Hike up Mount Monadnock - 2004
(scroll down for pictures)

A day hike to Mount Monadnock took place on October 30.  Mount Monadnock has the unofficial claim-to-fame, as being the second most climbed mountain in the US.   However, you wouldn't have known that the day we went.  Being that the weather was  overcast with a heavy mist, the mountain was for all purposes, deserted.  Upon arriving, we were warned by the park staff to be careful, and to turn back if visibility became bad enough such that we could not see the next trail marker.  There was also the possibility that we could encounter snow at the top.

As can be seen from the pictures, when we started, conditions at the bottom were fairly clear.  However, as we proceeded up the mountain, (and into the low clouds) things got progressively foggier, and the mist heavier.  Shortly after we cleared the tree line, we had about 50ft visibility, just enough to be able to sight the next cairn.  Another 100ft higher or so, the wind picked up and the temperature noticeably dropped.  On went our gloves, wool hats, ski masks and/or hoods. 

By the time we reached the summit, the wind was howling, and useful visibility was less than 30 feet.  It was like being inside of a noisy ping-pong ball.  We got some  shelter on the leeward side of one of the summit outcroppings and had a quick lunch before heading back down.

Going down was, in a very real sense, harder than going up.  We had to be more careful, as the rocks and leaves were slipperier than they had been.  Those with hiking poles made good use of them to steady and control their downward progress.

Nearing the bottom, we stopped for a break at the natural spring and partook of the refreshing, cold water.  We agreed that the adverse conditions had made the hike far more interesting and a better challenge to developing our Scouting skills.

Starting our hike	Our new patrol leaders	Lots of steep rocks	And slippery leaves	The USGS Survey marker at the summit
A great view... of nothingness	Eating our lunch on the leeward side of the rocks	A well-earned rest at the spring

(Thanks to Mr. Farrar for the above pictures.)