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Nina Silitch

Mt. Monadnock Winter Adventure

Posted on March 19, 2014
Summit of Mt Monadnock. I ascended up the Pompelly Ridge Trail. It's about 5.5 miles from my house and 4.5 miles from the trailhead
Summit of Mt Monadnock. I ascended up the Pompelly Ridge Trail. It’s about 5.5 miles from my house and 4.5 miles from the trailhead

Today I set out to for Mt Monadnock from my house. I had high aspirations to skin up and ski down with a little bit of running from my house to the trailhead.

I left my house around 11:15 am after hoping the cooler temps of 16 degrees F. would warm up with the sunshine. It was chilly for March 18th, the day after St. Patty’s day but I was excited to take advantage of the good weather and a free day.

The Maple Trees are tapped for sugaring!
The Maple Trees are tapped for sugaring!
You can see the trees are thick!
You can see the trees are think!!

I left my house on foot with hopes to put on my skis at the trail head. The first part of the Pompelly trail is quite flat so I chose to keep my running shoes on. I kept anticipating to put my skis on but was traveling fast on the firm snow even on the uphill so I kept running in my Hoka’s.

The trail. Firm enough for sneakers though icy in spots
Looking out towards where I started
Trail Junction
Trail Junction
A look at the Summit….Oh No...this is not Mont Blanc….
A look at the Summit….Oh No…this is not Mont Blanc….
A view looking out. You can see lots of Granite slabs..
A view looking out. You can see lots of Granite slabs..
Keeping my Hoka's on. Haven't found a great place to skin yet….
Keeping the shoes on!

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Time to head down….Skis on and figure out a route
Time to head down….Skis on and figure out a route

IMG_3750IMG_3750

Here is a shot of the terrain I skied down. Tough navigating
Here is a shot of the terrain I skied down. Tough navigating

I found a wide drainage that I followed for quite some time. On this I was able to ski pretty fast following the river bed, undulating over rocks and rolls. This eventually put me out a a lovely farm below that joins a dirt road about 5 miles from my house. There I took off the skis and boots, strapped them to my back and then put my running shoes back on. I had memories of making the long run at the start of the Patrouille des Glaciers with skis strapped to the back. I used a ski tie to secure them well and not flap around. It was still quite awkward to run with them for so far.

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I ended up at a lovely New England farm near the Dublin Trail Head.

Lets put it this way. This was in no way ski touring in the Alps but it was an adventure. I made it back home with a few tears in my eye for my old ski tours. I proceeded to  pull various twigs and branches out of my pack and hair, grab an energy snack, change clothes and head out to get my kids from school. Though I was feeling very nostalgic for the Alps and the ski tours there, as the decent down was in no way stellar, it was an adventure from my back door- Door to Door round trip to the summit and back. I had a few good turns, some great views in the sunshine and appreciating to have the time to be out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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