A Short Trek to Cold Brook Fall in Randolph, NH

INTRODUCTION:

In early February 2019 I was in the vicinity of Randolph, NH, and just on a whim I decided to do a short hike.  I already had snowshoes in my car, and so why not!  My target was a waterfall known as Cold Brook Fall.  It is considered by many to be the most dramatic of the many waterfalls along Cold Brook which runs between the floor of King Ravine and the Randolph Valley.  This spot, with its large pool, makes a nice place for a picnic but not to swim, as the residents of Randolph use this as a source of their drinking water.

FACTOIDS RELATED TO COLD BROOK FALL:

_ A) Directions:

Cold Brook Fall can be reached from the Appalachia trailhead parking lot off U.S. 2 in Randolph, NH.    Just follow the Link trail for 0.7 mile to the Memorial Bridge.   Cross over the bridge and take the Amphibrach trail which diverges left from the Link, and then look for a path on the left which takes you directly to the waterfall.

_ B) Nomenclature:

You will note that the name “Cold Brook Fall” is the name used for this waterfall, rather than “Cold Brook Falls”.   Generally speaking, in this particular area of the White Mountains, if there is a singular waterfall, then it has “fall” in its name.  However, if there are multiple drops in the waterfall, then the plural “falls” is used in its name.

And regarding Cold Brook itself, it is so-named because the water is always very cold since it emanates from under the boulders high up on the floor of King Ravine where ice can be found year round.

_ C) More About Amphibrach Trail:

In case you are wondering about the derivation of the unusually-named Amphibrach trail, it was designed by Eugene Cook and opened in 1883.  It takes its name from the blazing that was initially used, i.e. short, long, short, which is how Cook marked all his trails.

In some forms of poetry, an amphibrach is a stressed syllable surrounded by two unstressed syllables.  Some books by Dr. Seuss contain lines written in amphibrachs, such as these from “If I Ran the Circus”:

All ready / to put up / the tents for / my circus.

I think I / will call it / the Circus / McGurkus.

_ D) More About the Memorial Bridge:

And further regarding Memorial Bridge, it was officially dedicated on August 23, 1924.  It was designed and built by Louis F. Cutter and Eldredge H. Blood.

Louis F. Cutter created maps of the White Mountains from 1885 until his death in 1945.  He took barometric measurements to determine altitudes, and measured on-the-ground distances with an odometer he created from the front wheel of a bicycle.  Eldredge H. Blood was one of the founders of the Randolph Mountain Club (RMC).  The RMC maintains a network of over 100 miles of hiking trails in Randolph, NH, principally on the northern slopes of the Presidential Mountain Range, as well as trails on the nearby Crescent Mountain Range.

PHOTOS:

Partially frozen Cold Brook Fall 

(Hopefully, the forceful waters of the spring run-off will get rid of the fallen tree seen on the left side of this photo.)

The picturesque Memorial Bridge that spans Cold Brook

The plaque on Memorial Bridge with the inscribed names of Louis F. Cutter and Eldredge H. Blood

Beech leaf “litter” along the Link trail adds a little color to the winter scenery. :-)

And, as anyone knows who has hiked the trails leading out of the Appalachia trailhead, you’ll often come across a variety of tubing used to transport sap from tapped maple trees.  The time for sugaring is fast approaching!

TO SUM IT UP:

This little hike was very enjoyable.  Perhaps it serves as an example of when small, unplanned adventures can sometimes be as delightful as those that are more extensive and meticulously planned. :-)