Cedar Ridge
The small mountain town of Cedar Ridge, New Hampshire, was wiped off the map in one of the most unexpected and devastating natural disasters in modern history. On October 27, 2075, a sudden eruption of Mount Washington—a peak never previously identified as an active volcano—unleashed fire and destruction across the region. The event came just days after an unexplained wildfire forced an evacuation order, sparing thousands of lives but leaving over 100 confirmed dead, with dozens still unaccounted for.
The sheer violence of the eruption stunned geologists and emergency response teams alike. Mount Washington had no known volcanic activity, yet in the span of hours, the mountain was torn apart by magma flows, pyroclastic surges, and explosive shockwaves that reshaped the landscape. The nearby Saco River Valley remains scarred, and thick ash still coats parts of the White Mountain National Forest.
Anomalies and Theories
Despite official reports pointing to a previously undetected magma intrusion, the suddenness of the disaster has led to rampant speculation. Online communities have been flooded with unverified accounts of strange events leading up to the eruption. Witnesses from nearby towns reported military convoys, unidentified private security forces, and even rumors of a massive creature sighted in the area before the mountain exploded.
“These sorts of theories always follow major disasters,” said Dr. Eliza Marquez, a volcanologist at the North American Geophysical Institute. “The reality is that deep faults exist across the Appalachian region, and it’s possible that shifting tectonic stresses triggered a release of magma that had been trapped for millennia.”
Others claim that satellite data shows no prior volcanic activity, making a magmatic buildup unlikely. Some first responders have spoken anonymously about being forced out of the area before they could reach Cedar Ridge, while locals swear that strange aircraft were seen circling the region before communications were lost.
The Official Explanation
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the eruption was caused by a catastrophic collapse of underground rock formations, exposing a previously hidden magma chamber. The resulting pressure release triggered a violent chain reaction, leading to the destruction of Cedar Ridge.
“The geological record is full of surprises,” said Dr. Marquez. “It’s rare, but not impossible, for a dormant system to reactivate under the right conditions. What happened at Mount Washington is unusual, but not unprecedented.”
Still, independent researchers continue to raise questions about the lack of warning signs, the presence of heavily armed personnel in the area before the event, and the speed at which information about the disaster has been restricted.
Cedar Ridge Today
The site remains sealed off, declared an active geological hazard zone by federal authorities. A joint military and scientific task force is monitoring the area, citing ongoing seismic instability and hazardous conditions as justification for the quarantine.
Requests for more detailed data on the event have been met with bureaucratic delays and limited press access, fueling speculation among online theorists. Some claim that something else happened in Cedar Ridge—something the world wasn’t meant to see.
For now, the ruins of the town lie buried beneath layers of volcanic ash, and the White Mountains continue to smolder—a silent reminder of a disaster that, according to some, should never have happened at all.
RUINED SETTLEMENT
October 27, 2075
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