Mount Monadnock NH TR 120515
Dec 9, 2015 7:05:39 GMT -5
Post by hoosier on Dec 9, 2015 7:05:39 GMT -5
Saturday December 5, 2015
Mount Monadnock NH
Saturday morning found me arriving at the main Parking area of Mount Monadnock State Park in Jaffery NH. The last time I hiked this mountain was when I was on the way to the White Mountains in New Hampshire back in 2007. And the summit was in the clouds on a dreary and cold December back then. But todays hike would not be a repeat of that day, as the sun was shining brightly, and not a cloud was to be seen
Mount Monadnock stands alone above southern New Hampshire at 3165 feet. In fact, it's name is Native American for "stands alone". It has a bare rocky summit due to forest fires between 1801 and 1815.
Did a 6.25 mile (+/-) hike from the parking area at the park office/store using the following trails: Parker Trail; Cliff Walk (Beautiful Trail); Smith Connecting/Amphitheatre Trails; Smith Summit Trail to the Summit. And then the White Dot Trail; White Cross Trail, And White Dot Trail to descend from the summit. The Cliff Walk trail may be one of my favorite trails in this park after this hike. With its crossing of Bald Peak and it’s view of the summit due north.
The upper third of the mountain had some snow and icy spots to navigate. But by taking care of foot placement on the open rock it was easily achieved. By using the lesser used trails on the south and west side of the mountain. I did not encounter another hiker till I arrived on the open summit.
A few photo highlights of the hike:
View of Mount Monadnock across Poole Reservoir on Parker Trail
Ladder of cliffy section of Cliff Walk Trail
More of the Cliff Walk Trail
Monadnock Summit from atop Bald Peak
Looking southwest at Mount Rosa fron the Smith Summit Trail
Looking southeast from Summit of Monadnock
Looking back at summit while descending on the White Dot Trail
Bald Peak (where I was earlier on hike) from a viewpoint on the White Cross Trail
Mount Monadnock NH
Saturday morning found me arriving at the main Parking area of Mount Monadnock State Park in Jaffery NH. The last time I hiked this mountain was when I was on the way to the White Mountains in New Hampshire back in 2007. And the summit was in the clouds on a dreary and cold December back then. But todays hike would not be a repeat of that day, as the sun was shining brightly, and not a cloud was to be seen
Mount Monadnock stands alone above southern New Hampshire at 3165 feet. In fact, it's name is Native American for "stands alone". It has a bare rocky summit due to forest fires between 1801 and 1815.
Did a 6.25 mile (+/-) hike from the parking area at the park office/store using the following trails: Parker Trail; Cliff Walk (Beautiful Trail); Smith Connecting/Amphitheatre Trails; Smith Summit Trail to the Summit. And then the White Dot Trail; White Cross Trail, And White Dot Trail to descend from the summit. The Cliff Walk trail may be one of my favorite trails in this park after this hike. With its crossing of Bald Peak and it’s view of the summit due north.
The upper third of the mountain had some snow and icy spots to navigate. But by taking care of foot placement on the open rock it was easily achieved. By using the lesser used trails on the south and west side of the mountain. I did not encounter another hiker till I arrived on the open summit.
A few photo highlights of the hike:
View of Mount Monadnock across Poole Reservoir on Parker Trail
Ladder of cliffy section of Cliff Walk Trail
More of the Cliff Walk Trail
Monadnock Summit from atop Bald Peak
Looking southwest at Mount Rosa fron the Smith Summit Trail
Looking southeast from Summit of Monadnock
Looking back at summit while descending on the White Dot Trail
Bald Peak (where I was earlier on hike) from a viewpoint on the White Cross Trail
