New Hampshire Public Radio has a program asking for listeners to suggest story topics. One recent suggestion was a gem: “On the on-ramp on I-93, there’s supposed to be a 1magnetic phenomenon1 where you go uphill when in neutral. Is it real?”
Alas, not enough people asked this question for them to investigate and NHPR wouldn’t release the question’s identity so I could immediately call and ask him*: Which on-ramp????
I asked the NH Department of Transportation is they had heard of any such attribute for any I-93 ramp, but I struck out. Bummer.
I love the topic of Gravity Hills, a.k.a. Magnetic Hills, a.k.a. Mystery Hills. As the excellent wikipedia article tells you**, these are optical illusions where the lack of expected clues can fool you into thinking downhill is actually uphill. I’ve been to a couple of these, including Cote Magnetique in Chartierville, Quebec, not too far north of the N.H. border, and they are awesome. Even though you know you’re being fooled, you can’t not see the illusion. Lots of fun.
There are zillions of them around the world as, once again, wikipedia will tell you, but so far as I know none identified in New Hampshire.
So I’ll have to ask you, gentle reader: Have you seen a good gravity hill in New Hampshire, either associated with the interstates or otherwise? If so, let me know at dbrooks@cmonitor.com!
* it’s got to be a male, don’t you think?
** Yes, I’ve edited it
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I’ve heard this before regarding the Exit 13 on-ramp going northbound. I think maybe because it’s such a long ramp people think that, though of course I’d never test it.
I took it today on my way back from Boston to Montréal, it’s between Mt Lafayette and Saint-Johnsbury on the 93. My Brother and I were laughing as hell, I knew I was Going uphill because of my rpm but it really felt like we were going downhill.
Heading South on route 16 after the Mt Washington auto road. As you close in on Pinkham Notch parking area you will appear to be heading into on a long downhill slope. Pull over to the side,throw car into neutral and watch whats appears to be your car rolling backwards uphill. Turned around twice to verify. Certainly is an odd illusion.
Coming down 16 from Gorham just past the Mt Washington Suto road but before the entrance to Pinkham Notch parking area is what looks like a state garage. Completely looks like you’re going down hill, Put the car in neutral and backwards I rolled. Even baffled my fellow traveler.
Auto road that is. Sorry guys. Typos
Yes. You appear to be going downhill, yet pulled back uphill. It’s a great experience. Worth the road trip if you have the time. I loved it.
There is also one located just off Route #107 in Belmont near the old spring… Old Marsh Hill Road is the name, I think! 🙂
I remember as a kid, “Ghost Hill” in or around Richmond, NH. It seemed to be a relatively large paved road. Maybe someone else has heard of it and has more details.
Yes! There definitely is one, and I’ve been to it and since been trying to find where it is. Very cool experience. I can’t remember where exactly it is but was traveling from southern Maine up to Berlin to play a small concert, it was a highway possibly rt.107 like Cheryl said but I can’t remember. We we’re smoking a bit of ganja so when my bandmate asked if “I’ve ever rolled up hill” before, naturally I was like TF you mean, you’re high. We stopped at what appeared to be the bottom of the hill and he asked if I agreed we were at the bottom of the hill. I said it looks like it, threw it in N and we rolled back UP the hill. I knew there had to be an explanation, I figured it was probably an optical illusion but you really can’t tell, illusion or not it’s pretty neat still. He had found out about the hill at a local bar where a local baited him into a bet and he fell for it. Afterwards he was out there with his tools and a level trying to figure it out and how he just lost $100
Aggasis Road Bethlehem NH
There is on 112 coming out of Lincoln NH going up lost river rd. I remember as a kid doing it.. its right before you crests the top of the mountain before you hit lost river Gorge.. pretty fun..
Ethan is correct. Best the brake down lane facing uphill across the street from Lost River Gorge.