New Hampshire
Bordering The Appalachian Trail In New Hampshire Is A Quiet Mountain Getaway With Historic Inns And Waterfalls – Islands
For a mountain trip in New England that steps away from the main routes, you’ll find a quiet alternative in the White Mountain National Forest called Shelburne in New Hampshire. This town has a population of about 360 people (according to nh.gov) and is on the Androscoggin River. The riverside view gives it a rustic, quaint feeling for anyone wanting a break from busier areas like nearby Conway or Gorham.
The town is a great entry point to the Appalachian Trail, as the trail cuts through its center. For thru-hikers (people who hike all the way through a trail non-stop), this part of the trail marks a change from the Carter-Moriah Range to the more difficult Mahoosuc Range. This next section of the trail is known for being quite strenuous, including Mahoosuc Notch right over the border in Maine — a boulder-filled area that just might be the trail’s most challenging mile.
The general vibe in Shelburne is quiet and connected to the beautiful, great outdoors. When you’re looking for a place to stay, you’ll see the options match this feeling of mountain getaway and historic-chic, as there are some beautiful inns to choose from. Other than the grand Appalachian Trail that Shelburne borders, the area’s other natural features include a few waterfalls that you can check out. Other hotspots to see are small and mainly historical, but they can still be fun additions to your schedule. You can see a stone fish sculpture made in the early 1900s by a local man, or take a look at some natural artwork via a rock formation called the Old Man in the Valley.
Places to stay and eat in and near Shelburne, NH
The historic inns in Shelburne give you a place to stay that fits with the town’s mountain environment. The Philbrook Farm Inn is a good example, as its story starts as a farmhouse built around 1834. The family turned the house into a respite for travelers and managed it for many years after. The main building is a rustic, multi-floor inn that has had many additions, like a large guest wing in 1906 and a new dining area after a fire in 1934. When you stay, you can choose from a handful of rooms and a few cottages. The inn still has much of its old construction and woodwork, which gives you the chance to see the area’s history — it’s also on the National Register of Historic Places. For an even cozier feeling, you can relax by one of its fireplaces, too. Another choice on the Shelburne/Gorham border is the Town & Country Inn and Resort. This is a bigger property open all year with over 150 rooms and amenities, like an indoor pool, a hot tub, and access to a large network of ATV and snowmobile trails.
After a day exploring the outdoors and the Appalachian Trail, you will see that Shelburne itself does not have many places to eat. The restaurant inside the Town & Country Inn has breakfast and dinner every day, serving up American-style entrees. The next town over, Gorham, has the majority of the food joints. You can eat at local restaurants and pubs like J’s Corner Restaurant & Lounge, which serves seafood and steaks in a chill environment with a local crowd. The Notch Grille (at The Glen House Hotel) is another option, with views of Mount Washington and some hearty meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner — perfect after a day of hiking.
Spend time hiking and chasing waterfalls in Shelburne, NH
Outdoor activities consist of idyllic hikes hidden in New Hampshire’s White Mountains and the Appalachian Trail. A main hike to take is the round-trip jaunt (11.2 miles) to the top of Shelburne Moriah Mountain. Keep in mind that this is a slightly advanced trail with steep and rocky sections that starts on the Rattle River Trail, joins the Kenduskeag Trail, and ends at the high summit (3,735 feet to be exact). A different hike for you to try is the trail to Mount Hayes, which is under 7 miles and can be difficult. Even though New Hampshire is one of the safest states in America, be sure to bring water, sunscreen, and wear grippy hiking boots for extra caution.
Giant Falls, a high, two-part cascade on Peabody Brook, is a 3-mile trip (there and back) on the Peabody Brook Trail. Then check out Shelburne Basins, a group of pools and ledges like another iconic New Hampshire waterfall hidden in White Mountain National Forest called Diana’s Baths. You can reach the Shelburne Basins by taking a nearly 2-mile walk from a trailhead on U.S. Route 2. This is an easier walk through the woods that works well for a family-friendly New Hampshire adventure. When you’re crafting your itinerary, keep in mind that the amount of water at the falls changes with the seasons. In the spring, there is typically a strong flow down a fairly large cliff, but it can slow to almost nothing by the end of summer. Also check out the town of Bartlett, about 40 minutes away, for more waterfalls and mountain charm.
New Hampshire
Missing motorcyclist found dead after crash in Shelburne, NH
A New Hampshire motorcyclist who had been missing since the Fourth of July was found dead in Shelburne late Thursday night.
State police say they received a request from the Berlin Police Department just after 7:30 p.m. Thursday for help locating 41-year-old Wesley Grondin — the Berlin man was last seen riding his motorcycle on Saturday, July 4, and had been reported missing.
Troopers received a call a couple of hours later, around 10:10 p.m. Thursday, from a concerned resident who had been out looking for Grondin along Route 2 in Shelburne. The person told police they had found Grondin dead, along with his Harley Davidson.
According to state police, a preliminary investigation determined that Grondin was riding his Harley on Route 2 westbound in Shelburne when, for reasons that remain under investigation, he crossed over into the opposing lane, struck a post, and came to a final rest in the wood line.
