Mount Monadnock: Winter Ascent via the Spellman Trail

I have always wanted to climb Mount Monadnock via the Spellman Trail. It is one of the steepest and most remote trails on the mountain. We arrived at the trailhead on a 40 degree January day in the aftermath of a rain storm. Despite these odd conditions the ascent was awesome and Spellman is now my favorite route up Mount Monadnock.

Mount Monadnock is famous for short trails with steep pitches that quickly get hikers to an above tree line experience. For these reasons It is no surprise that this is one of the most hiked mountains on Earth. The crowds typically take the White Dot or White Cross trails which provide a steep but not too steep route to the summit.  The Spellman Trail is a much steeper and slightly longer (2.25 miles to the summit) approach to the summit which means few hikers use it; especially in the winter. 

An easy start

We started our hike from the main parking area to find little snow but enough ice to instantly require Microspikes. The initial trail, which provides access to the main summit routes, was well traveled with many footprints. 

We kept going past the junction for the White Cross/ White Dot Trails and instantly noticed less footsteps ahead of us. 

Steep ascents ahead!

We quickly came to the junction for the Cascade Link Trail which leads to the Spellman Trail. Since I was new to this route I was starting to get excited to see just how steep this route would be. 

Shouldn't there be snow or ice here?

We had to deal with a few decent sized stream crossings which is just plain weird for the middle of winter. 

The unseasonably warm temperatures were causing snow and ice melt all over the trail, it was enough to put a frown on the face of any winter lover. 

Monadnock State Park’s trails are very well marked and my excitement grew when I saw that the Spellman route was just .2 miles away. Then we were there, at the start of the legendary Spellman Trail. Between us and the summit stood 1.3 miles of the most epic ascending that the mountain had to offer. 

Can you guess which one has better traction?

We started the climb with our Microspikes but quickly stopped to put on crampons and to ready our ice axes. 

Steep and icy

The climb up Spellman was exactly what I was looking for. The boulder strewn trail climbed aggressively with thick coatings of ice on everything.  

Can't do that with Microspikes

We even got to dig in the front points on a few spots. 

The steep ascent combined with the blue skies and high temperatures quickly had us down to our base layers. It felt weird to be climbing with crampons and an ice axe in a T-shirt. 

The view along the route gave us an expansive look at the surrounding region as a reward for the rapid ascent. 

The trail briefly ducked back into the trees but a sign let us know that we had met with the Pumpelly Trail and that the summit was only .7 miles away.

We then emerged onto the base of Monadnock’s summit cone which is what makes this mountain so special. Few New England mountains, of any height, have such a sustained and exposed approach to the summit. When the weather is good the joy of this experience cannot be described.

A crowded summit

We continued ascending and soon had our first views of the true summit. This was the first time we saw other hikers since the trailhead and it looked like a popular day to be on the summit. 

We stopped at the summit to have a snack and down some water. The temperatures were so mild that we did not need gloves or jackets. It felt so wrong to be this warm so deep into winter. It was an especially popular day on the mountain as we learned that a hiking group for hikers over 40 had 50+ people on the mountain along the White Dot and Cross routes. This would certainly make for a descent that was much more crowded than our ascent. 

We descended via the White Dot Trail. By this point in the day the sun had turned parts of the trail into ice covered with slush. I kept my Microspikes on but full crampons would have been better in many spots. We encountered 30+ hikers on the way down and soon found ourselves back at the parking area.

The Spellman trail is a great way to ascend Mount Monadnock that will challenge you and be as crowd free as possible. Due to its steepness I don’t recommend descending it unless you are extremely experienced. All in all it was a great day to hike, even if it was a bit unseasonal.

The OSU Mountaineers Climb Mount Washington

My friends and I recently did an overnight at the Hermit Lake Shelters near the base of Mount Washington. While we were there we met a group of 16 hikers who had driven all the way from Ohio to summit Mount Washington. They were part of the Ohio State University Mountaineers Club and this was an annual alpine pilgrimage for them. I knew that anyone willing to drive 17+ hours to climb a mountain would have a great story to tell. Read on to hear about the OSU Mountaineers and their epic journey. - Grant

Story By: Clay East (Publicist/Fundraiser OSU Mountaineers)

Most would think that spending 35 hours in a car, hanging out in -50F degree weather, and eating only fast food and energy bars over MLK Weekend isn’t ideal, but that’s what many Ohio State Uuniversity Mountaineers look forward to early in the school year. The OSU MountaineersClub is a student run organization and the lead outdoor enthusiast club on campus. We have over 150 members and enjoy everything in the outdoors from mountaineering to whitewater rafting. Our trips span across the country and have ranged from a few members to trips including over 80 people.

