Mt. Monadnock (965m) in winter

[Deutsch siehe unten]

For this hike, one could almost give a mountaneering grading. Even if the peak is not even 1000m high, in winter the conditions on Mt. Monadnock are actually similar to what you would expect on a 3500er in the Alps, except for crevasses and altitude sickness. 

We join Will and Bill on their weekly ascent on the White Arrow Trail, which often develops a nice icefall in winter. From the trailhead a logging road leads smoothly uphill, passing a lonely house on the right. The road turns into a footpath, passing the site of the former Halfway House before turning into the woods. Shortly after, we climb the "icefall" (on this day, it was just a few icy steps) and get above treeline. The wind is breezy, but not a single cloud in the sky and a 100 mile view. 

We head off trail to have a little fun climbing the direttissima route, testing our traction devices on the boulders which are covered by 1/2 " of ice. On the summit, the temperature is 11 degrees F with 37 mph wind, so the lunch break remains a short one.

We descend back to the cars on the official White Arrow trail, which is well packed and a pleasure to slide down.


Fuer diese Wanderung koennte man fast eine Hochtourenbewertung vergeben. Auch wenn der Gipfel nicht einmal 1000m hoch ist, sind die Bedingungen im Winter aehnlich dem, was man auf einem 3500er in den Alpen erwarten wuerde, ausgenommen Gletscherspalten und Hoehenkrankheit.

Wir benutzten den White Arrow Trail fuer den Auf- und Abstieg, wobei wir beim Aufstieg die Direktvariante (vereiste Blockkletterei, Steigeisen nuetzlich) waehlten. Geniale Fernsicht, aber starker Wind (gefuehlte -25 C am Gipfel).