As with the Monadnock climb the previous week, snow and ice blanketed the path throughout. This posed little problem on the ascent though. The trail winds its way over brooks and wet areas before it really starts to rise. In fact, the slope of this trail is so gentle, you barely know you're climbing before you get to the first lookout. It's nice northerly view that allowed us to see all the way to Mount Washington, although I needed my binoculars to initially discover this.
Its probably another 1/2 mile hike to the next view point which is a little more open than the first. This one looks to the east. Only a few mountains dot the landscape before giving way to the flatter land between south central New Hampshire and the Atlantic Ocean.
Another quick 1/2 mile jaunt to the summit allotted us a breathtaking view of Monadnock and the Vermont mountains west of that. No less than five mountains with ski trails carved into them were visible but I can only be sure that we saw Mount Snow, its sister mountain Haystack and Killington.
A slippery walk down that mountain caused us both to go ass over tea kettle at least once. Serious injury was avoided though. We cut over virgin crusty snow to avoid the ice where possible. Before long we were back on the flatter portion and home free.
North Pack Monadnock is a really nice day hike. The views will definitely bring me back for a return trip this summer.
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