After climbing back up from the base of the falls, we continued north on Route 16 and stopped at Wildcat to get a drink and take some shots of the magnificent views of Mt. Washington to the east and Wildcat to the west. It was so lovely we decided to take the short hike loop at the base of the mountain and head up to Thompson Falls. The Way of the Wildcat loop is a delightful hike through the woods with markers telling the history and stories of the area including stories of the Abenaki people and the establishment of the reservation area of the White Mountains National Forest. 

The hike off the trail to the falls certainly seemed much further than the half mile it was stated to be, but it was worth it when we arrived. Thompson Falls were a hidden gem up until 2011 - when the Thompson Falls Trail became an official trail of the White Mountain National Forest - the falls had largely remained a mystery. Apart from an appearance on the 1942 USGS North Conway quadrangle and a brief mention in an AMC White Mountain Guide dating to the 1950's. It is still a very secluded, very pretty, picturesque cascade of water over a clam shaped ledge without the heavy foot traffic associated with other falls in the area, in fact we were entirely alone. 

After a somewhat strenuous morning of hiking, we headed north again in search of sustenance. We stopped in Gorham as there appeared to be a plethora of eateries, however as we walked down Main St it looked more and more deserted. Everywhere was closed. I'm not sure if Gorham comes alive in the evening, but it definitely sleeps during the day. After grabbing a Burger King (teenage boys turn into monsters if left hungry for too long), we headed west and back down the other side of Mt. Washington through Crawford Notch, where the scenery is just as impressive.