Mt. Monadnock via trails less traveled

Saturday, 8/25/12: One of the advantages of taking less-traveled trails on Monadnock is that you avoid the hordes of hikers on the mountain. On some trails (Surprise Point and Cliff Walk), we didn't see a soul.

I am now a convert to electrolyte drinks when it's hot or humid. I drank the equivalent of 3 32-oz. bottles Zero Powerade and I felt great at day's end -- in contrast to how depleted ("wilted") I normally feel after only drinking water.

Wildlife sighting -- what I believe is a garter snake.

This was good training for the Lafayette Ridge hike we plan later this year!

5.8 miles RT, 2,277' elevation gain (approx. 6 hours with stops)
Summit: Mt. Monadnock (3,165')
Route: White Dot, Cascade Link, Spellman, Pumpelly to the summit; White Arrow, Surprise Point, Cliff Walk and Lost Farm Trails on the descent

Snake on trial to Mt. Monadnock

Wapack Trail: Watatic Mountain and Binney Pond

8/18/12 - On my first hike following my hamstring injury, we chose a portion of the Wapack Trail, starting from Route 119 in Ashburnham. We ascended Watatic Mountain, then headed north to Nutting Hill. At Emerson Hill, due to logging in the area, we were re-routed. The 1.75-mile detour had us walking up Emerson Hill Road and then up Binney Hill Road before reconnecting with the Wapack.

Our top two nature sightings were a red eft and a dragonfly apparently eating a damsel fly.

We found two geocaches in the area, the last one at our lunch spot overlooking Binney Pond. (Note to selves: geocaching destroys your average mph :-) )

Using an electrolyte drink instead of water appears to help me handle high heat and humidity, though I did wilt at the end in the direct sun. 

It feels great to be hiking again!

11 miles RT, ~1,200' elevation gain
Summit: Watatic Mountain (1,832')
Route: Wapack Trail from Route 119 (including a 1.75 mile detour south of Binney Pond); return on Wapack and State Trails.

Dragonfly vs. damselfly, Wapack Trail

Red Eft on Wapack Trail near Watatic Mountain

Red Eft in Hand

Rocky Mountain High

June 2012 - The top five highlights of our vacation to the Rocky Mountain National Park and the mile-high cities of Boulder and Silverthorne in Colorado:

 - up close and personal with a wild bull elk
 - Nancy's beautiful wedding
 - dog-sitting Charlie and Sally
 - the Bear Lakes Wilderness Area hike, including the three lakes -- Nymph, Dream and Emerald (10,080') -- in Rocky Mountain National Park
 - the porcupine on our Boulder Lake (9,782') hike in the Eagles Nest Wilderness Area (near Silverthorne)

Vicki and young bull elk in Rocky Mountain National Park

View between Dream and Emerald Lakes in RMNP