A buddy and I spent Veterans Day making a loop hike of Kiasticuticus Peak (aka Bald Rock), Mount Monadnock, and Monte Rosa. It took us a little over four hours, maybe four and a half, thanks in large part to the blustery conditions at the summit of Monadnock. As we neared it, several people who seemed to be a mix of English and Dutch—I couldn’t quite make out all of the accents in the cold wind—warned us of the “blustery” conditions at the top. One of them also said, “Godspeed,” so I’m going with English.
Godspeed? What’s up there??
In the Forecast: Adventure
The last weather report I checked before leaving the house said it was going to be a pretty mild November day, and it was—at the base of the mountain. But when we hit our first peak—Kiasticuticus—the temperature dropped and we didn’t much feel like sitting down and taking a break. So, we trudged on, partly motivated by the fact I only had a five-hour window before I needed to get back for a meeting, and partly because of the nippy weather.
But as my climbing partner said, it didn’t feel like we hiked longer than a couple of hours. The views were beautiful, and this quickly became my favorite way to climb Monadnock. I’m a big fan of Kiasticuticus and now Monte Rosa, which I hadn’t climbed before, because they both yield unobstructed views without having any crowds to contend with. Not that Monadnock was busy this day. Through the spring, summer, and fall, you’re lucky if you can find less than fifty people at the summit of Monadnock. But yesterday, we only found three hunkering down behind a large block of granite, seeking shelter from the wind. It was a fruitless effort. The wind found all sorts of ways to curl past the rock and blast them where they were exposed.
Got a tad nippy up high.
Mighty Winds
It felt more like we were climbing Mount Washington than Mount Monadnock, at least for the portion of time we were near the top. With each step above the treeline, the wind speeds continued to pick up until we were met with thirty-five-mile-per-hour gusts knocking us backwards at the summit. I’m no meteorologist and if I told you what it felt like, I’d say it felt stronger than thirty-five miles per hour, but I found an online report verifying thirty-five, so I’m not debating it.
The winds were a bit of a shock. I’ve climbed Monadnock a bunch and have never had a day like this up there. And even though the wind was so chilly it made the lower, more private part of my body, quite uncomfortable, I have to say, I loved it. As always, I’m a sucker for a new experience.
It was a GREAT day out there.
New Monadnock Favorite: Monte Rosa
Besides the weather, my other favorite part of the adventure was seeing Monte Rosa. At its summit is a very cool weathervane, installed by a group of volunteers back in 2012—so the internet says. I couldn’t find much of anything about it, except an article from the Keene Sentinel where it looks like you need a subscription to view it. But even without a subscription you can still see a photo of the crew who did the good work, including Chuck Willette, who restored the weathervane itself.
Over the years, I’ve stayed away from Monadnock, probably more than I should, because of the large crowds. Outside of Mount Washington, there is no more crowded summit in New Hampshire on a fine summer or autumn day, and that’s fine, but sometimes too many people is just, well, too many. Yesterday’s climb, though, and my climb up Kiasticuticus last month, have opened me back up to Monadnock’s charms. And maybe late October and early November is the sweet spot for this New England legend. When you’re standing among low-lying shrubs, tickled with rime ice, looking past frost-covered pine on a valley where golden foliage persists, you’re aware that you are once again, someplace special. Remembering that is one of the points.
The weathervane on the summit of Monte Rosa
Ascent Details
Route followed:
- Old Halfway House Trail → White Arrow Trail → Thoreau Trail → Cliff Walk → Summit of Kiasticuticus Peak (aka Bald Rock)
- Smith Connector → Amphitheater Trail → White Arrow Trail to the summit of Mount Monadnock
- Smith Summit Trail over to Monte Rosa
- Descent via Great Pasture Trail, Mossy Brook Trail, and Old Halfway House Trail
Total distance: approximately 6.2 miles round trip
Eelevation gain: about 1,800 feet.
Trail tip: The sign for the Thoreau Trail is tucked twenty feet away from the White Arrow trail and is very easy to miss. I recommend following someone’s GPS tracks if you go this way. We went right by it at first.
The Mountains of New Hampshire
New Hampshire’s mountains are my home territory, where I go for writing inspiration and more. I like to share some of these remarkable places each week, and you can find more mountain adventures here. Monadnock is also one of the 52 With a View, which is a great set of mountains. If you don’t want the summer crowds of Monadnock but still want a good view, this list is definitely worth checking out. Enjoy it out there!