Adam Baker: Outdoors Experience--Searching for Serenity in the New Hampshire Landscape

New England is renowned for its beautiful fall foliage that blankets mountains as far as the eye can see. I was fortunate to travel to New Hampshire’s White Mountains during the peak of autumn colors, and the scenery certainly fulfilled its reputation. Upon arrival, I anticipated spending some time pondering in the quiet woods filled with oranges, reds, and yellows; however, I was greeted not with the solitude of nature, but throngs of tourists vying for views of the scenery. My hopes of embarking upon a peaceful walk through woods in solitude drifted away like falling leaves caught in a gust of wind. After traveling to various locations, it became clear that nowhere in the White Mountains would offer an escape from the crowds. I finally completed one hike to a series of waterfalls and was rewarded by a walk through beautiful yellow and orange trees highlighted by rays of sun breaking through the morning’s clouds. Unfortunately, I was in the company of an unstoppable flow of other visitors, degrading the experience. Disappointingly, the day concluded with no opportunity to experience nature without interruption or distraction. The following morning, however, arrived with beautiful skies and crisp, cool air—perfect for another attempt to join the awesome autumn presentation of nature. A short drive from the hotel led to an unimproved road terminating at a small parking area near the top of a mountain. It was truly exciting to see that only several other vehicles were present. A short trail directly through the colorful forest led to an exposed rock area overlooking miles of terrain below. The best part—no one else was present. Beautiful it was, indeed, with fall foliage, blue lakes, and other mountains visible for an incredible distance and accented by the crystal-blue of cloudless sky. Unexpectedly, I found my place of peace in this natural setting and become one with the trees, the leaves, and the ground. I stood mesmerized by the falling leaves behind me and the tremendous view in front. How surreal everything seemed—just a short while earlier, I had been far below, disappointed at the overall lack of serenity and unaware of the great views to be had from above. Now, serenity was an understatement, as the setting and the view were no less than sublime—an indication of nature’s majesty and perpetual beauty. The short hike was outstanding to say the least, and made me realize just how much distractions, such as other people, can divert attention away from the magnificence of our natural surroundings. Needless to say, in one moment I had experienced the very power of the landscape I had come to find.