Pitcher Mountain – Stoddard, New Hampshire, U.S.A. Pitcher Mountain is a delicious little jaunt. We hiked the small peak (elevation: 300 feet) yesterday afternoon. We’d been told of the wild blueberry fields at the summit and assured that the trek to the top was a quick and easy one. Indeed, the trip was about a half mile each way (15-20 minutes), pleasant throughout with a slight, but steady incline. The route was a cinch; we just followed the white blazes.
Up top, the berries were plentiful. There were blueberries galore and even some black raspberries. The blueberries were a lot smaller than we expected, but we figured this was because they were truly organic, wild and free of pesticides. We are told that Pitcher owes its berry abundance to a fire that stripped the mountaintop of its tall trees creating great views and the perfect conditions for berries.
Whatever the reason, the berries were delicious and complemented quite nicely this morning’s pancakes–drizzled with pure maple syrup from Langdon, New Hampshire–and sausage links from Burlington, Vermont. A fresh blueberry, strawberry, banana, orange smoothie was a great finish. For dinner, we roasted lamb chops and drizzled with a fantastic blueberry reduction. Potato medallions with chives and fresh rosemary were the perfect side. Homemade wild blueberry muffins made a fitting dessert.