Over MLK  weekend, the OSU Mountaineers made their annual trip to Mt. Washington, taking 16 eager club members. After weeks of gear preparation and trying to lose those few extra pounds put on during the holidays, we made the always epic Journey to New Hampshire all the way from Columbus, Ohio to conquer Mt. Washington.

The long and snwoy road to New Hampshire

We left The Ohio State Universities campus around 5:00pm on Friday evening. And if a 17 hour drive up wasn’t enough, we had to make the trek in a blizzard stretching ALL the way along our route. After a few minor adjustments to the rental vehicles (new windshield wipers and topping of on windshield fluids), we were off. As people got to know each other, it grew tougher and tougher to sleep on the way there, and the excitement could hardly be contained by the vans thin walls.

Preparing near the trailhead

After a few close calls on the road, we made it to IME’s (International Mountain Equipments) gear/rental shop to pick up those last few items needed to survive the mountain. After gathering the last of our gear we headed to the trail head up the road.

Hiking to the shelters

After unloading, checking gear, and stuffing our backpacks, we took off to hike up to the Hermit Lake Shelters where we would be spending the night in a frigid -16F.  

Near Hermit Lake Shelters

After a quick dinner we hit the sack around 7:00pm knowing we had a long day ahead of us. Many of us tossed and turned throughout the night in the frigid cold, cuddling up next to whatever gear we wanted to keep warm in our sleeping bags.

Early Bird gets the summit. We woke at 4:30am, a time many of us would normally be going to sleep back at school. As we crawled out of our semi-warm sleeping bags into the thin cold air, it was a reminder that we were in for an epic adventure that day. After eating a quick breakfast, for many of us consisting of energy bars and candy, we got ready for the summit push. It proved difficult the night before to boil water in the freezing cold so none of us would be enjoying a warm breakfast or a warm drink that morning. We took off from the Hermit Lake shelters around 7:00am, and after a few crampon and layering adjustments, we were already staring at the edge of the tree line.

Near the summit of Mount Washington

The winds then kicked in forcing some to put on goggles instantly. We pushed on to Lion’s Head were we got our first good peak of the summit. We stuck together, if not all together at once, members of our club encouraged one another and helped one another push on towards the summit. Although some of us had only known each other for less than two days, we knew that we’d never forget this journey we made together. As we passed the sign pointing to the summit, many of us realized that we would accomplish our goal that weekend, as obscure as it may be, to reach the summit of Mt. Washington. The wind continued to pick up force the further we went. We slowed down but we continued on to the summit, all but one of us. Unfortunately one of our group members was struck by a migraine and had to turn around and make the long trek down.

Summit!

The other 15 of us pushed on until we were standing at the summit, with a view of over 110 miles. A few of us snapped pictures at the summit sign in the -50F windchill and quickly returned to the shelter on the summit for a quick celebration and snack. We then headed down and enjoyed our last few views of the mountains before returning to the shelters and packing up the remainder of our gear. After a quick walk down the remaining trail, we were rewarded with hot showers. Most of us shook off the chills quickly, unfortunately that was not the case for one of our members, who would later realize that they had symptoms of the early stages of frostbite on their feet. It was a lesson to all of us, even with all the preparation and safety measures we had taken, mountaineering is still a dangerous sport and has risks.

Dinner at the Muddy Moose

After cleaning up we headed to dinner at the Muddy Moose in North Conway and enjoyed a well deserved meal.

A long ride home

We then loaded back into the vans and made the tiresome 17 hour drive back to Columbus, Ohio. In retrospect the whole weekend seems like some crude yet epic and rewarding dream, yet this dream, none of us will forget.

For more information about our club and for upcoming events, visit osumountaineers.com

A special thanks to Francesca McLin, Brian Fisher, and David Barker for organizing and leading this trip.

5 “More” Hiker Etiquette Guidelines

By: Karl Searl, author of Live Free and Hike New Hampshire

When hiking, it is really important to follow proper trail etiquette. By doing so, you’re ensuring that your fellow hikers are having an enjoyable experience, while also maintaining the true beauty and habitat of nature. Many websites and books have standard hiker etiquette codes listed, which includes stuff like pass on the right or hikers ascending have the right-of-way. After spending some solid time on the trail, these etiquette guidelines become second nature and are pretty much commonsense to most hikers. However, over the years, I have come up with five additional hiker etiquette rules that I follow and wish other hikers did too! Let me share it with you. 

My Clementines on Mount Osceola...Peels came home with me!

