My mountain bike was in the shop so I dusted off my gravel bike to take it for a ride. Where should I go? I could ride an old favorite like the Potter Road loop or make a loop of Tasker Hill, Dolloff Hill Road, Stark Road and East Main Street. Those rides are nice, but I wanted a little adventure. Where could I go to explore roads I hadn’t ridden before?
Using the New Hampshire/ Vermont Gazetteer, I began to plot out a course. The Gazetteer gives enough detail and topography to give an idea of where to go and what the riding will be like. However, I’ve learned to not trust everything I see there. Road names can be wrong, likely connections turn out to be dead-ends or private property blocks the way. You never know what you’ll find until you either drive or ride it.
×
Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
kAm|J 7@4FD H2D @? |25:D@?] xE 92D >:=6D @7 8@@5 5:CE C@25D] $42??:?8 E96 >2A 7@C 2 =:<6=J C@FE6[ x D62C4965 7@C 2 =@@A C:56] $:?46 x H2D 8@:?8 @FE =2E6 :? E96 52J 2?5 2=@?6[ :E 5:5?’E ?665 E@ 36 =@?8] p? 9@FC @C D@ @7 C:5:?8 H@F=5 36 6?@F89] x7 E96 C:56 H2D 8@@5[ x 4@F=5 255 E@ :E =2E6C]k^Am
kAm+6C@:?8 :? @? sC2<6 w:== #@25[ x DA@EE65 2 A@E6?E:2= “32==@@? @? 2 DEC:?8” =@@A] x7 x A2C<65 2E sC2<6 w:==’D D@FE96C? 6?5[ x 4@F=5 DE2CE C:5:?8 @? ~=5 r@=@?J #@25 7@C E96 DEC:?8 A2CE @7 E96 C:56]k^Am
kAmpD x 56D46?565 7C@> (@C=5 u6==@HD9:A[ x DA@EE65 ~=5 r@=@?J #@25 @? >J =67E 2?5 #@FE6 `e DEC2:89E 29625] p 4@?G6?:6?E AF==\@77 @? E96 C:89E H2D 2 8@@5 A=246 E@ A2C<] ~=5 r@=@?J :D A2G65 7@C 23@FE 2 92=7 >:=6] }62C E96 368:??:?8[ :E A2DD6D 3J 2? @=5 3F:=5:?8[ (9:E>2? w2==[ @? E96 =67E] x H2D 4FC:@FD E@ <?@H H92E :E’D FD65 7@C[ 3FE 92G6?’E 7@F?5 @FE J6E] |2E6C:2=D 2E E96 D:E6 :?5:42E65 :E :D 4FCC6?E=J 36:?8 C6A2:C65]k^Am
kAm%96 C@25 A2DD6D D@>6 9@FD6D[ E96? E2<6D 2 D92CA =67E FA9:==] p?@E96C 8C2DD65\@G6C[ 423=65 C@25 H6?E DEC2:89E] ~? E96 v2K6EE66C >2A[ E96 FA9:== C@25 :D :56?E:7:65 2D “~C492C5 #@25[” 3FE x ?6G6C D2H 2 D:8?] xE D@@? EFC?D E@ 5:CE 2D :E 4=:>3D 8C25F2==J] !2CE @7 E96 H2J FA E96 9:==[ 2 D:8? @? E96 C:89E 42F89E >J 2EE6?E:@?] xE :56?E:7:65 2? @=5 46==2C 9@=6 E96C6 2D E96 “q:4<7@C5 w@>6DE625]” %9@F89 E9:D 9@FD6 :D =@?8 8@?6[ E96 |25:D@? w:DE@C:42= $@4:6EJ’D {:?52 $>:E9 E@=5 >6 C6=2E:G6D @7 E9:D 72>:=J DE:== =:G6 :? |25:D@?]k^Am
