Monadnock Spring Hike

Every year in March we get a nice warm day before the snow has completely melted. I usually try to take advantage by making a summit assault on Mount Monadnock via the White Dot Trail from the State Park. I was worried that the ice storm of December would force me to wait until 2010, but when I checked the NH State Park site I was greeted with a message saying the trails had been cleared. Some crazy trail-clearing, chainsaw-wielding bastards must have gone to town up there.

Temperatures were around 50 degrees for the whole afternoon. Much of the trail was covered in snow, but it was heavy and wet so it wasn't too hard to plow through. There was also minimal ice which made it an easier climb. We ate lunch on the summit without getting too cold aided by a thermos of hot chocolate. The skies were clear but we could only barely make out Mount Washington and couldn't quite see Boston. Still a stunning view.

Our descent was made speedier by our ability to slide down on our hind parts. Definitely my favorite part of a nice Winter/Spring hike up Mount Monadnock.