Join me for a relaxing camping weekend over Memorial Day in the North Country of New Hampshire.  This will hopefully be an opportunity to meet some new GayOutdoor members!  We'll use the Lake Francis Campground as our base.  This campground sits on the northern shore of the lake, where the Connecticut River enters.  The campground includes basic amenities, including hot showers.

This weekend is meant to be social and fun with no specific itinerary.  That said, the following is an outline of the proposed activites:

• Saturday:  Hike Monadnock Mountain with its restored fire tower and views over the Connecticut River Valley (4.8 miles / 2108 feet elevation gain).  This is a short hike and there will be time to visit the quaint downtown of Colebrook, the beautiful Beaver Brook Falls Wayside and the Pittsburg-Clarksville Covered Bridge (depending on group's interest)
• Sunday:  Canoe/kayak Lake Francis and Connecticut River with its mostly undeveloped coastline, coves, island and dam (rentals available in at the campground for $30/half-day or $50/full-day).
• Monday:  Break camp.  If there is interest, a hike up the 3383-foot Mount Magalloway with its fire tower and fire warden's cabin (1.8 miles/800 feet elevation gain) providing views over the lakes and into Maine, Vermont and Canada.
• Nightly campfires

All planned activities will have ability levels of MODERATE.  Any water activities would require decent swimming ability.  There will be plenty of opportunities to relax or to take one of many short trails along the lake.

Camping:  We'll camp at Lake Francis Campground for the 3 nights.  Reservations can be made online at www.reserveamerica.com. (I've already booked Site 24 and there are nearby sites available).  Nightly rates are $25/site plus the reservation fee.  Information about Lake Francis State Park along with Campground Map.   NOTE:  You will be responsible for your own site reservation, but I encourage and will help coordinate sharing of sites.  A maximum of 4 adults (and I'm assuming 2 tents/cars, like at other campgrounds) are permitted per site.  There are hot showers and lake access from within the park.

Food:  Aside from a grocery store in Colebrook and some country stores, there are limited choices for food in this area...Bring most of what you will need.

What to Bring:  Some of the camping supplies to consider would include cooler with food, camp stove, clothing, toiletries, tent, sleeping bag, pad/mattress, camp chair, swim suit, towel(s), aqua socks/shoes, hiking boots/shoes, daypack, etc.  All firewood must be sourced locally.  I will be bringing a canopy for the picnic table.

FROM COLEBROOK:  As you enter town from Route 3, turn right onto Route 145 and travel 13.1 miles.  This will re-join Route 3 and you'll travel for another 3.9 miles.  Turn right onto Cardinal Drive and drive 0.9 miles.  After crossing Hill-Danforth Road, the road become Philbrook Road.  Continue for another 0.9 miles.  Turn righe onto River Road and follow this to the campground in about 0.8 miles.

For GPS Users:  River Road, Pittsburg, NH (45.060037, -71.303246)