Another N.H. rock profile gets attention

Four years after the demise of the Old Man of the Mountain, another of New Hampshire's rocky profiles is getting a little more attention.

At about 98 feet long, the Indian Head on the side of Mount Pemigewassett is nearly 60 feet longer than the Old Man of the Mountain was, but it never attracted much attention in part because the Old Man profile was more distinct and easily visible from the highway.

Stew Weldon of the Indian Head Resort told the New Hampshire Union Leader newspaper that interest in the Indian Head has surged since the Old Man crumbled.

"It definitely spiked after the Old Man fell and we can't keep enough Indian Head paraphernalia in the gift shop _ it flies out of here," he said.

To view the Indian Head rock profile, head north on I-93, take exit 33 (look for signs for "Indian Head Viewing"), then bear right onto U.S. Route 3. Exit right into the Indian Head Resort parking lot and look to the left to see the Indian Head rock profile.

The profile and panoramic views of surrounding mountains can also be seen from Indian Head Resort's 100-foot-tall observation tower.

Hikers can take the Mount Pemigewassett trail or the Indian Head trail to the top, about 3.8 miles round-trip.

Pemigewassett is near the Flume Visitor Center in the southern end of Franconia Notch State Park, in the White Mountain National Forest. A link to a downloadable map can be found at the bottom of the home page at http://www.franconianotchstatepark.com/.