Mt. Monadnock - Sunday, 3/18/2012

[roadtripper]

Gorgeous day on Mt. Monadnock today! 72 or so degrees at the base and probably 65 degrees at the summit. Winds 5-15mph.

ROUTE:
White Dot>Cascade Link>Spellman Trail>Pumpelly Trail>Summit>White Dot>Parking Area.

CONDITIONS:
On a little bit of ice left on the upper 1/2 of the trails we chose today. Absolutely no one wore traction - what ice there was was either completely avoidable or safe to walk on with care. Only patches of snow, and most were avoidable.

NOTES:
The Spellman Trail is awesome! I highly recommend taking that route up the next time you go if you haven't done that route. It's definitely not a good winter route though, as it is rather steep....definitely class II and maybe even class II+ in a spot or two if you ask me. While the White Dot probably saw 500 people today, the Spellman probaby saw only 10. The Pumpelly Trail segment we took is also awesome, and I look forward to doing that whole trail next time.

Major bummer that the hiking fee is now $5 per person. Maybe if everyone brings rolls of pennies they'll get sick of it and get rid of the fee?

Here's an online trail map if you've never seen one:
http://www.nhstateparks.org/uploads/pdf/MonadnockHikingTrailsMap_All_2010.pdf

- Roadtripper

 

[Creag Nan Drochaid]

$5 fee at Monadnock State Park

None of us like to pay fees when we hike, but it may be worth pointing out that both here and in the WMNF we do get something for our money: year-round parking, suchlike amenities as indoor plumbing and picnic tables, reasonably well-maintained trails, and people patrolling the trails for lost/injured hikers. Not bad for $5/head, IMHO.
Remember also that the NH Div. Parks & Recreation is funded by user fees , with only very occasional capital improvements from the general fund. Without the fee, the amenities might well vanish.