Black Mountain is a 2,830 foot mountain in Benton, NH just northwest of mightly Mount Mooselauk.  It is part of the 52 with a View hiking list.  The 52 With a View hiking list is a peak-bagging challenge in New Hampshire featuring 52 mountains under 4,000 feet in elevation, all selected for their exceptional summit views.

We picked a stellar fall day to revisit this magical mountain on the NH - Vermont border.  Blazing bue skies, puffy cotton ball clouds and warm rays of sun welcomed us.  The most common route up to the summit of Black Mountain is via the Chippetrawa Trail off Lime Kiln Road. There are several view points off rock ledges before you even reach the summit. The mountain was once home to a fire tower that has since been removed.

From the many view points along the way to the summit, we gazed apon a landscaped transformed from it's usual meditative deep hues of summer green into an enchanting phantasm color explosion harolding FALL.  The higher we went the more evident fall had arrived in NHers mountains.  The valley floor was on blazing fire in a mesmorizing kaleidoskoop of amber, ruby, amethyst, citrine and rose.  Nature never disappoints but in the fall she leans hard towards excess and pagentry before the arrival of deep winters slumber.

I've heard thru mountain lore that a lost cave, trolls palace, devils den - whatever it is called exists but is now a fading memory or mountain legend.  On the way down the mountain, I channeled my inner exploratory spirit, looking for clues - faint trail, rock markers and tree marks.  After 3 failed leads I noticed a faint foot path on pine needles headed into the woods.  In five minutes I was beside a 60 foot granite wall below one of the ledgy lookouts.  My spidy sense was on fire with excitement.  Rounding a bend I saw the lost cave and 2 tunnels that were created when a 100 tom slab of granite sheared off the cliff above.  Happily stoked I explored the cave and tunnels while on the look-out for devious trolls.  They must've been out collecting mushrooms for dinner as I never saw one - whewww!  Safe and sound our adventure came to a happy close with a great drive home on the Kancamagus Secenic by-way into Woodstock, NH and back home.

Put the car is drive and channel your inner spirit to set out for an epic adventure on an epic trail to call your own!!