Trip/Event Location: Keene/Marlbourough/Jaffrey, NHUS
Trip Leader(s):
Max # People: 20
Trip Guiding / Event Fee: No, I will not be asking participants for money
Difficulty Level: Moderate to Strenuous
OK, Men! The New Hampshire Bears are sponsoring a "Aren't-the-Leaves Pretty! But Altogether Manly Climb of Mount Mondanock!" Meet us at the Dunkin Donuts Parking Lot (
Meeting spot is the Dunkin Donuts (for fueling) at the Walmart Shopping Center in Keene. We will depart Dunkin Donuts at precisely 9:00 sharp, so plan accordingly!
From Brattleboro/Vermont/Upper Ct R Valley, take I-91 to exit 3, and head east on rte 9 into NH. Once you arrive in Keene, Rte 9 makes a left turn; do not follow it; instead, go straight on rtes 10/101 to the traffic circle. Go 3/4 around the circle to WInchester St. Dunkin Donuts is the first business on the right.
From Western/Northern Massachusetts: Take Rte 10 north from Northfield, or Rte 78 from Orange/Warwick to Rte 10 north in Winchester. Follow Rte 10 to the Rotary in Keene, and go 50% around. Dunkin Donuts is on the right.
From East of Keene: Take Rte 101 west into Keene. At Rotary, take first right out of rotary, and another right into Dunking Donuts. OR, Take 101 west into Marlboro, and then make a left turn onto Rte 124 south. Follow to Shaker Road and make a left (rough dirt road). Follow to unmarked parking area at the end. The rest of us should be arriving at about 9:30.
13 guys showed up for our hike up the Marlboro Trail, the steepest and most primitive of the paths up Mt. Monadnock. The group fairly quickly split into two groups, with some incorporating an "aerobic" version of the day into the hike, and others preferring a more leisurely pace. I find that this trail gets geometrically more strenuous with each year that I age.... It was a sunny 78 degrees at the summity, and very windy, with beautiful views of fall foliage in three states. Lunch, a bottle of Jack Daniels, and at least one bare ass graced us at the summit.
Awards for the day went to Kyle (Albany, NY) for "most poised," as his leaps from boulder to boulder were described as "gazelle-like." Tully (Keene NH) received the Oscar for Most Dramatic. His scream upon sliding down a section of the trail was remarked upon by Bryan (Springfield MA) as bein akin to "someone bottoming for the first time...)
Our cars were not among those (fortunately) being towed away by the State Troopers on the access road upon our return....a good time was had by all, and we never had to use the first aid kit even once :-)
- The Trip Has No Photos -
Outdoor Fitness Level: Moderate to Strenuous
