I previously paid two visits to this extremely popular mountain; links to those visits are here.
In this post, I’ll keep track of my remaining visits. Per my own rules, I need to hike the number of original miles that equal the number of years since the specific National Natural Landmark was designated. For example, Monadnock was designated a NNL in 1987, 35 years ago. Therefore, I need to hike 35 miles of Monadnock trails. Monadnock has just under 36 miles of trail, so basically I need to do all the trails on Monadnock.
After today, I should be able to get my remaining Monadnock trails in five visits. Instead of giving each visit its own post, I’ll keep adding to this one. I hope to finish with Monadnock by the end of May.
Monadnock is either the second or third most hiked mountain in the world, according to which stat one cites. It sits in southern NH close to the MA border and is therefore close to many urban areas, most notably Boston. Its summit is bare and bouldery, and on a good day, the 365-degree views are outstanding.
March 29, 2022: Marlboro-Dublin-Smith Summit-Great Pasture-Marian Trails (loop).
Since I am allergic to crowds, I like to hike midweek and when less experienced trekkers avoid the peaks. To my delight, I saw no one at all this day. The frigid temperatures, 30mph winds, icy rocks, and midweek day likely had everything to do with this. On nicer days and on weekends, this peak can be a zoo.
The access road to the start of Marlboro Trail can be impassable during spring, but today the road was do-able with a high clearance vehicle. I made it to and from the trailhead without leaving half my car in mud or ruts.
It was a cold morning, so I hiked quickly to warm myself. I carried a full backpack loaded with everything I need for a thruhike; I continue to train for my upcoming New England Trail thru.
Marlboro Trail started bare but turned a bit snowy and icy. I made it without ever donning microspikes, though.
I reached the intersection with Dublin Trail. I’ll get the rest of Dublin (from here down the north side of the mountain) in April or May.
The wind felt and sounded fierce. Heading up, I knew I’d be 100% in it, so I grabbed my buff and put it over my face. It felt cold enough to be frostbite temps with that windchill.
Up I went to Monadnock’s summit, getting knocked around by the wind and being careful with my foot placement since patches of ice abounded.
I’m an experienced enough four-season hiker to know when I need to heed alarm bells going off in my head…up there, those bells began to sound. I wanted to find the start of Smith Summit Trail and descend that route, but I could not immediately find the cairn marking that path, and the wind made it difficult to walk. The wind was COLD too, and it kept tearing the buff down my face, exposing my cheeks and mouth. I knew I needed to huddle down amongst boulders in direct sunlight to escape that wind chill and to pull my puffy from my pack. I found a spot behind one large boulder and got on my knees, mostly out of the wind, took off my pack, and carefully removed my puffy. The wind was so strong it threatened to rip anything and everything from my hands, so I moved thoughtfully and forced myself not to rush (as can happen if one allows too much worry to cloud judgment). I got on my puffy, zipped it up all the way, and immediately felt a thousand times better. Hypothermia can come on quickly if one is not careful, and it can be sobering to realize how cold one was without even knowing it.
With my puffy on and my hood covering most of my head, I put my pack back on and fought the wind until I found the start of the Smith Summit Trail. I felt very warm with my puffy, so now my only two difficulties were a) fighting the wind, which knocked me around quite a bit, and b) following the trail, which was marked with white dots on the boulders…and those dots blended in with patches of snow and ice. I did find my way and made it slowly downward, but this was definitely not a day for the inexperienced. A newbie may have gotten in trouble. I managed to take a couple of photos, but I worried my phone would be ripped from my hands, so I didn’t get as many as I wanted.
I made it to the intersection that leads to Mt. Rosa and headed up. That’s a nice little peak. The wind still fought me up there, but it wasn’t nearly as strong as it had been on Monadnock.
From here, I took Great Pasture Trail down to Marian Trail, then Marian back to Marlboro. The terrain got easier as I descended, but the ice here and there slowed my pace until I reached the fairly bare Marlboro.
It was a good hike. I carried the weight of my pack well, and I feel 100% recovered from my September surgery. Up top, I didn’t feel like I carried anything at all as my attention became 100% focused on staying warm and not getting blown off the mountain. Descending, I was too concerned with avoiding ice to notice my pack weight. I guess all this means I am back to normal, and that my pack isn’t too heavy for my upcoming thru-hike.
I don’t recommend Monadnock in these conditions, by the way, unless you are an experienced four-season hiker in this kind of landscape.
April 24, 2022
I’m back from hiking the New England Trail! Now, going up and down a ton of trails to hike them all before finally getting to the summit feels pretty good. Today I did M&M-Royce-Cart Path-Mossy Brook-Great Pasture-Monte Rosa-Fairy Spring-Smith Summit-Amphitheatre-White Arrow for the ascent. Descent was Smith Summit-Amphitheatre-White Arrow-Old Toll Road-Old Halfway House. Great day out, didn’t see many people.
May 2, 2022
Up down all around at Monadnock this morning. Did a bunch of smaller trails beneath the summit. Parker, Cliff Walk, Hello Rock, Pt. Surprise, Thoreau, Do Drop, Noble, Side Foot, Lost Farm, and a bit of Smith Connecting. Lots of nice green mossy areas, and lots of granite ledge walking and some tame scrambling. Below are a smattering of today’s photos.
May 7, 2022
Today’s mission was White Cross Trail and picking up some missing bits and pieces of Smith Connecting, Side Foot, and Parker Trails. I missed the Saturday crowds by ascending White Cross (a main route) before 6:30am and using the lesser used trails for the descent.
May 9, 2022
Pumpelly-Red Dot- Cascade Link loop with an out and back on Old Ski Trail today. Beautiful morning.
May 17, 2022
Last hike! Dublin Trail.
My daughter Alex, home from her first year at college, did this one with me. It was great to hike with her again.
All of Monadnock’s trails feel enjoyable. My favorites were Pumpelly, Cliff Walk, and all the little ones leading to Mt Rosa and Bald Rock.