GaliWalker
Trail Wise!
Have camera, will use.
Posts: 3,698
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Post by GaliWalker on Dec 2, 2019 5:59:57 GMT -8
Waddling through a winter wonderlandMount Monadnock, New Hampshire (Nov 29, 2019)Stuffed to the gills with Thanksgiving turkey, a rotund GaliWalker waddled up and over Mount Monadnock the next day to try and work off some of the previous night's gluttony. This was my 4th consecutive year of selecting this particular hike as my post-Thanksgiving 'turkey-burn'. Route: Take the White Dot Trail to the summit - retrace my steps to pick up the Smith Connecting Trail - continue down the Cliff Walk - a left on the Lost Farm Trail - finish the loop via the Parker Trail. Hiking/Photography stats: 5mi, 2000ft elevation gain, 4.5hrsMount Monadnock is so beautiful at this time of the year: ice and snow decorate the granite slabs that comprise the mountain’s summit plateau. Unfortunately, it's also invariably windy up there, so one needs to be prepared for the elements. This time around the wind on the summit was the fiercest I've encountered on any hike I've ever done: by my estimate it was 60mph, constant. Coupled with a temperature of 20°F the wind-chill would have clocked in at around -5°F. Bundled up in my heaviest cap and balaclava, with only a narrow slit left open for my eyes, and being careful to keep my ski gloves on, even if that made photography a cumbersome proposition, I was able to withstand the punishing wind and cold in good order. Breaking out into the openIcy conditions made spikes mandatoryFirst sight of the summit, wreathed in mist and spindriftUp the icy, snowy slopesYet more upSummit views or lack there ofSummit sunMore summit 'views'Glittering rockscapeThe ArcticLake in the cloudsClearing mistIce gardenHeading down to Bald RockParting view of the summit from Bald RockBald Rock viewsA. Hiker enjoys the view (selfie)
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null
Trail Wise!
Posts: 578
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Post by null on Dec 3, 2019 9:32:25 GMT -8
I think that's the first time I've ever seen the summit with less than 20 people on it.
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GaliWalker
Trail Wise!
Have camera, will use.
Posts: 3,698
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Post by GaliWalker on Dec 3, 2019 12:29:20 GMT -8
Lol! I had the entire summit block to myself, mostly. As I got off it I saw one person in the swirling mist and spindrift, but he disappeared soon after and I never saw him again. I can't blame them: with the early (and cold) morning time, the 60mph wind and lack of views, at least when I was there, no one was going to stay up there for longer than absolutely necessary. When I was heading up I met a couple coming down who said they'd bailed because they couldn't take the fierce wind. I thought I would face the same fate, but once I switched my normal (thin) woolen cap for the heavier one I felt fine.
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Post by absarokanaut on Dec 22, 2019 16:05:11 GMT -8
I remember reading Mount Monadnock was the 2nd most hiked/climbed mountain in the world behind Fujiyama. I was born in Boston and love Nu Hampshuh. Thanks for the as always great photography and taking me back.
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