kAmpE E96 E@A @7 E96 9:==[ x 42>6 E@ 2 EC:2?8F=2C :?E6CD64E:@?] p D:8? A@:?E65 DEC2:89E 29625 E@ $2=E6C w:== #@25] %96 D:8? E@ E96 C:89E D2:5[ “~=5 r@=@?J]” %FC?:?8 C:89E[ x A652=65 2 D9@CE 5:DE2?46 E@ 2?@E96C ;F?4E:@? @7 }@CE9 s:G:D:@? #@25 @? E96 =67E 2?5 “$2=E6C w:== #@25” DEC2:89E 29625] %92E 5:5?’E >2E49 >J >2A ?2>6 — :E D9@F=5 92G6 C625 “$2G2CJ #@25]” t:E96C E96 >2A @C E96 D:8? H2D HC@?8[ 3FE x <?6H :E H2D E96 C@25 x H2?E65] xE H2D E96 DE2CE @7 >J 32==@@? =@@A]k^Am
kAm%9:D H:56[ D925J 5:CE C@25 H6?E 23@FE 2 >:=6 A2DE 9@FD6D 2?5 72C>D 367@C6 :E 4=:>365 FA E@ (2D9:?8E@? w:== #@25] (:E9 ?@ D:8? :56?E:7J:?8 :E[ x 8F6DD65 :E H2D E92E 3J >J >2A] x EFC?65 =67E 2?5 C@56 ]h >:=6D F?E:= :E 492?865 E@ A2G6>6?E] p A2G65 C@25 E@ E96 =67E[ 8@:?8 5@H? E96 9:==[ H2D ?@E D:8?65[ 3FE x E9@F89E :E >FDE 36 “w:89 $EC66E]” p?@E96C C@25 DEC2:89E 29625 H6?E FA E96 9:==]k^Am
kAmpD x A@?56C65 H9:49 H2J E@ 8@[ 2 42C 42>6 5@H? E96 C@25 2?5 D:8?2=65 E@ EFC? 5@H? E96 9:==] x H2G65 E96 5C:G6C 5@H? 2?5 2D<65[ “xD E9:D w:89 $EC66En” $96 =2F8965 2?5 D2:5[ “xE :D] %96 E@H? 42?’E <66A D:8?D @? :E — D@>63@5J <66AD DE62=:?8 E96>]” (:E9 >J 362C:?8D 4@?7:C>65[ x 962565 5@H? :E]k^Am
kAm%92E A2G65 C@25 :D 2 7F? C:56[ H:E9 2 BF:4< 5@H?9:== 2?5 >2E49:?8 FA9:==] xE A2DD6D 3J 72C>D[ D@>6 H:E9 8C62E G:6HD] x? `]b >:=6D[ x E@@< E96 D92CA =67E EFC? @?E@ }@CE9 s:G:D:@? #@25] q24< @? 5:CE 282:?[ x 6?;@J65 BF:6E 2?5 D@=:EF56] x ?6G6C D2H 2 42C[ 3FE EH@ 3:8 C2G6?D 7=6H 29625 @7 >6 5@H? E96 C@25]k^Am
kAm!2DE 2 D>2== DH2>A[ x C@56 3J EH@ 56G6=@A>6?E C@25D @? E96 C:89E — w65869@8 w:== 2?5 s66C sC:G6] &A 29625[ @? E96 =67E[ x DA@EE65 2 >2DD:G6 DE@?6 H2==[ D6G6C2= 766E E9:4<] (96C6 2 5C:G6H2J 4FE E9C@F89 :E[ 2 H@@56? D:8? :56?E:7:65 E96 AC@A6CEJ 2D “q@F=56C u2C>[” 2 7:EE:?8 ?2>6 7@C :E] %96 C@4< 2?5 3@F=56C H2== 7@==@H65 E96 C@25 7@C BF:E6 2 H2JD[ 2 E6DE2>6?E E@ E96 92C5 H@C< @7 D6EE=6CD 367@C6 FD]k^Am
kAmx? =6DD E92? a >:=6D[ x 42>6 E@ E96 $2=E6C w:== #@25 ;F?4E:@?[ 4@>A=6E:?8 >J 32==@@? =@@A] %FC?:?8 C:89E[ x A652=65 E96 D9@CE 5:DE2?46 E@ E96 EC:2?8=6 ;F?4E:@?] pAAC@249:?8 7C@> E9:D 5:C64E:@? x D2H D@>6E9:?8 x 925?’E D66? @? E96 H2J @FE — 2 C65 DE66= 82E6 2?5 D:8?[ EF4<65 :?E@ E96 H@@5D 369:?5 E96 EC:2?8=6] %96 D:8? :56?E:7:65 :E 2D “vC2?G:==6 !6C<:?D r=2DD 'x #@25[ ~A6? ~?=J E@ u@@E %C277:4[ 3J @C56C @7 E96 $6=64E>2?[ a__`]” p C@25 36J@?5 5:D2AA62C65 :?E@ E96 H@@5D]k^Am
kAmq6:?8 4FC:@FD[ x H@?56C65 H96C6 :E H6?E 2?5 H9@ vC2?G:==6 !6C<:?D H2D] x 4@F=5?’E 7:?5 E96 C@25 @? 2?J >2A 6I46AE “v@@8=6” >2AD H96C6 :E’D D9@CE 2?5 5625 6?5D] p== x 4@F=5 7:?5 @FE 23@FE vC2?G:==6 !6C<:?D H2D E96C6 H2D 2 72>@FD =2?5D42A6 A2:?E6C 3J E92E ?2>6[ 3FE 96 5:5?’E D66> E@ 92G6 |25:D@? 4@??64E:@?D] p? t?@D vC2?G:==6 !6C<:?D 5:5 =:G6 :? |25:D@? F?E:= `hdb H96? 96 5:65 2E 286 g`] !6C92AD[ E96 C@25 :D ?2>65 7@C 9:> @C 9:D 56D46?52?ED]k^Am
