ctsparrow
New member
Well, I debated with myself whether I would join the 'group' hike of Monadnock this past Sat. or get another notch on my list. I originally had hoped to venture to the Manchester VT area and do both Dorset and Equinox. But my thyroid and hormones have conspired to do battle against me and have been putting me through a vegematic machine lately so my fitness level has slipped..so I was happy to just do Dorset...Equinox is tentatively set for first day of winter hike.
So Lizzy four paws and I set out from home around 7am and commenced hiking at approx 9:30am.
Finding the trail head was not difficult, per books and other posts, the only confusion came at the very end of tower road where the right Y is someones driveway, and the left is the desired direction. I made it to the first meadow on the right in my Subaru, however, it was interesting
on the way out as the warm temperatures deepened a couple mud trenches and filled them up with gooey mud & water. To get to the left meadow there is even more daunting trenches and large rocks..have real high clearance for these.
The road walk in is just that with a minor water crossing near the beginning..i was glad i had gaitors as the water was just high enough to want them..and the rocks had a layer of ice on them.
As mentioned on other posts, you'll come to a hunting hut..now in use..i had the pleasure of hiking on the first day of deer season !! I passed a young man sitting on the trail with his rifle..i asked him to radio the rest of his party that a hiker was on the trail. He mentioned that most of them were down lower, so keep that in mind when hiking. The road now becomes abit of a grind straight up with the brook to your right. There are blowdowns and bend overs here, more bothersome than challenging. You know you're approaching the top when the the forest changes and flattens out on both sides of you. You basically end up at the backside of the mountain where the first cairn is. Does anyone know where the road to the left comes from?
From here I basically followed the path on Bob & Geri's website.(thanks) The road that continues to North Peak after the next cairn is a pain!!! Alot of blowdowns, making this section take far longer than expected..so the Thanksgiving weekend group that's going...bring a small saw or a couple hatchets!! Most of the trees are small in size.
North Peak was uninspiring!! Then it was on to the cannister. Lizzy and I much preferred the ridge trail over the woods roads. Soft & wide and no blowdowns!!! There was a fine crystalline layer of snow on the leaves on the ground along the top and it was cold on the backside of the mountain. The trip to the old fire tower was fun and quick, took in the one view and headed out. All too quickly ending up back on the woods roads. By the time i reached the first cairn, the sun had swung around to this area and it had warmed up considerably, but i didn't dare take off my bright long sleeve layers for fear of the hunters.
It was overall an enjoyable day in the woods, I took about fours hours to complete with the blowdowns and time at the summits and time for Lizzy to eat all my wheat thins. Dorset, overall is a beautiful area, flat green pastures behind very nice homes with views of the mountains all around.
I fought my way through all the shoppers in Manchester in order to drive home, I think this was scarier than the rifles in the woods!!!
One VERY COOL thing was the red barn on RT 30 just outside Manchester as you head to Dorset. Check out the sundial on the side of the barn, and stop to check out all cool old tractors etc parked in the field. There's even a guest register.
No pics because I'm technologically challenged!!
ctsparrow
So Lizzy four paws and I set out from home around 7am and commenced hiking at approx 9:30am.
Finding the trail head was not difficult, per books and other posts, the only confusion came at the very end of tower road where the right Y is someones driveway, and the left is the desired direction. I made it to the first meadow on the right in my Subaru, however, it was interesting
on the way out as the warm temperatures deepened a couple mud trenches and filled them up with gooey mud & water. To get to the left meadow there is even more daunting trenches and large rocks..have real high clearance for these.The road walk in is just that with a minor water crossing near the beginning..i was glad i had gaitors as the water was just high enough to want them..and the rocks had a layer of ice on them.
As mentioned on other posts, you'll come to a hunting hut..now in use..i had the pleasure of hiking on the first day of deer season
!! I passed a young man sitting on the trail with his rifle..i asked him to radio the rest of his party that a hiker was on the trail. He mentioned that most of them were down lower, so keep that in mind when hiking. The road now becomes abit of a grind straight up with the brook to your right. There are blowdowns and bend overs here, more bothersome than challenging. You know you're approaching the top when the the forest changes and flattens out on both sides of you. You basically end up at the backside of the mountain where the first cairn is. Does anyone know where the road to the left comes from?From here I basically followed the path on Bob & Geri's website.(thanks) The road that continues to North Peak after the next cairn is a pain!!! Alot of blowdowns, making this section take far longer than expected..so the Thanksgiving weekend group that's going...bring a small saw or a couple hatchets!!
Most of the trees are small in size.North Peak was uninspiring!! Then it was on to the cannister. Lizzy and I much preferred the ridge trail over the woods roads. Soft & wide and no blowdowns!!! There was a fine crystalline layer of snow on the leaves on the ground along the top and it was cold on the backside of the mountain. The trip to the old fire tower was fun and quick, took in the one view and headed out. All too quickly ending up back on the woods roads. By the time i reached the first cairn, the sun had swung around to this area and it had warmed up considerably, but i didn't dare take off my bright long sleeve layers for fear of the hunters.
It was overall an enjoyable day in the woods, I took about fours hours to complete with the blowdowns and time at the summits and time for Lizzy to eat all my wheat thins. Dorset, overall is a beautiful area, flat green pastures behind very nice homes with views of the mountains all around.
I fought my way through all the shoppers in Manchester in order to drive home, I think this was scarier than the rifles in the woods!!!
One VERY COOL thing was the red barn on RT 30 just outside Manchester as you head to Dorset. Check out the sundial on the side of the barn, and stop to check out all cool old tractors etc parked in the field. There's even a guest register.
No pics because I'm technologically challenged!!
ctsparrow
