Best Route on Monadnock for Snowshoeing

[roadtripper]

I've never been up Monadnock in winter. I would like to avoid using crampons as much as possible. What's the best route for snowshoeing? All the routes I've done in summer were far too steep for casual snowshoeing in my opinion.

Are any of the trails gradual? Will that trail be broken out likely?

I realize once you get close to the summit I'm gonna probably need crampons, but I'd like to at least be able to get to a good view before that happens. I'm going with a newbie and I want to make sure its enjoyable for them.

Thanks

 

[Maddy]

How about Pumpelly?

 

[DougPaul]

Most of the trails from the main parking lot lead up the steep east side and are likely to require crampons. Red Dot might be the best of the trails on the east side or you can follow Cascade Link to Pumpelly. Cascade Link, however, tends to be rather wet which could mean icy, but it is low angle.

Pumpelly from the trailhead has a steep north-facing section (below the above junction) which might be icy.

One approach which might be ice free is to go south from the parking lot, around the reservoir to Parker Tr, Lost Farm Tr, Cliff Walk, <a few trails missing here>, and finally White Arrow to the summit. White Arrow might have some ice. (Return via Red Dot for a nice loop.) I've done this route with snow at the parking lot.

Marlboro TR isn't too steep and is probably reasonably ice free. It also has the option for a detour to Monta Rosa.

The above is from memory--I think it is accurate.

The AMC Southern NH guidebook has a much better map than the one that they hand out at the parking lot. (This info is <mumble> years old--hopefully they hand out a better map now.)

Doug

 

[Casual Hiker]

I just did White Dot to Cascade to Red Spot to Pumpelly in Snowshoes. Red Spot has some steep sections that have ice under the snow, but it is doable. Cascade to Pumpully past Red Spot wasn't broken out as of Tuesday afternoon. The peak was actually mostly bare rock. Hope this helps!

 

[kerry13]

I was there Tuesday. We were all over the mtn and conditions are not ideal for shoeing yet. They received only a foot or so of snow. The top 1/4 is mostly devoid of snow because of the high wind. Drifted areas with several feet of wind packed snow followed by long stretches of exposed ledge. Also, there is not enough snow to cover the rocky trails so shoeing you will likely catch a lot of rocks, twist a lot of ankles etc. Choose the least rocky trails and remember most folks there don't use shoes so the broken trails are going to be narrow and likely difficult to fit shoes in the track. Trails that I know were broken out Tuesday were White Dot, Arrow, Cross, Red Spot, Ampitheater east. I suspect many more are broken out now. If you are looking for good areas I would try something like Hinckley to Birchtoff to Cascade Link to Pumpelly. (Couple steep pitches on Cascade Link but not bad). You will probably have to switch to microspikes once Pumpelly flattens out. No need for crampons right now. Snow has bonded well to ice and micros will work fine. Another good route would be Parker, Lost Farm, Cliff Walk, Smith Connector to White Cross to Dot. You can use shoes to final summit cone on that route. Or do Parker to Cliff Walk and do all Cliff Walk to Smith Connector. Last one would be Parker to OTR down 1/2 Way House Trail to Cart Path, Mossy Brook, Marian to Marlboro. There are sections on the upper Marlboro which likely had some large ice flows and you may want to switch to micros there. I'll have a group out early Friday so at least one of these routes will likely be broken out then with shoes. Good luck.

 

[nartreb]

The main problem with snowshoeing on Monadnock is that most of the trails see so much use that they get packed down solid. You need to find the least-used trails, *and* go within a day or two of a big storm.

Pumpelly is the longest and therefore not used as frequently as some others.

Marlboro is a little out of the way, with limited parking. It also has a lot of nice gradual slopes, and reaches a ledge with a good view of the summit before it reaches treeline.

You can also try the small, lesser-used trails in the Monte Rosa - Bald Rock area; maybe approach via Lost Farm. From there the obvious routes to the summit are White Arrow, Smith Summit, or White Dot, but those are steep, so maybe detour way west or east to reach the summit via the top of Dublin or Pumpelly. Whatever trail you take, the summit region is often windswept and fairly bare.

 

[RoySwkr]

Do you want to wear snowshoes or just not want to wear crampons?

As mentioned, most popular trails are packed with feet and too narrow for any but tiny snowshoes. On the other hand, it's often possible to reach the summit without full crampons.

The rangers probably know best and tend to tell the truth about conditions rather than exaggerating - call them.

 

[DougPaul]

Whatever trail you take, the summit region is often windswept and fairly bare.

Pumpelly above somewhere near the junction with Cascade Link will also most likely be bare too. (It also has a few little notches which may contain deep snow.)

I have also seen the entire upper portion of the mountain sheathed in ice crust. We were on full crampons (the proper tool for the conditions), but there were the usual duffers sliding around in street shoes...

Doug

 

[carla]

Another vote for Pumpelly

I've hiked Pumpelly in winter with a combo of snowshoes and microspikes. On the bald part at the top I found that the crampons on the bottom of my snowshoes were enough traction, no need for the real crampons.

Pumpelly is the nicest trail on Monadnock in my opinion because it seems to be the least used. Always interesting to be hiking along solo for hours until you get right to the top to see dozens of people.

Of course conditions vary widely, so choose your day. There may not be enough snow yet to do this (per earlier post), so wait a bit later in the winter for the full effect. Winter is still young!

--Carla