Hi there! I'm Nathan, a '27 from Lynn, MA (just outside Boston). I'm an intended Engineering Sciences Major and Studio Art Minor—I like to understand, design, and create things. I also love reading about history, writing, and photography (hence this blog). On-campus, I'm involved in the Triathlon Team, French Living Learning Community (LLC), and Magnuson Center for Entrepreneurship. Explore my posts for an inside perspective of everything Dartmouth has to offer!
When I first arrived on campus, I acquainted myself with the area through my runs. There's no better way to find out where everything is than to go out and explore physically. It can be nice to take a moment and venture outside of campus boundaries. I've found that running helps me clear my head; there's something special about consistently spending time in a landscape and beginning to call it home.
Starting directly on campus, we have the classic Occom Pond loop. Occom Pond has a path that wraps around its entire circumference, making it a popular destination for walkers and runners alike. A Dartmouth Lingo term for any walk around Occom is a "Woccom." I like running Occom loops when I don't feel like going too far or if the weather is unfavorable. A local running group, the "Upper Valley Run Club," hosts speed workouts around Occom every Tuesday. As a part of Club Triathlon, I can attend these for free—which makes for a fun, challenging afternoon (though I can't say I go every week).
The loop! Or loop(s)
Moving directly North, we have River Road, which is probably one of the most scenic routes; it follows the Connecticut River for what feels like forever. I usually run past the green, turn right onto West Wheelock Street, and eventually turn again onto River Rd. West Wheelock St. is a massive hill, so getting to River Rd. is fine (downhill), but coming back can be quite the climb. I should also mention the Connecticut River is the border between Vermont and New Hampshire, which makes River Rd. a multi-state running route?!
You can go as far as you want... really.
Moving South, we have Lebanon Street and Greensboro Road. Both bring you to a quaint residential area. This out-and-back is good if I'm leaving the gym and I don't want a route with lots of hills. I would say the biggest challenges in finding good routes are knowing where the most elevation gain is and how much traffic exists because both will dictate how pleasant the run is.
I have yet to become ambitious enough to turn this into a full loop.
Lastly, there's Lyme Road, which also follows the Connecticut River—but not directly next to the shoreline. I take Lyme Road past the Life Sciences Center, continue straight at the rotary, and typically turn around when the sidewalk ends. Lyme Road also goes past the old Dartmouth Golf Course, which has since been converted to trails connecting with Pine Park (another great route, perfect for light trail running).
Here I kind of went all over—but I did go up Lyme Rd. for a bit!
Dartmouth is not just a college. With world-renowned graduate schools, why would we choose to call ourselves a college instead of a university? The story behind that decision dates back to a significant Supreme Court ruling.
On a quiet spring Saturday in Hanover, I traded the usual campus buzz for Monet in the morning and archery in the afternoon—a reminder that Dartmouth weekends can be just as meaningful when they're slow, reflective, and a little unexpected.
During my sophomore spring quarter, I took on the challenge of four STEM courses, and while it has been intense, the unexpected connections across subjects and the joy of learning have made it one of my most rewarding academic experiences yet.
Read about the Sophomore Summer Soiree and how I got to witness the beginning of something that hopefully grows into a long-standing Dartmouth tradition!
Here is my list of the restaurants in Hanover within walking distance of Dartmouth. Whether you're touring campus for the first time or are a Dartmouth student in need of a new place to eat, feel free to reference this list!
As I approach the end of my first year at Dartmouth, I would like to reflect on some of the experiences and lessons I've learned throughout this school year.