           Don’t litter…I know what you’re thinking. That’s on every hiker etiquette list around…no brainer. However, I’m not talking about the obvious stuff (plastic bottles, etc.). I’m talking about the stuff people claim is biodegradable, therefore is okay to dispose of on the trail. Stuff like tissues, orange peels, apple cores, etc. I understand these things breakdown faster than say, an aluminum can, but nonetheless, they need time to breakdown. Did you know it takes 180 days for an orange or clementine peel to breakdown? How about tissues…2-5 months! Most of all, it destroys the beauty of nature. When I hit the trail, I’m completely attentive to all things on the trail…wildflowers, ferns, mushrooms, brooks. To find a tissue in the middle of these amazing features disgusts me. So, pickup your garbage, even the stuff that breaks down faster than “typical litter”! Throw it in your compost pile when you get home.

Mount Tecumseh Summit...don't be a summit hog, even on small summits like this one!

      Don’t be a summit hogger!!! There are a lot of cool things on different summits. Some have signs, others have benchmarks, some have towers and some just have limited space! If you’re on the summit, remember that everyone else up there made the journey just the same as you. Don’t hog the features so others can’t enjoy them. If there is a benchmark, maybe it’s not such a good idea to plant your pack there for lunch…right? If there is a summit sign, people may want to get a picture with it, so if you have your trekking poles leaning against it, they may get in someone’s way…right? Quick story, my wife and I climbed Tecumseh (second attempt, first was a disaster) and when we made it to the top, these three people had set up camp (yes…all they were missing was a tent) on the summit cairn. They were spread out to the point where Jill and I had to eat lunch in a spruce tree…I’m not exaggerating. We didn’t feel welcome to check out the cairn or take summit shots, because those hikers were monopolizing a small summit. It was definitely a significant summit in our journey but we were not able to enjoy until these people left. That is not how it should be. Everyone should be able to enjoy the summits together and share the features without feeling like you’re banished into a spruce tree! Oh, and they left a pile of dog food on the cairn too (see #1 above)! So, share the summits with your fellow hikers. They can get crowded, but that doesn’t mean everyone can enjoy them.

3.      

           I came to hike, not play leap frog! Okay, most people abide by right-of-way to ascending hikers and do pass on the right or at least where it is most feasible. However, have you ever had that hiker that passes you, just to take a break 25 yards up? And then you pass them…just to have them pass you again. This typically goes on and on for a good mile or more and the person (or group) is never out of your view? Well, this drives me nuts! Sometimes, this can’t be avoided on a very populated trail such as Tuckerman, but most trails, it can. Now, I have no problem with you passing me…in fact, I encourage it because I don’t like people close behind me as I feel like I’m holding them up. But if you’re going to pass me, make it worth it. I don’t want to be left your dust 20 times in a half mile stretch! (Please note, I’m not talking about seeing the same person five times up a trail, I’m talking about seeing them 15 times in a half mile)

4.       

           Why is someone yelling! Have you ever heard someone talking very, very…very loudly on the trail to their hiking partners? I understand how this can happen since sometimes you’re leading a group and you try to talk loud enough for them to hear you in the back. However, when I hike, sometimes I enjoy the peacefulness of the nature. Also, I like to talk with my hiking group too. If another hiker is drowning out a conversation I’m having with someone I’m hiking with right next to me, chances are…you’re being too loud!

Mount Washington...don't ask someone if you're almost there at this point!

             Am I almost there??? How often have you been asked this question on the way down from the summit? I get asked it all the time and I hate it! I don’t want to be the bearer of bad news that you’re still 1.5 miles away! I don’t want to ruin your day! So why must you ask me? I make it a point, never to ask anyone on the trail if I’m almost there or near the top. If a fellow hiker offers up that info, then great. But don’t put your fellow hikers in an awkward position to tell you that you’re not even close. Or, they could lie to you too…”Yup, the summit is just over that crest!”…he he he

There you have it! These are my five additional hiker etiquette guidelines that should be added to all the standard lists…in my humble opinion. I hope you didn’t think this was harsh and took my sarcasm in jest as I was trying to get my points across in a fun way. I find hiking extremely pleasurable despite what I have listed above. In no way do any of these things ruin my walks in the woods nor should it ruin yours. I hope this post makes you stop and think the next time you peel that clementine on the trail and convinces you to stuff the peelings in your garbage bag in your pack.  

About Karl Searl: Karl is one of the nicest people in the outdoor blogosphere and he writes some of the best New Hampshire hiking content. He has lived in New Hampshire most of his life and currently resides in the seacoast region with his wife, Jill and his daughter, Lylah. By profession, he’s a mechanical engineer, but his true passion lies in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Whenever possible, he tries to get out on the trail with his family and friends and enjoy what the New Hampshire wilderness has to offer. He shares his adventures on Live Free and Hike New Hampshire, his day hiking blog. You can visit Karl’s blog at http://livefreeandhikenh.blogspot.com. Karl tweets at @LiveFreeAndHike and you can follow Live Free and Hike on Facebook at http://facebook.com/LiveFreeAndHike.  