The crash is believed to have occurred just before midnight on July 4. At this time, police say there’s no indication that another vehicle or person was involved.
All aspects of the crash remain under investigation, however. Anyone with information that may assist investigators is asked to contact Trooper Hunter Newsham at Hunter.P.Newsham@dos.nh.gov.
New Hampshire
Nashua, NH, woman jailed for falsifying marriage to claim late man’s estate
KEENE, N.H. — A Nashua woman who had a town clerk falsely certify a marriage that never happened so she could claim her late partner’s property has been sentenced to seven days in jail, placed on probation and ordered to repay thousands to his estate.
Attorney General John Formella said Wendy Leedberg‑Snow, 60, turned to Winchester Town Clerk Jim Tetreault after the death of her longtime partner, Eric Leedberg — who was born in Lowell — using the falsified license to pose as his spouse and lay claim to property from his estate, an effort prosecutors describe as an attempt to rewrite the couple’s history for financial gain.
“This case involved a deliberate effort to manipulate official government records and exploit the death of a loved one for personal financial gain,” Formella said in a press release announcing the sentencing. “Our vital records system depends on honesty and integrity, and those who seek to corrupt that system will be held accountable. I want to thank the investigators and prosecutors whose work ensured justice for the victim’s family.”
According to Leedberg’s obituary, he was 53 when he died on Oct. 12, 2023, following a two‑year battle with cancer.
In the obituary, Leedberg-Snow is described as his “significant other.”
Prosecutors said Leedberg‑Snow moved quickly after his death, relying on Tetreault’s signature to fabricate a marriage that never occurred and position herself as Leedberg’s surviving spouse.
Tetreault, who was a New Hampshire justice of the peace at the time, falsely signed the marriage license claiming he had officiated the couple’s wedding. He later admitted he never performed any ceremony for Leedberg‑Snow and Leedberg and had no personal knowledge of them ever being married.
Leedberg‑Snow used the fraudulent certificate to obtain property from Leedberg’s estate, including a pickup truck and trailer, and later attempted to influence a witness connected to the scheme.
Leedberg‑Snow pleaded guilty in Cheshire County Superior Court in Keene to felony counts of solicitation to commit vital records fraud, title fraud, theft by misapplication of property and witness tampering.
In addition to her seven‑day jail term, she must serve two years of probation, pay $4,600 in restitution, return the truck and trailer to Leedberg’s estate and comply with a suspended three‑and‑a‑half‑ to seven‑year prison sentence, which means the sentence only takes effect if she violates the conditions of her probation.
Tetreault, who continues to serve as Winchester’s town clerk and “fully cooperated with the State’s investigation,” according to prosecutors, pleaded guilty in April to notarial misconduct, a Class A misdemeanor. As part of a negotiated plea, prosecutors dropped a felony charge of vital records fraud. He was sentenced to 90 days in the house of corrections, all suspended for two years on good behavior, and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine plus a $240 penalty assessment.
He resigned his commissions as a justice of the peace and bail commissioner and agreed not to seek recommissioning as a justice of the peace or notary public during the two‑year suspension period.
Tetreault could not be reached for comment at his office number.
Follow Aaron Curtis on X @aselahcurtis, or on Bluesky @aaronscurtis.bsky.social.
New Hampshire
Rescue Crews Help Injured Woman Off Mt. Washington
SARGENT’S PURCHASE – On Saturday, personnel from multiple rescue crews teamed up to help an injured woman get off of Mt. Washington to seek medical treatment.
At approximately 7:45 AM, New Hampshire Fish and Game Department Conservation Officers were notified that a staff member at the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) Lakes of the Clouds Hut had taken a serious fall at the hut and was left unable to walk.
Fish and Game subsequently mobilized search and rescue personnel to come and help evacuate the young woman from her remote location.
By 10:00 AM, members of the Androscoggin Valley Search and Rescue Team (AVSAR), Pemigewassett Valley Search and Rescue Team (Pemi), AMC and Fish and Game had gathered at the Base Station of the Cog Rail. The Cog Railway generously donated room on their trains, and rescuers and equipment were given rides up Mt. Washington to the West Side Trail, which allowed for a shorter and less strenuous 1.6 mile hike than other routes.
By 11:20 AM rescuers were at the hut with the patient. The patient was subsequently packaged in a litter and prepared for an overland carryout back to the Cog tracks.
Rescue personnel made steady progress, and by 2:15 PM had made it back across West Side Trail and to the train tracks. A Cog Railway train picked up the whole rescue party and brought everyone back down the mountain. Once roadside, the patient was evaluated by personnel from Twin Mountain Fire and Rescue.
She was ultimately driven from the scene by a friend and went to Memorial Hospital in North Conway for further evaluation
and treatment of multiple injuries related to her fall. The patient was identified as Cali Turner, 26, of Willimantic, Maine.
Fish and Game would like to thank all of the people and organizations involved in this rescue effort. Through the help of everyone, the rescue was a great success and got done in a timely manner.
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