With the number of attractions like Story Land, Attitash’s Slides and Wildcat’s Zip run, as well as canoe rentals, golf courses, summer theatre, hillside concerts, etc. there’s so much going on in Mt. Washington Valley it’s easy to lose sight of what brought many of us here. The White Mountain National Forest. With some 800 acres of glistening waterfalls and quiet trails, this is a special land, far removed from frenetic city life. Here there are 250 mountain trails to explore, from a gentle walk to a gut buster.

For example, if you’ve just decided to taste the delight of this forest of mystery and nature, an easy start would be the walk into Lost Pond. It’s in Pinkham Notch across from the Appalachian Mountain Club Center It’s less than 30 minutes to the pond, where Mt. Washington looms above you. As you dangle your feet in the water, you may realize how quickly one can escape the hustle of too many people trying to fit in too small spaces.

The Kancamagus Highway – a winding two-lane road from Conway to Lincoln along the Swift River, with National Forest all around – has many trails meandering off it. For an adventure, take the Greeley Ponds Trail, which, after a little rise, is mostly downhill through woods you think are never going to end. But they do. And to your surprise you’re in Waterville Valley Village in time for lunch. If that’s enough footwork for the day, take a cab (yes you can find one of those here) back to your car on the Kanc.

Then, a little bigger challenge, a forty-five minute climb to the top of Black Cap Mountain – the best bang for the least effort in the Valley. The whole Valley is spread out beneath you as you peel your orange on the ledgey top.  The trail starts on Hurricane Mountain Road, with is right off Route 16, and rises up in back of Cranmore Mountain.

Take your bathing suit for the Nancy Pond trail You may not want to go all the way to the pond  – not great swimming there anyway – once you get to Nancy Cascade and its own little pool. It does cascade and makes for a great shower for a perspiring body.

How can you get a feel for a first hand experience before trudging off into the unknown? The Hidden Mountain, a novel by Peter Pinkham relates the feelings and emotions of a non-hiker, just starting in, on each of these trails. White Birch Books in North Conway and Pinkham Real Estate have the book, and you can contact either one. To experience the bitter cold and hurricane winds at the winter top of Mt. Washington, before you tackle this one,  Pinkham’s new book, Killer Mountain  – the sequel to The Hidden Mountain -  is available through any bookstore or on Amazon.com.