Amidst the 2020 pandemic, just like everyone else; we were locked at our homes for 2+ months. When eventually the lockdown started to ease and everything was returning back to normal life, national parks and the state parks were one of the first few things to open for recreational activities. We decided to take extreme precautions (a few tips below) and were out for a day hike to Mount Monadnock in New Hampshire, United States.
Pandemic Hike Tips:
Reservations are mandatory to enter the state park. Reserve your day spot to hike the mountain - here. It roughly costs USD 16. The guidelines would be updated from time to time so make sure to check the website before you plan your hike.
Wear masks at all times, but as you ascend the slope, you may need to remove the masks at regular intervals
Public restrooms are now open at the state park but do carry a bottle of sanitizer along with you
Always carry food and water to avoid stops on the way to the state park
Maintain 6 ft distance as much as possible
Mount Monadnock stands in singularity with a summit at 3,165 ft, popular for the expansive vistas of New England. It is also known as the second most climbed mountain in the world with around 125,000 climbers per year! The hike to the summit typically offers a great challenge to the novice hikers and a fun climb to the most experienced ones.
The roundtrip to the summit is around 4 miles. Most hikers prefer ascending the summit via the White Dot Trail (~2 miles) and descend via the White Cross Trail (~2.1 miles) These 4 miles are studded with rocks and steps so be prepared to test your fitness levels on the way!
Getting to the Park - To hike the mountain via the white dot trail, parking is available at Monadnock state headquarters. There were ample parking spots available right next to the entrance. The pre-reservations ensured that we found a parking spot near the trailhead. Given the popularity of the hike, we could just imagine how busy the parking could get if there were no reservations.
Things to carry -
Good pair of hiking shoes as the rocks and stones are difficult to traverse with regular sports shoes
Sunscreen and bug spray
2 liters of water per person
Quick bites and snacks (granola bars, fruits, and dry fruits)
We did keep our playlist and Bluetooth speakers handy for some good music and enthusiasm.
Hiking to the Summit via the White Dot trail - We took the white dot trail to hike towards the summit. This trail is ranked as one of the difficult trails in New England. There were stretches of rocks that needed some rock climbing skills testing your endurance levels. The ascend can be broken into three major milestones:
1. For the first 30 mins, you will walk through rocky forests with minimal elevation. This can be considered as a warm-up section of the trail. You will hit a mark where the white cross and white dot trails get separated.
2. The second part of the hike is of moderate difficulty although the longest section of trail. This section involved ascending multiple stairs, climbing 5 ft tall rocks, and finding ways through the crevices. Although this leads to a beautiful flat area for the first viewpoint on the trail. It does make one feel accomplished to see the vast New England area from the top. This juncture also marks the conglomeration of the white cross and white dot trails. The last stretch is a common path for both the trail routes.
3. The final stretch was a rocky mountain with a steep climb. During summers, this path could get very hot as there was no shade, unlike some of the earlier parts of the hike. Try to get to the trails as early as possible to avoid the sun and the crowd.
The view from the Summit - It was a sheer rewarding experience to conquer the Summit after the grueling hike! The mesmerizing view from the top also made it totally worth it. One could get a 360-degree view of acres of National reserves studded with lakes.
Hiking down via the White Cross trail - We decided to do the white cross trail while hiking back. It was relatively easier to descend as the gravity was in our favor. However, we found this hike to have a lot more steps as compared to going up.
The whole day was filled with enthusiasm and excitement with a very unique hike experience! We decided to end this hike with delicious ice cream at Kimball farms.
~Nomadic Footprints
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