November 9, 2021
There will be two entries for this refuge. One now and one later, after I’ve come back to hike the remaining trails.
On this day, November 9, I hiked for the first time since my surgery. My backpack had all the gear it normally does, and I felt great. So very thankful. I did the Ted and Carolyn’s loop with a South Cliff/Cliff Trail add-in up North Pack Monadnock, and I included all the connector trails (there are a few that link Ted and Carolyn’s together).
It was a beautiful fall day with no snow yet on the trails, at least down here (the Whites now have snow above 4000 feet). This hike was just over 5 miles total with about 1200 feet of elevation gain, so it’s less than half the distance and far less than half the elevation gain that I’m used to, but it was a good start to getting back to 4K shape.
I was so happy to be on the trails again.
November 25, 2021
I finished the trails within the refuge today. I went up Wapack Trail over North Pack Monadnock and down the other side to the border of the refuge. Then I turned around and looped back to the summit via Cliff Trail. On the way back to the car, I took the main path all the way down to the road instead of the parking lot, then walked the road to the car. I have now hiked all the trails in Wapack National Wildlife Refuge.
I had a nice view of Monadnock along the way. Also, I feel 100% back to normal as far as hiking goes. I am so thankful for my ability to hike and for all the wonderful trails to experience and sights to see in this world. Mother Nature is wondrous and beautiful.
