The first Friday of my summer break after a long spring of remote teaching was the perfect time to take on the challenge of a "Dylan hike". Dylan, who wanted to be a "hiker guy" when he was four, takes his hikes seriously. We decided on Mt. Monadnock, one of the most summited mountains in NH, 3.7 miles, 1800 elevation gain. How hard could that be?
We hit the White Dot trail, and Dylan was ahead of us right from the start. Jeff and I agreed to go at our own pace, which included significantly more stops than our 22 year old needed. It took us about 2 and 1/2 hours to summit the mountain, with our trail guide Dylan giving us encouragement along the way. It was totally worth the effort. I really enjoyed the rock scrambles near the top; NH is the Granite state for sure!
After hanging out at the summit for a few snacks (a LOT of peanut M&MS), we headed down the White Cross trail. This trail was recommended for the descent because it is not quite as steep as White Dot, but we were stepping on/over/around rocks the entire way down. My legs were feeling a little wobbly when we arrived back at the car after 2 hours of going down the mountain. We ate our lunch and decided that maybe since social distancing rules are still in effect, ales at home would be best. I was thankful because a nice hour and half car nap sounded just right!
If you want to hike Mt. Monadnock, be sure to visit the
NH State Parks website before you go. They are requiring reservations this season to ensure the trails don't get over crowded. Cost is $15 per car, with a $1 processing fee. Well worth it for the peace of mind that you will indeed have a parking spot, restroom, and your choice of picnic spots.
