Mount Monadnock
Where: Mt. Monadnock
When: 1/31/99
With: Solo
Super Bowl Sunday, and I decided to go for a hike. A stretch out, gear check walk more than anything. I had some new things I wanted to try (instep crampons, boots, wicking shirt) and some old things I wanted to reacquaint myself with, so I threw a day pack together and headed to Mt. Monadnock.
I had a good time on the Pumbelly trail the last time I soloed this hill, so I decided to try it again. Easily my favorite route. It's off the beaten path and longer than most approaches, so it doesn't get much traffic. Despite the length though, it's not a hard trail. The first couple of miles are relatively flat walking through woods...good for working out the kinks and warming up before the real climbing begins.
I'd gotten a late start out of the house, so I wanted to get going pretty quickly once I'd parked. A couple of guys arrived around the same time and set off before me though, so I wound up giving them a little head start before I took off. Snowshoes were left in the car (again), but everything else came along. As usual, I had more gear than I needed, but it was still a pretty light pack.
In the woods at last, I made a quick stop to tighten my new boots and add crampons & gaiters, then moved up the trail. It was easy going on a well traveled, well packed path. The crampons seemed to do a nice job providing traction and the new boots (with waterproof liners) kept my feet warm and comfortable. The hiking poles (my second time using them) were also useful.
I kept up a good pace, stopping occasionally to adjust my layers but generally just moving along. By the time I reached the beginning of the climbing section, I'd removed my fleece jacket and was hiking in just a wicking shirt and my wind parka, with pit zips wide open. The day was sunny, but a little too nippy for the shirt alone. I'd come close to the folks ahead of me a few times, but never really caught up with them.
The climbing wasn't bad at all - perhaps all my time on the exercise bike had paid off - though the ice was a bit tricky. Again, the instep crampons worked well. Pretty quickly I was up on the shoulder and out on some ledges with nice views. The White Mountains were clearly visible and I thought I could see Boston. I continued up, enjoying the trail, the views, and the solitude, but becoming ever mindful of the time. I really wanted to be home for the Superbowl, so I'd set a turn-around time for myself and that time was fast approaching. I wasn't sure how far I'd be able to get, but I was determined to go as far as I could.
At last the summit appeared and my heart fell. It was still a good ways off. It didn't seem likely I'd make it there, but I wanted to try anyway. I started to encounter other folks coming down and began to think about turning myself, but there was always one more ridge to climb. Finally though, I scrambled up one last hunk of rock, looked at the summit - still a good 1/2 hour away - and decided to call it a hike. I found a clear, flat spot to sit and had a little snack while I enjoyed the view.
After a bit, a chill set in and I figured it was time to head back down. I bid the summit farewell, reshouldered my pack, and started my descent. As expected, the trip down went somewhat faster than the walk up, though not by much. The ice on the steep spots made things tricky and the flat lower part didn't offer much in the way of gravitational assistance for an exiting hiker. I made it out to the car right on schedule though and was home right in time for the kickoff.
Notes, comments: Nothing much. The instep crampons worked well. Others on the hill had full 12-points, and those would've been fine in the lower sections, but on the bare rock on top they could be dangerous.
It was a neat time for a hike. The second full moon of January was just rising into a clear, deep blue sky as I departed, and I fantasized about spending the night on the summit in a bivy sack. I wonder what time the rangers do their last check?!!!
When: 1/31/99
With: Solo
Super Bowl Sunday, and I decided to go for a hike. A stretch out, gear check walk more than anything. I had some new things I wanted to try (instep crampons, boots, wicking shirt) and some old things I wanted to reacquaint myself with, so I threw a day pack together and headed to Mt. Monadnock.
I had a good time on the Pumbelly trail the last time I soloed this hill, so I decided to try it again. Easily my favorite route. It's off the beaten path and longer than most approaches, so it doesn't get much traffic. Despite the length though, it's not a hard trail. The first couple of miles are relatively flat walking through woods...good for working out the kinks and warming up before the real climbing begins.
I'd gotten a late start out of the house, so I wanted to get going pretty quickly once I'd parked. A couple of guys arrived around the same time and set off before me though, so I wound up giving them a little head start before I took off. Snowshoes were left in the car (again), but everything else came along. As usual, I had more gear than I needed, but it was still a pretty light pack.
In the woods at last, I made a quick stop to tighten my new boots and add crampons & gaiters, then moved up the trail. It was easy going on a well traveled, well packed path. The crampons seemed to do a nice job providing traction and the new boots (with waterproof liners) kept my feet warm and comfortable. The hiking poles (my second time using them) were also useful.
I kept up a good pace, stopping occasionally to adjust my layers but generally just moving along. By the time I reached the beginning of the climbing section, I'd removed my fleece jacket and was hiking in just a wicking shirt and my wind parka, with pit zips wide open. The day was sunny, but a little too nippy for the shirt alone. I'd come close to the folks ahead of me a few times, but never really caught up with them.
The climbing wasn't bad at all - perhaps all my time on the exercise bike had paid off - though the ice was a bit tricky. Again, the instep crampons worked well. Pretty quickly I was up on the shoulder and out on some ledges with nice views. The White Mountains were clearly visible and I thought I could see Boston. I continued up, enjoying the trail, the views, and the solitude, but becoming ever mindful of the time. I really wanted to be home for the Superbowl, so I'd set a turn-around time for myself and that time was fast approaching. I wasn't sure how far I'd be able to get, but I was determined to go as far as I could.
At last the summit appeared and my heart fell. It was still a good ways off. It didn't seem likely I'd make it there, but I wanted to try anyway. I started to encounter other folks coming down and began to think about turning myself, but there was always one more ridge to climb. Finally though, I scrambled up one last hunk of rock, looked at the summit - still a good 1/2 hour away - and decided to call it a hike. I found a clear, flat spot to sit and had a little snack while I enjoyed the view.
After a bit, a chill set in and I figured it was time to head back down. I bid the summit farewell, reshouldered my pack, and started my descent. As expected, the trip down went somewhat faster than the walk up, though not by much. The ice on the steep spots made things tricky and the flat lower part didn't offer much in the way of gravitational assistance for an exiting hiker. I made it out to the car right on schedule though and was home right in time for the kickoff.
Notes, comments: Nothing much. The instep crampons worked well. Others on the hill had full 12-points, and those would've been fine in the lower sections, but on the bare rock on top they could be dangerous.
It was a neat time for a hike. The second full moon of January was just rising into a clear, deep blue sky as I departed, and I fantasized about spending the night on the summit in a bivy sack. I wonder what time the rangers do their last check?!!!