kAmx EFC?65 C:89E 2E E96 EC:2?8=6 E@ 6IA=@C6 H96C6 $2=E6C w:== #@25 H6?E] xE 4=:>3D 23@FE ]h >:=6D F?E:= :E >66ED sC] |F55 #@25] ~? E96 >2A[ E92E C@25 8@6D 2== E96 H2J E@ (9:EE@? !@?5] w@H6G6C[ 2D x 5:D4@G6C65[ :E @?=J 8@6D ]` >:=6D 367@C6 :E EFC?D :?E@ 2 “!C:G2E6 #@25]” x C6DA64E65 E92E 2?5 EFC?65 2C@F?5] %96 C:56 5@H? $2=E6C w:== 2?5 ~C492C5^~=5 r@=@?J #@25 E@ A2G6>6?E H2D 72DE] x? ?@ E:>6[ x H2D 324< 2E E96 G2?]k^Am
kAm(:E9 2== >J DE@AD 2=@?8 E96 H2J[ E96 C:56 925 E2<6? >6 @G6C 2? 9@FC] (:E9@FE E96 $2=E6C w:== 56E@FC[ E96 C@FE6 H2D f]e >:=6D — d >:=6D @7 :E 5:CE] xE >2J ?@E D66> =:<6 >F49[ 3FE x 7@F?5 E96 C:5:?8 A=62D2?E 2?5 ?@E 92C5] x 6IA=@C65 C@25D x’5 ?6G6C 366? @? 367@C6 2?5 2H2<6?65 >J 4FC:@D:EJ 23@FE |25:D@?’D A6@A=6 2?5 A=246D]k^Am
kAm{@@<:?8 2E E96 >2A 282:?[ x 42? D66 @E96C C@FE6D E@ E28 @?E@ E9:D @?6] x7 x DE2J65 @? (2D9:?8E@? w:== #@25 F?E:= :E :?E6CD64E65 H:E9 #@FE6 ``b Ws66C w:== #@25X[ EFC?65 =67E 2?5 A652=65 =6DD E92? a >:=6D E@ w:89 $EC66E[ x 4@F=5 6?=2C86 >J =@@A 2?5 255 D@>6 >:=6D] %FC?:?8 =67E @?E@ w:89 $EC66E[ 8@:?8 ]h >:=6D E@ }@CE9 s:G:D:@? #@25[ x 4@F=5 C:56 324< E@ sC2<6 w:== #@25 7@C 2? @G6C2== C:56 @7 23@FE `_ >:=6D]k^Am
kAm%92E’D E96 7F? @7 6IA=@C:?8 8C2G6= C@25D 2?5 D66:?8 H96C6 E96J E2<6 J@F] p=@?8 E96 H2J[ J@F >2J 7:?5 2 A=246 @C ?2>6 E92E 2H2<6?D J@FC 4FC:@D:EJ] *@F DE2CE H@?56C:?8 23@FE A6@A=6 E92E =:G65 E96C6 =@?8 28@] (92E DE2CE65 2D 2 3:<6 25G6?EFC6 56G6=@AD :?E@ 2 9:DE@CJ =6DD@?]k^Am
kAmr964< @FE E96 >2AD[ A=@E J@FC 4@FCD6 2?5 D66 H96C6 5:CE C@25D =625 J@F]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m&A4@>:?8 6G6?EDk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm$F>>6C #246 $6C:6D }@] di u2E %:C6 (66<6?5 2E u:6=5D @7 pEE:E2D9 — $6AE] ac\ad] $2EFC52Ji C246 52J 2?5 42>A:?8[ 2?5 $F?52Ji %@FC 56 '2==6J — ad\c_ 2?5 >@C6 >:=6D E@ 49@@D6 7C@>[ H:E9 C67C6D9>6?ED 2E |2EEJ q’D 27E6C]k^Am
kAm#:56 }@r@ u2== %C2:=D s2Ji ~4E] `[ DE2CE:?8 2E `_ 2]>] H:E9 EC2:= H@C<[ 2 C277=6 2E ` A]>][ 8C@FA C:56D 2E a A]>] 2?5 A@DE\C:56 C67C6D9>6?ED 2E {6586 qC6H:?8 r@] u@C 56E2:=D[ 8@ E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^C:56?@4@]@C8^?6HDQmC:56?@4@]@C8^?6HDk^2m]k^Am
kAmk6>m$2==J |4|FC5@ :D 2 3:<6 D276EJ :?DECF4E@C 2?5 4J4=:DE H9@ =:G6D :? r@?H2J]k^6>mk^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.