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.
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.
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.
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.