Sanders Bridge, Randolph Path – The Sanders Bridge crosses Cold Brook along the Randolph Path in Low and Burbank's Grant, New Hampshire. It is a memorial to Miriam Sanders, who was treasurer of the Randolph Mountain Club (RMC) for many years. The RMC maintains this rustic looking wooden bridge.
Originally built in 1976, the Sanders Bridge has had repairs over the years. In 2017, when the RMC did repairs to it, students from Burke Mountain Academy transported materials to the bridge site. If you have spent any time on the trail system in the Northern Presidential Range, you are likely aware of the RMC and their dedication to conserving the trails that they maintain.
Formed in August 1910, the RMC is just a small organization, but when it comes to trail stewardship, no other organization can touch them. They are the best of the best. And when it comes to trail maintenance, one of their greatest attributes is being able to balance that delicate relationship between humans and nature. When you hike a trail that is maintained by the RMC, you feel like you're in nature; even the trail bridges look natural.
I don’t recall my first (1990s?) visit to the Sanders Bridge but I have always enjoyed sitting next to it. While it is in a picturesque setting along Cold Brook, human influence on nature usually impacts the overall beauty of a landscape scene. But in this case, it's just the opposite, the bridge is what makes this landscape special. The Sanders Bridge is proof that humans and nature can co-exist.
The history of this area is fascinating, and the brook itself is also of interest. There are at least eleven cascades on Cold Brook. Five of them are named; Cold Brook Fall, Mossy Fall, Secunda Cascade, Tertia Cascade, and Quarta Cascade, and the other six are nameless. Cold Brook is one of the hidden gems in the Presidential Range.
Happy image making..
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© Erin Paul Donovan. All rights reserved | Historic Information Disclaimer | White Mountains History
Owner of ScenicNH Photography LLC
Erin Paul is a professional photographer, writer, and author who specializes in environmental conservation and historic preservation photography mainly in the New Hampshire White Mountains. His work is published worldwide, and publication credits include: Appalachian Mountain Club, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Backpacker Magazine, and The Wilderness Society.
ScenicNH Photography LLC
Specializing in environmental conservation and historic preservation photography mainly in the White Mountains region of New Hampshire, Erin Paul’s photography and writing focuses on the history of the White Mountains, and telling the story of abandoned places and forgotten historical sites.