Met my cousin Craig at the mainlot around 8am for a day of playing around. We headed quickly up the White Dot to the junction of Cascade where we had to re-apply more bug dope (the blood thirsty demons were bad) After that we headed up Cascade which is one of my favorite trails on the mountain. It heads up to the Pumpelly Trail and has some nice views if we continued up it arrives on the ridge where it opens up.
About half way between Spellman and Pumpelly trail junctions we departed the trail and headed west up a steep boulder field and some ledges. Our plan was to head up to Townline Peak (high point on the Pumpelly Ridge) This was the area were Percious headed up last fall during the VFTT hike . The boulders and ledges (according to Craig) were 5.5-5.7 We figured that we wouldn't go up anything we couldn't down climb. There were some routes that looked like they would of been fun if we brought our rock shoes and some protection.
The first real scramble we gained about 150ft. After that we got into a steep wooded slope with a few nice scrambles. We took a nice break near some blueberry bushes, to bad they were only flowering. The smell of their blosoms mixed with firs was nice. The fog was slowly burning off and we couls finally see the outline of the Wapack range to the east.
Heading through the trees we went through some flat areas and finally emergered and could see our goal. The last scramble was up some wonderful ledges with great hand/foot holds. We were really bummed out now for not bringing climbing gear. We got to the top of Townline Peak and had our first view of the summit. After some water and snacks we went down to the Pumpelly Trail.
In the area of Spellman/Pumpelly junction we headed of trail again to the west toward a rocky knoll. At first we hoped across rocks in a dried up bog. At the base of the knoll I headed in the north direction to the top. At the top I looked around for Craig. I finally found him on the southern part of the rocky knoll. He found a chimney (climbing type) and was going up it to the top. It looked like a lot of fun and now I am kicking myself for not doing it.
After another break we headed further west where we came upon a steep drop off and below Thoreau's Bog. This covers and area of about 1.5 acres, a nice suprise to see such a pristine place. We headed from here south and re-emerged on the Pumpelly Trail close to Sacrophagous, a large glacier eratic.
We headed up toward the summit (and almost decided to head down the Red Dot instead) and arrived at 11:30 for a very anti-climatic summit. This was the first time we encountered any other hikers (a family of 4 and a solo hiker)
Headed down White Dot to White Cross to the lot. If we had more time we would of wacked down between Bald Rock and White Cross which is basicly where the Red Cross trail headed up (somewhere) Maybe next time.
Overall a fun day and adventure on Monadnock. -brianW
About half way between Spellman and Pumpelly trail junctions we departed the trail and headed west up a steep boulder field and some ledges. Our plan was to head up to Townline Peak (high point on the Pumpelly Ridge) This was the area were Percious headed up last fall during the VFTT hike . The boulders and ledges (according to Craig) were 5.5-5.7 We figured that we wouldn't go up anything we couldn't down climb. There were some routes that looked like they would of been fun if we brought our rock shoes and some protection.
The first real scramble we gained about 150ft. After that we got into a steep wooded slope with a few nice scrambles. We took a nice break near some blueberry bushes, to bad they were only flowering. The smell of their blosoms mixed with firs was nice. The fog was slowly burning off and we couls finally see the outline of the Wapack range to the east.
Heading through the trees we went through some flat areas and finally emergered and could see our goal. The last scramble was up some wonderful ledges with great hand/foot holds. We were really bummed out now for not bringing climbing gear. We got to the top of Townline Peak and had our first view of the summit. After some water and snacks we went down to the Pumpelly Trail.
In the area of Spellman/Pumpelly junction we headed of trail again to the west toward a rocky knoll. At first we hoped across rocks in a dried up bog. At the base of the knoll I headed in the north direction to the top. At the top I looked around for Craig. I finally found him on the southern part of the rocky knoll. He found a chimney (climbing type) and was going up it to the top. It looked like a lot of fun and now I am kicking myself for not doing it.
After another break we headed further west where we came upon a steep drop off and below Thoreau's Bog. This covers and area of about 1.5 acres, a nice suprise to see such a pristine place. We headed from here south and re-emerged on the Pumpelly Trail close to Sacrophagous, a large glacier eratic.
We headed up toward the summit (and almost decided to head down the Red Dot instead) and arrived at 11:30 for a very anti-climatic summit. This was the first time we encountered any other hikers (a family of 4 and a solo hiker)
Headed down White Dot to White Cross to the lot. If we had more time we would of wacked down between Bald Rock and White Cross which is basicly where the Red Cross trail headed up (somewhere) Maybe next time.
Overall a fun day and adventure on Monadnock. -brianW
