Echoes of the Kancamagus: A Tale of Hidden Campsites and Remarkable Discoveries

As a family, we grew up with a seasonal camping site on the picturesque Kancamagus Highway, nestled about two miles in on the Conway, NH side. Our little haven was marked by a charming store called Baldy's Market, adorned with the whimsical figures of the Three Little Pigs on its rooftop. It was a place filled with cherished memories.

As I entered my late teenage years, I began to crave independence and solitude. While the rest of my family would return home to Rhode Island, I decided to stay behind and relish the peacefulness of our campsite. However, my rebellious streak soon led me into trouble. The campground owner caught me engaging in some innocent fun with a friend one evening, although I recall it was just a game of Yahtzee. Despite my protestations, I was no longer allowed to stay at our beloved site.

Undeterred, I decided to forge my own path and set up a secret campsite about a mile up the Swift River. It became my hidden sanctuary for the next two years, a place where I could roll those five dice without interruption.

To sustain myself, I sought employment at Baldy's Market. I started by making a humble five dollars an hour, performing various tasks to assist the store's owner. Sometimes I ran the store, tending to customers and ensuring everything was in order. Other times, I assisted Baldy with his intriguing hobby—crafting snowshoes and transforming logs into magnificent 20-foot totem poles. Occasionally, he would even fashion intricate dugout canoes.

In the time I spent working with Baldy, I learned skills that were unique to him, passed down by the indigenous Mistassini Cree of Canada, whom he visited regularly. It was a hidden world of knowledge and craftsmanship, one that only a select few were fortunate enough to discover.

Little did I realize the profound legacy of the man who had become my mentor. Treffle Bolduc, as I came to know him, was considered one of the world's foremost snowshoe makers. His artistry and expertise surpassed boundaries, earning him a well-deserved reputation. The very same Mistassini Cree who had imparted their wisdom to him held him in high regard.

Years later, after we had gone our separate ways, Treffle Bolduc opened a remarkable snowshoe center and museum on the Conway NH side of the Kancamagus Highway. It was a testament to his lifelong dedication and passion. His story took an even more surprising turn when I discovered that before becoming a snowshoe maker, he had been a concert violinist who played under the renowned Leonard Bernstein.

As I reminisce and share this journey with you, my eyes well up with emotion. I have in my possession a single photograph of Treffle Bolduc, graciously preserved by the National Library of Congress—a testament to the extraordinary life of this remarkable man.

And now, my friend, you know the rest of the story.