EMS Winter Climbing 101 Review

I recently took Winter Climbing 101 with EMS Climbing School in North Conway, NH where I learned a lot, expanded my mountaineering comfort zone and had a great time!

Winter Climbing 101 is a full day instructor led class that teaches the basics of mountaineering such as ice axe technique, crampon use and ice climbing skills. It is taught by certified outdoor instructors and the “classroom” is at some of the best ice faces in the northeast like Frankenstein Cliffs or Cathedral Ledge.

Winter Climbing 101 is a great way to expand your winter comfort zone and to build the skill base that is needed to safely navigate cold alpine environments. Below I will walk you through my experience with this class.

Getting Geared Up

All classes meet at the North Conway EMS to introduce fellow students/ instructors and to get outfitted with gear. 

gear heaven

The EMS Climbing School section looks like my dream garage with endless cubbies of gear, a small rock wall and plenty of space to put gear on. I checked in and met Charlie, my instructor for the day, along with my 3 classmates. EMS maintains a strict 4 to 1 student to instructor ratio to ensure enough personal attention. 

getting to know the class

Charlie introduced himself and helped our class get to know each other. He then began to outfit students with the plastic mountaineering boots, climbing harnesses and helmets that we would need for a day on the ice. EMS offers use of this gear for no extra charge. This is a tremendous benefit for two reasons. First, the high cost of mountaineering gear is a barrier to entry for this sport. Second, getting outfitted by a professional lets students see how to use and size the gear. 

Charlie shows us how to fit gear

Charlie was very careful to explain how to properly fit climbing harnesses, boots and ice axes. He also took great care to explain what we would learn throughout the day. Now we certainly looked like mountaineers, with all of our gear, so we hit the road for the 5 minute drive to Cathedral Ledge.

Learning to Walk and Other Mountaineering Skills

setting the day's agenda

We arrived at Cathedral ledge to find plenty of ice, temperatures in the 30s and almost no snow. Charlie took a moment to ask what we wanted to get out of this class. It turns out that everyone in the class had an interest in climbing Mount Rainier so he slightly modified the curriculum to accommodate our goals. We started our day by learning how to put on crampons and walk in them; which is much harder than it sounds. 

learning the french technique

Plastic mountaineering boots do not allow you to bend your ankles or flex your feet to walk uphill. This is particularly challenging since you want every point of your crampons to grip the ice as you climb. Charlie had the answer. He showed us how to essentially side step uphill, with proper ice axe placement, to do what is called the French technique. We also learned how to hold an ice axe and that it is always held on the uphill side. 

safe ice skills

Charlie made sure to teach us the critical tips to ascend safely. This includes taking small but firm steps and ensuring that the ice axe is providing support with each step.

These concepts were new to everyone in class and we all looked a little awkward at first. Charlie had us practice ascending and descending a few steep slopes around the ice faces of Cathedral Ledge. It felt weird to use crampons on bare ground but the technique was exactly the same. We no longer feared the razor sharp spikes, aka crampons, attached to our boots. Before long we all looked like mountaineers who had been using the French technique for years.

Climbing the Ice

on belay

By 11:30 am we were ready for the ice climbing portion of the class.  Charlie explained how to set ice anchors and set up ropes for top rope climbing.  He also showed us the all important figure 8 knot which ties the climbing rope in your harness. Once we had that down he showed us how to belay other climbers to prevent them from falling. 

climbing and teaching

He then climbed the ice to set up the ropes. He must have been confident in our skills since he let the students belay him.  Along the way he demonstrated how to place your boot on the ice face to use as much of the crampon as possible instead of just front points. If you use front points for too long your calves will be exhausted. He also showed us how to swing our ice axes to get the best possible ice placement. 

using my front points

Then it was our turn to climb the ice. We each took turns climbing and belaying. I learned that there is no substitute for experience and probably relied on my front points a little too much. 

coming down

I had complete faith in my fellow student’s belaying abilities as I descended. Everyone took a turn climbing and then the day was nearing an end. 

self arresting with no snow

Before we headed out Charlie made sure to demonstrate each variation of self arrest. This is one of the most critical mountaineering skills where you use your ice axe to quickly stop a fall. There was not enough snow for us to try it but it was helpful to see the technique.

