The location of cardigan mountain can be determined by absolute location or relative location. In terms of relative location the summit of Mt.Cardigan is located at 48* 38 59 N and 71* 51 51.1 W, and the elevation is 3166 feet above sea level. The highest point on Mt. Cardigan is 3155 feet. Mount Cardigan is located to the northwest of Hopkinton. In terms of absolute location, Mt. Cardigan is located in Orange and Alexandria in western Nh, very close to the AMC lodge. To reach the lodge one must go down a dirt road and park in the large gravel parking lot. Simply put, the location of Mt.Cardigan can be demonstrated in many ways using either absolute location or relative location.
Our trip to Mountain Cardigan involved lots of learning experiences, and required plenty of observation skills. The world around us was filled with wonders from nature in every direction. From the cool, clear running streams the first day, home to many a translucent, inch long fish bubbling bubbles at the surface. As well as sleek, slippery salamanders sliding from underneath the moss covered rocks soaking up water like a sponge. To the silent forest deep into the hiking trails where birds conversed in the tree tops, and the leaves were gilded in glistening dew drops that dripped on your head when the early autumn breeze blew. To turn your head upwards towards the crisp clear skies was magical for one simply cannot forget the blue against the dashing fall trees with oranges, yellows and red bursting leaves, scattered about among the ravishing evergreens swaying in the winds. The summit, were small tangles of twigs attempted to shield themselves from the gusts and were the rocks were so smooth it seemed like a great sculpture has carved and sanded them for hours on end. And to think that a raging fire storm had engulfed all the trees up there many, many years ago.
I solemnly remember the soft crunch of moist grass under boots as we peered into deep flowing pools that contained the most elegant of fish that twirled in circles popping in and out of the shadows cast from the trees. And the white stream of cascading water over plant consumed logs in the middle of the river. And the bridge made of pale golden colored planks arranged in a parallel formation that creaked every time a muddy hiking boot fell upon it. To radiating pearly white color of the lodge with the stunning red curtains waving in the windows that were slightly opened to refresh the visitors. To think that someone must have dedicated intense planning and time to slathering the vibrant colors of the trail markers every twenty meters or so up the winding mountain. And the firetower, so well thought out, to perch it upon a mountain, for someone to spot the fingers of fire reaching up from distant forests. This person saving lives.
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