Holland Glen Cache

I had no idea this trail even existed, leading up from a small turnout on route 9 up to the ridge of fair sized hill and beyond. I only went about as far as the cache I was looking for, but the trail was well marked and continued clearly along the ridge.

If the top of the ridge was bright and sunny and warm, the trail along Hop Brook was the more cool, shady, and picturesque. With the aid of a small tripod, the relatively dim lighting just makes the pictures of flowing water more dramatic.

Hop Brook

Coming down the hillside,

Hop Brook

flowing over rocks,

Hop Brook Pool

or cascading into pools. Up on the ridge, I found the Holland Glen cache.

Holland Glen Cache

Inside was the first Travel Bug I’ve ever found. I felt a little guilty taking it, since I have a week of meetings coming up so it’ll take me at least that long to place it somewhere else. But how could I resist?

Coming back down the trail, I stopped to snap a few more pictures.

‘shroom on the Trail

Like this mushroom

Ferns

and these ferns growing just off the side of the trail.

Wood Frog

Of course, I found the wood frog irresistible. In retrospect, I should have searched the brook for red backed salamanders too. I don’t have any recent pictures of them.

Lookign Down

There are some precipitous drops on this trail, including this one from above the waterfall I photographed on the way up.

A Long Look at Hop Brook

For my parting shot, a full second of flowing water.