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Moonless Night Should Provide Perfect Snowshoe And Stargazing Outing At Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site

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By NPT Staff - March 9th, 2015

The prospect of a dark, moonless sky over Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site in New Hampshire has park staff planning a night-time hike to combine snowshoeing and stargazing later this month.

The staff plans to celebrate the arrival of spring with the free snowshoe hike on Saturday, March 21, at 8 p.m. (cloud date, Sunday March 22). The hike will take place at Blow-Me-Down Farm, part of Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site along the Connecticut River. Meet at the Saint-Gaudens Visitor Center, which will open at 7:30 pm. Tour departs from the Visitor Center to Blow-Me-Down Farm at 8 p.m.

The Spring Equinox means a New Moon and dark sky -- perfect for beholding the constellations of the late winter/early spring night sky. During the trek you'll be receive a brief history of the cosmos and learn how to use a sky chart - all on a leisurely snowshoe hike around Blow-Me-Down Farm. The hike will be guided by Dr. Kevin Hainline, a black hole researcher in Dartmouth College's Department of Physics and Astronomy. Hot cocoa and cookies will be provided after the hike, as well an opportunity to talk with astronomers from Dartmouth. Listen to stories of the celestial bodies and go home with the tools to stargaze in your own backyard.

You're advised to dress warmly if you plan to attend. A headlamp or flashlight with a red filter is recommended, as white light disrupts night vision. Shoulder blankets and night-time binoculars are encouraged. Snowshoes and some red filtered lights are available from Saint-Gaudens NHS; please reserve them in advance.

If conditions are not favorable for snowshoeing, the event will proceed as a regular hike. Please RSVP by 3 p.m., Friday, March 20, and provide name, number in party, and contact information in the event of date change to: [email protected] or call 603-375-2175 x113. Scheduling changes and cancelations will be posted on the park website, www.nps.gov/saga, and our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/SaintGaudensNPS.

Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site is located off NH Route 12A just north of the Cornish-Windsor Covered Bridge. 

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