http://www.kersteins.com/blogdepuree/2007/05/14/successful-mt-monadnock-hike-this-past-saturday/ A blend of simmered, sauteed & sometimes stewed commentary about the Kersteins' daily lives and thoughts. Sat, 29 Jan 2011 00:16:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www.kersteins.com/blogdepuree/2007/05/14/successful-mt-monadnock-hike-this-past-saturday/comment-page-1/#comment-357 Christoph Tue, 15 May 2007 13:16:37 +0000 http://www.kersteins.com/blogdepuree/?p=393#comment-357 Yup, couldn't have asked for a more perfect day weather-wise. I've never hiked Manadnock before and was glad to find a trail that was less travelled than all the other trails that lead to the summit. I also like the idea of a ridgeline hike. Although the trail is just over 4 miles one way, the trail offers a great "warm-up section" by hiking through rolling woodlands. The steep assent to the start of the northern ridge certainly taxes your legs and lungs. About two miles into the trail you are above treeline, except for a few dips along the ridge, where you already can see great distances due to the fact that Manadnock is just about the only mountain in the area. Lots of solid granite under foot lead you to two minor summits before reaching the summit of Manadnock, which was loaded with other hikers. Out of the 100 or so people on the summit, we only saw less than 10 on the way up. One couple, I think, were glad we caught up to them before the steep accent. They couldn't seem to figure out where the trail goes from there. They had no map. Well, potential disaster averted. (On the summit they passed us chilling-out and asked us which direction they came from to get back to the trail.) Next time I hike this trail, I might try it with my large pack. As for the other trails, the only other one I might consider is the Dublin trail and also doing a loop, starting at the headquarters, up the Spellman trail, then down the Marlboro trail to the Marian trail. But first it's off to other mountains. Yup, couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day weather-wise. I’ve never hiked Manadnock before and was glad to find a trail that was less travelled than all the other trails that lead to the summit. I also like the idea of a ridgeline hike. Although the trail is just over 4 miles one way, the trail offers a great “warm-up section” by hiking through rolling woodlands. The steep assent to the start of the northern ridge certainly taxes your legs and lungs. About two miles into the trail you are above treeline, except for a few dips along the ridge, where you already can see great distances due to the fact that Manadnock is just about the only mountain in the area. Lots of solid granite under foot lead you to two minor summits before reaching the summit of Manadnock, which was loaded with other hikers. Out of the 100 or so people on the summit, we only saw less than 10 on the way up. One couple, I think, were glad we caught up to them before the steep accent. They couldn’t seem to figure out where the trail goes from there. They had no map. Well, potential disaster averted. (On the summit they passed us chilling-out and asked us which direction they came from to get back to the trail.)
Next time I hike this trail, I might try it with my large pack. As for the other trails, the only other one I might consider is the Dublin trail and also doing a loop, starting at the headquarters, up the Spellman trail, then down the Marlboro trail to the Marian trail.
But first it’s off to other mountains.

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