Well folks, here it is the last few days of July and I have neglected to let you in on my Monadnock Monday hikes. I know…It’s been quite a while since I’ve written anything, in fact. I do plan on writing more again. Honestly, this summer has been so busy that I have have been reveling in “having” work (almost too much) instead of finding things to do and “wishing” I had work. So I haven't been doing a lot of writing. Or if I do, its just quickie blurbs on Facebook. But I digress. I wanted to let you know what I’ve done to date for hikes.
Of course the first thing to tell you is that Instead of once a week, it has turned out that I’ve only managed to hike once a month or so, and now that work is so busy, I can’t afford to miss Mondays, and so the quest has been suspended until further notice. I hope to get back to hiking this fall, although there is still the chance that I’ll make the trek on a weekend or two this summer. I’ve made the trip 6 times this summer so far, and here is what I’ve done and where I’ve gone.
April 11, 2011 ~ I did a solo hike up the steep and beautiful Marlboro Trail , which usually promises to be devoid of other hikers. The promise held, and I met only one other person. Near the top it was a little treacherous, as there was still snow and ice in the sheltered areas, which also turned out to be the steeper tougher going areas. (1hr-45m up: 1hr-15m down)
April 18, 2011 ~ School vacation for the kids. I decided to take them up with me. While we were buying provisions at a fantastic sandwich shop in Keene, we ran into my sister-in-law Shelly and her kids and one of their friends. They were also heading to the mountain for a hike, so we decided to join them. Their destination was the Marlboro trail. It was interesting to see the changes in the trail in just one week. Buds were opening and the snow was almost all gone.
It was pretty fun hiking with a passle of kids, who ran up and down the mountain constantly while Shelli and I trudged along up after them. My kids were very excited to be hiking with their cousins. We even decided that we should do more family hikes and camping after this trip (2hrs up: 2hrs down)
May 2, 2011 ~ Another solo hike. This time I left from the State Park so that I could buy a trail guide at the headquarters gift shop. I ascended the White Cross Trail and came down the White Dot Trail. The White Cross is fairly steep, with a stairway in places…a good trail NOT to come down on with tired legs. The snow was finally gone from the mountain and I had a beautiful sunny breezy day to hike.
The park headquarters was closed when I arrived, and when I got back. I spied a ranger and asked if that was the case, and she told me normally yes, but she could open up if I wanted to buy some stuff. So I did :) I bought my trail guide and a sticker for my truck. I love the State and National Park gift shops. So many cool maps, books, guides, trinkets and gadgets. (1hr-40m up: 1hr-08m down)
May 9, 2011 ~ For this hike, I chose the Dublin Trail and hiked with Shelly. It turns out this is one of the hidden gems on Monadnock. It is a very pretty trail and not terribly difficult.
Although the trail head looked like it must get crowded later in the season or on weekends, there was only one other car when we arrived. When we arrived at the summit there wasn’t another soul around. We ate lunch and enjoyed the sunshine for about an hour. I know now to where sunscreen, no matter what…what a burn on my legs! By noon, a small crowd had ascended the mountain and filled the crags and crannies around us. We decided to leave and made a leisurely descent back to the car. (1hr-40m up: 1hr-30m down)
May 29, 2011 ~ The Family Hike. Once again, I hit the Dublin trail. Tracy, the kids and I met my sister Sarah and her husband Bruno, and my brother Dan, sis-in-law Shelly and their kids and did the family tour. It was a great day and we all enjoyed the group thing plus the little mini-conversations as people broke off at different hiking rates and chatted.
At the top we met a couple of Tracy’s Roller-derby team mates. The top was actually quite crowded…it was a pretty warm and sunny day, and if you check your calendars you’ll also note it was a Sunday. Not everyone can work 4-10 hour days and make their own schedule. (I think this hike was about a 5-1/2 hour round trip..forgot to write stuff down)
June 2, 2011 ~ The last hike so far this summer. I did a another solo adventure. I started at the State Campground on the Dublin Road and started up the mountain by the Birchtoft Trail. After a fairly easy, gently sloping wooded climb of about an hour I came to a cross roads and decided to hop onto the Cascade Link Trail. Fantastic choice!
It is almost all open ledges and “the long way,” but its not very steep at all and its so sunny and open. There are so many great views and places to sit, and of course, no other hikers. Cascade ends at the Pumpelly Trail, which them leads to the top. It was a gorgeous day, so I took advantage of the weather and my free time to enjoy a leisurely lunch and a good book for about an hour, soaking up the sun in just my shorts and sunglasses on the summit.
I took the shortcut on the way down, the Red Spot Trail, which is quite a bit steeper. (2hrs-30m up: 1hr-35m down)
Now I have three trails left to finish the quest of climbing all the main trails leading up to the summit. The halfway house trail, the Lost Farm Trail and the Pumpelly trail. The first tow are fairly short trails, but Pumpelly will eat up the whole day. I’ve done it before… its beautiful and follows the open ridges on the spur that runs southwesterly from Dublin Lake to the peak.
