Mt. Monadnock Hike

We shifted from Saturday to Sunday because of the weather which worked to our advantage as the trail (one of the most popular hikes in the country) was not overly crowded.  We lost a few participants unfortunately, but six of us headed up around 9am - Mo, Fred, Carl and his friend Olavo, me and guest star Bob! who joined the day prior.  It was an easy but rewarding hike up - good cardio workout - with a nice 360 summit view.  After a snack/early lunch we headed back down. I think one of the reasons Monadnock is so popular is it is a substantial enough of a hike without losing the entire day.  We were back to our cars around 12:30 and the rain held off until later in the day, long after we returned to our cars and made the trip to Kimball's for ice cream.  So good, but ginormous volume of ice cream!  The mini scoop alone was like pint. We suffered through, but needless to say we persevered. :)

The summit is only 3,165 feet above sea level, but being exposed at the top gives a feeling similar to mountains thousands of feet higher. On a clear day you can see 100 miles in every direction. The panorama takes in the Prudential Tower in Boston, Newburyport harbor, Mount Washington in the north, Stratton and the Green Mountains to the west, and parts of the Berkshires. There are many paths to take to the summit of Mount Monadnock. We’ll be doing two of the most popular trails (White Cross and White Dot) which although shortest in mileage also have the most rugged terrain. They can be quite steep in places and rock hopping is included. So sure a little challenging, but there’s a reason why it is one of the most climbed mountains. Plus we won't be alone on the trail so plenty of eye candy. We will be starting early because the parking lot off of Poole road can fill up quickly due to Monadnock’s popularity and we want to be ahead of any crowd. Total hiking distance: 4 miles Total elevation gain: 1,774' 4-5 hours total The upper 300 feet of the mountain is above tree line and is very exposed to the weather and the summit can be windy, so please bring a jacket and layers of clothing. The top of Monadnock can average 10 degrees cooler than the valley below. Wear hiking boots with good traction and carry at least 1 liter of water per person. Don’t forget sunblock and bug spray. After the Hike: Kimball Farm ice cream is open for the season! After the hike, let's enjoy a now guilt-free ice cream at the renowned Kimball Farm on Rte. 124, about a mile east of Jaffrey center. And check out the Country Store if so inspired. http://kimballfarm.com/jaffrey/