I take you out of Blackstone Valley and up to New Hampshire; a group from Blackstone Valley Outfitters took a hiking excursion to Mount Monadnock in Jaffrey, NH . Leaving the store in the dark hours of the morning, the sun started to rise as we entered New Hampshire; revealing a clear blue sky with some color still left for this fall day. After about an hour and a half of driving, the mountain came into view and we knew a special hike awaited us. Visible above the brown and red tree line stood Mount Monadnock gleaming white with new fallen snow.

Checking in at the ranger station, I was told that the summit had 50 mile visibility with temperatures at 20 degrees and a wind chill of about zero. As I was heading out, a woman came in from the mountain and told the rangers that she hiked though several drifts of snow that where two feet or deeper, also the open areas had a lot of ice built up on the rocks. Letting everyone know about the conditions of the summit, the group headed northwest along the White Dot Trail. Hiking though a hardwood forest of white birch and oak for about a half mile, we turn due north onto the Cascade Link Trail. Almost immediately the name for the trail was revealed. We crossed and followed a brook cascading downward with several small waterfalls. Shortly the dark forest gave way to snow patches and short evergreens. After about an hour and a half of hiking we were treated with vistas to the east, deeper snow and ice.

After a steep climb, the group arrived at the Pumpelly Trail. Heading southwest along the ridge, the views to the north and west were spectacular. With the clear skies, Mount Washington could be seen covered in snow. All around us was snow and ice as we looked down below to the final glimpse of autumn in the valley. Once on the ridgeline heading to the summit the wind picked up and the zero degree wind chill could be felt. On the exposed trail the snow was little more than a dusting but the ice covered rock made for slow travel. Every step had to be evaluated to make sure you didn't take a fall. By our noon time break the summit of Mount Monadnock was about a half mile away. With the bad footing and high winds the group decided the summit would be there another day. We turned off the Pumpelly Trail and headed down the Red Dot Trail.

The Red Dot Trail was marked by cairns and ran due south for about a tenth of a mile before turning east. At the turn the group bushwhacked across the exposed ledge and connected with the White Dot Trail for a faster descent. For the first time that day we met up with people from the parking lot. They had taken the faster route up the mountain but because of the ice and large groups most had not made it above tree line. On our careful descent I was surprised at the number of people still coming up the trail and how ill prepared they were. Several of the hikers were dressed for a fall stroll in the city with little more than sneakers and a wind breaker on. Descending into the taller forest once more the trail leveled out and I passed a couple of guys climbing up. One of them made the comment; Oh, another group coming down but they've got hiking boots on. I wonder if the trail is ok to hike with sneakers. I just shook my head at him and headed to the parking lot.