Mount Monadnock's Elusive Summit

The Elusive Mt. Monadnock Summit:

In hindsight we should have started the climb at 9 am instead of 11. But the state park attendant said it was four hours round trip. I figured we'd be down in three -- maybe 3 1/2 max. We had packed lunch, gloves, hats and an extra litre of water at the ranger's suggestion. He'd advised we ascend the White Dot trail and descend on the White Cross. The trail for the first 20 minutes climbed gently over small rocks, then almost in the blink of an eye the surface changed to huge jagged boulders in a fairly steep ascent. This was a surprise for both of us. I know we hadn't expected a walk in the park, but not such honking monsters. Our pace felt glacial. A number of goat footed climbers whizzed by. About 2/3 of the way up, the terrain changed again. Up ahead, I heard someone say "steep".

I thought we were on steep. But then there we were at the bottom of an almost vertical face of granite. I felt that old fear creeping up inside -- the fear of something impossible. I'd already been on all fours for the last 20 minutes, then this rock. Dad was more goat footed than me and with a lot of "lend a handing" we made it up and up and up. Unbelievable. By the time we reached the junction with the white cross trail, we'd been grunting up for two and three quarter hours with still another half hour to the top.

After lunch, we started descending the White Cross trail -- the same boulders but no rock face -- reaching the bottom (thank god for hiking poles) in two hours, only 1/2 hour before sundown. Five hours, our bodies in one piece and not much the worse for wear. Whew! It was a fantastic experience and the views incredible. According to most material we'd read, Mt. Monadnock is the second most climbed mountain in the world, after Mt. Fiji.

Off to Boston tomorrow.

Be well,

Love Mom