“Hard-pressed to find a quiet spot to enjoy our hard-earned lunch, we scooted down the mountain fifty yards to a nice bald spot that appeared to be fairly out of the way from the masses. But as we settled onto our perch, the air was filled with boisterous chatter about selfies and ‘instagame.‘”
– from 4000s by 40
This page shares images from the experiences in Chapter 22 of 4000s by 40. After spending so much time climbing alone, it was a thrill to climb a mountain with my daughter. It wasn’t a 4000-footer, but was extra special because of the company. For more about New Hampshire’s 4000-footers and climbing through middle age, you can get the book [here]. And to go along with the photos below, I’ve added a quick retelling of events, along with quotes, to give a small sense of what you’ll find in the book. Happy reading!
The Dublin Trail
During my yearlong quest to tackle the 4000-footers, my daughter expressed a lot of interest in what I was up to. So, the day after climbing the Twins and Galehead, I took her out of school to climb Mount Monadnock. How much can you learn in school when you’re eight, anyway?
I thought I’d pick the easiest route, which was presumably the Dublin Trail. Apparently, I didn’t need to be so cautious though, because my daughter bounded up the trail with little effort. It was a tough hike for an eight-year-old kid to be sure, but she didn’t issue a single complaint and was smiling the entire time. We had the trail largely to ourselves and I was beginning to believe we might have a rare day of peace at Monadnock’s summit, but I was mistaken.
The Summit of Mount Monadnock
The summit was mobbed. No less than one hundred people littered the scenery with their carcasses stretched about, snacking on trail mix. Of particular note was a group of loquacious young women who managed to garner the attention of everyone resting about. They spoke of their “instagame” and choreographed a photo where all of them performed a yoga pose together. It was quite the contrast to the peaceful solitude I typically experienced during my year in the mountains.
But I was so impressed with my daughter. She was loving the mountain experience and wasn’t tired or sore. She looked out from the summit and asked me sincere questions about life and school. Questions that I wouldn’t expect an eight-year-old to ask. The mountains have a way of doing that.
On Mount Monadnock’s Summit
Heading Out for Ice Cream
Days as good as this call for ice cream! After enjoying the views for a good while, we agreed that a father-daughter day in the mountains wouldn’t be complete without it. But still, we didn’t rush down. Even though she knew about the reward waiting for us, my daughter took her time exploring the summit and pointed things out in the distance.
Back on the Dublin Trail, where less hikers explored, we were largely on our own again for most of the descent. Having the trail to ourselves gave us the freedom to laugh and joke about “instagame” and other trivialities. We laughed so much. I have to tell you, in all of the hikes that I had during my quest to climb the 4000-footers, this was my favorite. And yes, it wasn’t even a 4000-footer.
Love the Mountains?
If you like reading about mountains and the ups and downs of getting “out there,” you can check out more stories at 4000s by 40.
Looking for photos of more mountains? Head back to the 4000s by 40 Visual Companion to explore the other peaks climbed during the journey.
🧭 Ascent Details: Mount Monadnock (3,165′) via Dublin Trail
- Route: Dublin Trail (out and back)
- Distance: 4.4 miles round trip
- Elevation Gain: ~1,800 feet
- Trailhead: Old Troy Road, Dublin, NH
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Trail Features: Steady climb, rocky sections, some exposed ledges near summit
- Summit: Open granite summit with panoramic views of southern New Hampshire and beyond
- Notes: Less crowded than the popular White Dot/White Cross trails from the state park side