July, Gregg Trail on Crotched Mountain

/ Ellen Kolb

The blueberries were gone along Crotched Mountain’s Gregg Trail on this July afternoon, but the Queen Anne’s Lace was in full bloom. A fair trade-off. Besides, there were still some raspberries left. If you’d like to search for them, head to NH Route 31 in Greenfield, New Hampshire, turn onto Crotched Mountain Road, and drive uphill to the trailhead across from Crotched Mountain School.

turkey mom
This hen turkey was just off the trail, cooing softly. I’d never heard such a gentle sound from a wild turkey. A moment later I caught a glimpse of her babies, mostly concealed by the tall grass.
Lyndeborough hills from Crotched mountain
Lyndeborough hills (Rose and Pinnacle) seen from Gregg Trail.
Gregg Trail is graded and switchbacked to accommodate wheelchairs. It ends at an open ledge well short of Crotched Mountain’s summits.
Seen from the Gregg Trail: Uncanoonucs in Goffstown (left) and and Joe English Hill in New Boston (right).