The Flume Gorge

"The Flume" is probably my favorite natural feature in all of New Hamphire. It's a long granite gorge at the base of Mt. Liberty, the passageway of the icy-cold and fast-moving Flume Brook on it's way to the Pemi River. A suspended boardwalk runs through the gorge, allowing you to walk above the roaring stream and get up-close to the moss-covered granite walls.In summer, Franconia Notch charges a relatively outrageous sum to walk through the gorge: $14 per person! But in winter, with no one to watch the gate, it's finally open for all, the way nature should be!

Yup, gotta go beyond the closure sign... Well actually, it's really not a closure sign, just a stop sign, right? I made a full stop, checked for on-coming traffic (and hazardous ice) and then continued through... :)

In summer these rock walls are covered in moss and fern, and the brook roars incessantly underneath the suspended boardwalk.. But in winter, it is so silent and peaceful here. And the ice is just magnificent!

Speaking of magnificent ice... seems like we're not the only ones who think this place is great... There were at least 20 ice climbers taking advantage of the beautiful - and open-to-the-public - Flume Gorge.

And there's the Flume Brook, still flowing hard under all that snow and ice!