdoor facilities within their immediate area. All across campus the same complaints are uttered by the students concerning the lack of activities on campus, and the underdeveloped downtown of Plymouth. Students are simply overlooking all the great outdoor activities that are offered right outside their doors in the White Mountain National Forest. There’s something for every student of all abilities and interest levels in the WMNF. Whether your interested in a short hike and lunch on Welch or Dickey, a night hike on the Welch and Dickey loop, a leisurely stroll along the Pemi in the Flume Gorge, or a serious trek up Flume Slide trail, WMNF can offer it all within twenty minutes of the Plymouth State College campus.
The White Mountain National Forest comprises most of the higher White Mountains in the area. The WMNF was established under the Weeks Act and makes up about 770 thousand acres, 47 thousand of which are in Maine and the remaining 723 thousand right here in New Hampshire. Now, with all of this land comes many opportunities for enjoyment in the outdoors. In fact, mountain recreation has been said to be the most important resource of the WMNF. Furthermore, there are two areas in particular which are especially multifunctional and very accessible to a Plymouth State College student.
Many students feel that hiking and other outdoor activates are specifically oriented toward the avid hiker and outdoor enthusiast. This is simply not the case. Anyone who is looking for outdoor recreation no matter what intensity level is sure to find something in the WMNF.
One of WMNF’s more accessible and multipurpose areas is the Welch and Dickey mountains. Welch and Dickey are perfect examples of a great beginner to intermediate hike within twenty minutes of the Plymouth State College campus. They are also an example of eclectic terrain that the WMNF has to offer. This hike can be broken up into two separate short hikes or into one longer loop. Located on Orris road, off of Mad River road, the Welch and Dickey trail head is right off of the parking lot making it very accessible. Fifteen yards in from the trailhead the trail forks, taking a right will bring you up to Welch mountain which is the shorter and more moderate of the two hikes, running for about 1.9 miles. It features a moderately inclining trail with many switchbacks. The top has amazing views and for the effort put in, they are much better than one would anticipate. As a hiker reaches the top, there are small gardens of interesting mountain vegetation. The various lichen and small shrubbery are very delicate so hikers need to take care not to disturb them. At the top of Welch there is an exposed ledge with plenty of room to sit down and relax, meditate, or perhaps read or study. Whatever a hikers preference Welch’s summit, on a clear day can offer beautiful views over Waterville Valley (far left) and surrounding areas. If one has an interest in drinking, as many college students do, then a bottle of red wine, smoked Salmon and hard cheese at the top are definitely something to think about as you pack for the trek.
Taking a left off the trailhead will bring a hiker onto the Dickey side of the Welch and Dickey loop. Dickey also offers beautiful views for not much effort than Welch. If a student is looking for a bit more exertion than the Welch trail, Dickey is definitely the next step up, running about .5 miles longer than Welch. Like Welch, Dickey also has great places to sit and relax. The Dickey side is known for being a bit more secluded than the Welch side which makes it a great place to bring a girlfriend, or boyfriend to spend some time alone ‘the flat rock at the top offers a perfect place to set up a meal if one is adventurous enough and has the endurance to port all of the necessary ingredients for a romantic meal 2.4 miles up a trail.
The Welch and Dickey loop as a whole is probably an experienced student hikers best bet for a very enjoyable night hike. The 4.4 mile loop should take no more than three hours and fifteen minutes to hike, depending on how long one lingers at viewpoints, and the conditions which you are hiking in. A student can start hiking the loop at 6:00 p.m. and finish the hike by 9:15 p.m., drive home, shower, and still make it to the siiick Pike party by 10:15 p.m. This loop is at its best on a clear full moon in September. Once out of the trees the rock reflects much of the moonlight so that a hiker does not need a flashlight most of the hike. Karin’s mark the trail a majority of the way so it is hard to loose track of path even at night. On the Dickey peak, at night, if a hiker waits long enough, they will here the crisp echo of coyotes from all around the bowl of the Welch and Dickey mountains. The echo is so loud and so thick it feels as though you are surrounded by a pack of coyotes. The dwarfed cedar forest that a hiker must travel though in the low areas of Welch and Dickey loop offer an eerie seclusion especially at night, and the occasional rustle of unseen wildlife about your feet is very invigorating for a hiker.
The second most accessible and multifunctional place in the WMNF is the Flume. It lies between Franconia range (east) and the Kinsman range (west). The whole area as a whole offers many types of recreation ranging from relatively vigorous hikes such as Flume Slide trail, to very simple hikes on graded trails such as the pool and the various cross county trails around the area. This area also lends itself to many other forms of outdoor recreation including ice climbing, cross county skiing and snow shoeing.
The Flume Slide trail is a hike for the more experienced hiker as it is scrambling most of the way up. It can get discouraging because if its difficulty, but if a hiker is in shape, than it can be very rewarding and offer a very unique view of the Flume area. Snow shoeing over the covered bridge and down the rivers edge along one of the many cross country skiing paths is a great experience for an level of athletic ability. The trails are relatively short and flat and the beautiful scenery the duration of the walk. The Flumes peaceful setting is a great getaway and relaxation time for a stressed college student and the area is secluded that it is inaccessible however. The trail is just off of the visitors center so if a hiker has a limited amount of time to snowshoe, hike or cross country ski than this is the place to go, offering easy access from the parking lot and facilities.
Whether your interested in a short hike and lunch on Welch or Dickey, a night hike on the Welch and Dickey loop, a leisurely stroll along the Pemi in the Flume Gorge, or a serious trek up Flume Slide trail, WMNF can offer it all within twenty minutes of Plymouth State College campus. If a student is feeling bored and trapped and doesn’t want to succumb to the freshman 15, then getting out into the WMNF is the way to do it.