Scenic Byways

Kancamagus, New Hampshire

There is nothing quite like the great American road trip. With a stunningly diverse range of landscape – mountains, mesas, buttes, valleys, forests, deserts, canyons, prairies, wetlands and coastlines, America is crisscrossed by some of the most beautiful highways and byways one could possibly imagine. 

On September 30, my wife and I packed our bags, hopped in the car, filled up the gas tank, cranked the engine and hit the road to kill two birds with one stone – visit our son living in Manchester, New Hampshire and drive through one of the most scenic byways in America – the Kancamagus Highway cutting through the heart of the White Mountains. We chose the date so as to coincide with autumn’s spectacular gift – fall foliage. And there’s no better place in America to see nature’s most colourful display than the White Mountains of New Hampshire.
It’s not possible to predict when fall foliage will be at its peak. In the White Mountains, the peak period is usually late September and/or early October. However, because of warmer than normal September and near-drought condition during the last two months, this year’s peak is expected in mid-October. We were, therefore, a couple of weeks early. But Mother Nature didn’t disappoint us.
To see the fall colours, our son took us on a drive through the Kancamagus Highway. Hugging the boulder-studded Swift River, the road starts from Conway in the east, runs up the valleys and ascends to the highest point of 3,000 feet (914 metres). The descent puts one in the heart of a rugged area of the White Mountains, as high peaks tower above the winding road for a few miles back down to the level and finally ends at Lincoln in the west. 
Along the 35-mile (56km) stretch, the scenery was stupefying. With many turnoffs and trailheads, we were treated to majestic alpine mountains, quaint covered bridges, crashing waterfalls and breathtaking foliage. The Kancamagus remains unspoiled by restaurants, inns or service stations, allowing nature lovers to watch the maple, beech, birch, elm and hemlock trees burst into colour without distraction. 
So, if you ever go to the White Mountains in October, don’t rush, take your time and devour the incredible fall scenery on both sides of Kancamagus. The drive is well worth the tank of gas. 

The writer is Professor of Physics at Fordham University, New York.

Photos: Writer & Mahjabeen Haider

Scenic Byways

Kancamagus, New Hampshire

There is nothing quite like the great American road trip. With a stunningly diverse range of landscape mountains, mesas, buttes, valleys, forests, deserts, canyons, prairies, wetlands and coastlines, America is crisscrossed by some of the most beautiful highways and byways one could possibly imagine. On September 30, my wife and I packed our bags, hopped in the car, filled up the gas tank, cranked the engine and hit the road to kill two birds with one stone visit our son living in Manchester, New Hampshire and drive through one of the most scenic byways in America the Kancamagus Highway cutting through the heart of the White Mountains. We chose the date so as to coincide with autumns spectacular gift fall foliage. And theres no better place in America to see natures most colourful display than the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Its not possible to predict when fall foliage will be at its peak. In the White Mountains, the peak period is usually late September and/or early October. However, because of warmer than normal September and near-drought condition during the last two months, this years peak is expected in mid-October. We were, therefore, a couple of weeks early. But Mother Nature didnt disappoint us. To see the fall colours, our son took us on a drive through the Kancamagus Highway. Hugging the boulder-studded Swift River, the road starts from Conway in the east, runs up the valleys and ascends to the highest point of 3,000 feet (914 metres). The descent puts one in the heart of a rugged area of the White Mountains, as high peaks tower above the winding road for a few miles back down to the level and finally ends at Lincoln in the west. Along the 35-mile (56km) stretch, the scenery was stupefying. With many turnoffs and trailheads, we were treated to majestic alpine mountains, quaint covered bridges, crashing waterfalls and breathtaking foliage. The Kancamagus remains unspoiled by restaurants, inns or service stations, allowing nature lovers to watch the maple, beech, birch, elm and hemlock trees burst into colour without distraction. So, if you ever go to the White Mountains in October, dont rush, take your time and devour the incredible fall scenery on both sides of Kancamagus. The drive is well worth the tank of gas. The writer is Professor of Physics at Fordham University, New York. Photos: Writer Mahjabeen Haider