Mt. Monadnock

Mt. Monadnock Current Conditions Rate Topic:

#1 redsox322

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Posted 26 Feb 2009 - 12:55 PM

Can anyone give me some insight to the current conditions on Monadnock? The last trail conditions report on VFTT was about a month ago so I'd like something more recent.

#2 RichNH

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Posted 27 Apr 2009 - 09:57 PM

I was up there on Friday and will be going back again tomorrow. Almost all trails are now open.

Officially, the Pumpelly Trail from the junction with the Cascade Link down to the lake is closed, but from what I understand from hikers I met there are no indications at the bottom that the trail is closed, only some tape at the junction. Hikers said that there were some trees across the trail but it is passable.

The small section of the White Cross trail between Grand Junction and the White Cross/Spruce Link junction is closed. I only saw it from Grand Junction, that segment looks like someone deliberately tried to make it as difficult as possible to walk that trail.

The Birchtroff Trail to the Cascade Link trail is closed.

That's it from what I heard from the head man.

If you hike there, you will see, there are some sections where the damage was incredible. There was a whole stand of birches on the Cascade Link, not far from Grand Junction, they are all down now. Sad really.

Rich

#3 RichNH

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Posted 29 Apr 2009 - 09:32 AM

I got up there again yesterday (the hot day, 90+) and hiked up the Cliff Walk Trail to Bald Rock then the Smith Connecting Link to the Red Spot Trail and back down to Cascade Link and Park HQ. The amount of damage that occurred is truly something to see. I've picked up a season pass (a gift certificate in lieu thereof until they come in) and will be spending more time up there this summer.

I asked about the trails that are still closed, specifically the White Cross trail as it extends from the junction of the White Cross and Spruce Link trails to Grand Junction. I'm speaking of that little section just above Falcon Spring that allows you to get from the White Cross Trail to Falcon Springs when descending White Cross.

They are going to close this section permanently.

My reaction caused some discussion as I would much rather descend the White Cross at the end of the day than the White Dot and I love to stop off at Falcon Springs to fill up for the drive home. But as one park employee put it, they have been having this discussion for some time about that section of the trail, it is impacting the watershed for Falcon Spring. Nature gave them the excuse and they are taking it. So Spruce Link no longer exists. It has morphed into the bottom section of White Cross and the new junction of White Cross and White Dot are below Falcon Spring.

Oh well...

The day was hot and dry, I was amazed at how dry and dusty the trail was in spots given the time I was hiking, late April. The hot dusty trail in conjunction with the storm damage at spots and the lack of leaves in the trees because it is so early in the season all combined to make this hike almost surreal at times. The disparate experiences didn't belong in the same moment. It was like seeing flying pigs escorting pink elephants... :blink: