A gorgeous 4.3 mile hike will take you to the top of Mount Chocorua in Albany, New Hampshire.  The summit is located in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.  The rugged trek treats hikers to a gorgeous view of the lakes, mountains, and forests in the area.  The peak of Chocorua is noted as being one of the most photographed in the entire world.  At the top of Mount Chocorua, you will also find the site where Sokosis Chief Chocorua cursed the settlers of the area before jumping to his death.

As the story goes, Chocorua was a Native American chief from the 18th century.  In 1720, the chief went to a family of white settlers he was friendly with.  He approached the family, the Campbell’s, about watching his beloved son while he went away for a short period.

(images:chonch/flickr)

Unfortunately, while the chief was gone, his son found a poison that Cornelius Campbell used to control foxes in the area that had been attacking his livestock.  Finding the body of the lifeless boy, Mr. Campbell was devastated and feared having to share the news with the chief.  His worst fears came true when Chocorua, destroyed with grief, pledged revenge on the Campbell’s and the rest of the white settlers in the area.

Time went on without issue.  After a hunting trip, Mr. Campbell returned and found his wife and kids had been brutally slain.  He immediately suspected Chocorua and pursued him up the mountain.  He confronted the chief with a single rifle shot.  The chief, surviving the wound, cursed the white settlers, their homes, livestock and crops shouting,

“May the Great Spirit curse you when he speaks in the cloud and his words are fire!
Chocorua had a son- and ye killed him while the sky looked bright!
Lightning blast your crops!  Wind and fire destroy your dwellings!  The Evil Spirit breathe death upon your cattle!
Your graves lie in the war path of the Indian!  Panthers howl and wolves fatten over your bones!
Chocorua goes up to the Great Spirit – his curse stays with the white men!”

With that, Chief Cocorua leapt from the top of the summit to his death.

(images:NHPTV/flickr)
Mount Chocorua

His curse seems to have been fulfilled.  Reports of settlers indicate many plagues, livestock illnesses, and barren lands.  Even the mountain where the chief died became barren.  The slopes are unable to produce crops, all the trees on the summit died, and there are no traces of animal life.  Many have reported cattle death by drinking water too near the mountain.  Famine is still blamed on Cocorua’s curse.  The settlers avoided the mountain and even today the area remains lifeless and barren.