Highland Center Lodge To Mount Willard

Spent today chaperoning a group of fifth graders, very well-behaved I might add, for a day of outdoor activity at the Highland Center in Crawford Notch. This is a fantastic destination and a great place to unwind and relax after a day of hiking in this area. For those with kids - ideal! Check out the Highland Center Lodge website.

Temperatures started out in the 20's with a heavy frost this morning but it quickly warmed up. On the ride over to Crawford Notch I drove past a dead moose, apparently a traffic casualty from the night before. Unfortunately this is quite common in this neck of the woods.

I arrived at the Highland Center to warm temps and a beautiful, clear sky. We got everyone settled into the lodge and then split up into two groups. The fifth-graders met their outdoor instructor/leader and after a couple of "get to know each other" activities it was time to head for the hiking trail. Today we hiked up the Mt. Willard Trail (1.6 mi.) to the summit of Mount Willard (2865'). This is a short hike with outstanding views looking down Crawford Notch. It's a perfect hike for a group of kids.

There were many stops along the way for educational sessions - the theme was water ecology. I think all the kids would agree that sitting in the woods sure beats sitting in a classroom. We reached the summit and relaxed for awhile. This was a day for photographs and I took plenty of them.

After a short time at the top and another outdoor lesson we made our way back down. The trip down was as enjoyable as the trip up and there were more stops for trailside schooling. This is a popular trail and we met many hikers along the way.

We reached the Highland Center Lodge and today's outdoor fun was over for me, it was time to head home. Tomorrow would be another day in beautiful Crawford Notch. But what a difference a day makes...