AmherstDavid
New member
Did my first Mt. Monadnock on 10/14 with my wife. Started at 11:30AM on Birchcroft then to Red Spot. The weather was perfect for hiking but the trail was a bit muddy in places. We spent quite a bit of time waiting in line about half way up and were always in sight of other hikers thought the day. The packs of screaming kids was almost unbearable and I was tempted a few times to bad things. We stopped near the top and found an isolated spot to have a PB&J and some fruit and enjoy a the views and some solitude. Dug out some warm fleeces to counter the cold winds and passed a few small patches of ice and made it to the top a bit past 2. There were only a 100 or so people at the top so it wasn't overly crowded but the views were fantastic. The highlight for me was the 2 A-10 Warthog jets that buzzed the top of the mountain (wish they used the guns.
The hike down was about as long as the hike up due to long lines and terrified people. Some turd graffitied a rock about a ¼ mile from the parking lot which I did not notice on my way up but was a fitting end to the hike.
Is this the norm on a good weekend? Also, I'm fairly new too hiking and am looking for some goals/ guidance on how long a hike like this should take for a reasonably in shape person and how often and how long are your breaks? I want to attempt some 4k mountains next summer but I don't know what expect. I hiked Mt. Burk in VT(3200') this summer and almost did not make it to the top as I ran out of gas to the point that I would take 5-10 steps and have stop for a min. then continue. Since then I get out for at least 2 hours each weekend and, panting and wheezing I can get to the top of Pac. Monadnock in 40 min with two 3 min breathers.
Thanks,
David
The hike down was about as long as the hike up due to long lines and terrified people. Some turd graffitied a rock about a ¼ mile from the parking lot which I did not notice on my way up but was a fitting end to the hike.
Is this the norm on a good weekend? Also, I'm fairly new too hiking and am looking for some goals/ guidance on how long a hike like this should take for a reasonably in shape person and how often and how long are your breaks? I want to attempt some 4k mountains next summer but I don't know what expect. I hiked Mt. Burk in VT(3200') this summer and almost did not make it to the top as I ran out of gas to the point that I would take 5-10 steps and have stop for a min. then continue. Since then I get out for at least 2 hours each weekend and, panting and wheezing I can get to the top of Pac. Monadnock in 40 min with two 3 min breathers.
Thanks,
David