Cardigan mountain is located at 43 degrees 38 seconds and 55 minutes north latitude and 71 degress 54 seconds 52 minutes west longitude. At the very top of the mountain, the elevation is 946m. Newfound Lake is about 12 miles west of Cardigan, surrounded by the towns Groton which is about 8455 miles northeast from the summit, Hebron which is about 9927 miles northeast from the summit, and Canaan which is about 10,498 northwest from the summit. The state park Cardigan Mountain belongs to is 5,655 acres. It is about an hour's drive from Hopkinton Middle Highschool.
Physical Geography: Cardigan mountain and its surrounding forest have many different features, each one more interesting than the next. Deep within the forest, the cold waters of a waterfall flow in rock carved hundreds of years ago by glacial melt water. The water carved the rock over time, making it smooth. It also created a thing known as potholes. Hemlock, maple, oak trees, and more grow in the dense forest surrounding the river and mountain. Another thing growing in the woods are the various funguses and shrubbery, like the cucumber of the woods, a plant with a large, edible root system. Another thing in the woods, is a glacial erratic, a large rock carried to the woods by a glacier. Overlooking the expansive forest, sits the mountain itself, 3,121 feet highl. The mountainś bald peak houses an alpine bog. Very little plant life is sustained on top of the mountain, trees growing only a few feet high. Another interesting thing about the mountains peak is the various rare mosses and lichens that grow in very specific conditions. Cardigan mountain has many different interesting examples of Physical Geography.
Cultural Geography: Nestled at the bottom of the mountain, is Cardigan lodge. The lodge has been owned and operated by the Appalachain Mountain Club since 1934. Many trails and roads branch off of the lodge, leading to many beautiful nature trails, and the mountain itself. On top of the mountain, there are lots of carvings and etchings in the mountain's peak, known as USGS markers, as well as a fire tower. Another example of Cultural Geography are the trees brought to New Hampshire by farmers and christmas tree enthusiasts. Apple trees and Scotch Pines dot the landscape, flourishing in the healthy NewHampshire landscape. Another thing made by farmers in New Hampshire is a cellar hole, which is the hole which used to be the cellar of a house. After time, farmers may have found the land too hard to tend to, seeing all the rocks in the ground. It was then abandoned. There is also an old rope tow, powered by a derelict car that used to pull skiers up the mountain. On the trails, there is planking to help you walk over puddles. At the many campsites around the lodge, there are bearboxes, reinforced metal boxes you lock your food in to avoid attracting bears. Another example of Cultural Geography is the building style used when building the lodge. Features like the metal roof are good for colder seasons, when snow will just slide off. The cairns on the hiking trails, stone walls in the woods, and even litter are all examples of Cultural Geography.We were there for 3 days, day 1, which was on a Sunday, day 2 , which was on a Monday, and day 3 , which was on a Tuesday.
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