Heading Home

My fellow students and I realized how fast the day flew by as we headed back to the car. We all agreed that in an extremely short period of time we vastly expanded our mountaineering comfort zone and gained real world experience with the tools of climbing. Charlie made sure to get our feedback and answer any questions we had.

The EMS Climbing School curriculum is top notch but the school really sets itself apart with its instructors. Charlie was not only a certified outdoor expert but he also had a great sense of humor and was fun to be around. He was able to teach a very serious topic in a fun way; that takes a lot of skill.

If you want to hike in the winter then do yourself a favor and take Winter Climbing 101. This class will provide you with the basic skills that you need to safely enter the realm of mountaineering.  

 Disclosure: EMS provided New England Outside with complimentary admission to Winter Climbing 101 in exchange for blogging coverage. However, New England Outside is in no way required to provide EMS Climbing School with a favorable review.

Where I Buy My Gear

Many stores and websites sell outdoor gear but some retailers just have better a better combination of gear, prices, and customer service. I have been buying gear for 15 years and these are the places where I have had the best experience. I don’t work for any of these retailers and I received no incentives to write this post. I just want to shine a light on retailers who deserve your business. Supporting businesses like this is the best way to make sure they stick around.

Valley Ski and Bike Werks

Valley Ski and Bike Werks

Where: Hadley, MA

Type of Gear: skiing and cycling

Why it rocks: customer service and product quality

About:

Geoff, Dave and Charlie aka the founders of the Werks, image from www.valleybikeandskiwerks.com/

Valley Ski and Bike Werks is a new shop that was created by local people who live for skiing and cycling. Their passion for the sport is evident as soon as you walk in the door; the walls are adorned with ski or cycling graphics and an epic ski or cycling video is always playing on the shop’s TV. The layout is open with a west coast feel.  It also helps that the shop is chock full of an amazing selection of skis, bikes and accessories.

Inside The Werks, image from gazettenet.com

 The Werks carries a complete range of skis and bikes from the best brands in the industry. They also have all of the accessories for both sports as well as a full bike mechanic shop in the store. This level of gear just can’t be found in a big box store.

The customer service is what really sets this place apart and it keeps me coming back. The employees are obsessed with cycling, mountain biking and skiing and they sincerely care about their customers. Going to the Werks feels like hanging out with friends. When I walk in the door someone always greets me, usually by name, and I always find the right gear at the right price. This is where I bought my bike/ skis and it is where I send my friends.

Eastern Mountain Sports – Hadley

Where: Hadley, MA

Type of Gear: hiking

Why it rocks: product quality, price and return policy.

About: I have shopped at this EMS since I was a Cub Scout over 15 years ago. During that time the employees have changed but the quality, experience and prices have always been great. I have had great experiences with EMS brand gear and it can usually be bought on sale. I am also a big fan of EMS’s lifetime satisfaction guarantee and no questions asked return policy.

Backcountry.com

 Where: Online

Type of Gear: everything for the outdoors

Why it rocks: product selection, site navigation and return policy

About: 

Backountry.com's slick web interface

Backcountry.com sells high end gear for every outdoor sport, has regular sales and they stand by a lifetime return policy. What is not to like? Backcountry.com might not be a local gear shop but their customer service has repeatedly earned my business. Their site is pleasantly laid out with plenty of gear reviews and a chat feature where experts will answer all of your gear questions. If you like to save money then Backcountry also has Steepandcheap.com which features a new gear deal every few minutes. Backountry’s purchase experience is simple, intuitive and fun. 

Backtounry's iPad app

 Oh yeah, Backcountry has a slick iPad app that makes it almost to easy to shop for gear.

Northampton Running Company

Chris, owner of Northampton Running Company, photo from newstimes.com

Where: Northampton, MA

Type of Gear: running

Why it rocks: customer service

About: The Northampton Running Company is a local running store located in downtown Northampton. This is where I bought my shoes for the Hartford Marathon and many Seven Sisters Trail Races. I like the Northampton Running Company because their only business is running. This means they have specialized merchandise and employees who love running. The people at this store can explain specific features of each shoe and recommend the best one for you.

Mount Monadnock Trip Report: Via the Marlboro Trail

Mount Monadnock, located in Jaffrey NH,  is one of the most climbed mountains on Earth but you can avoid the crowds by taking the Marlboro Trail to the summit. This route approaches the 3,165 ft summit on the west side of the mountain, away from the more popular trails, yet it creates the same short and steep experience that Monadnock is famous for.

 

The Marlboro trailhead is located outside of Monadnock State Park on Shaker Road in Marlboro, NH.  Shaker road, located off NH Rt. 124, is certainly the road less traveled as it is gravel and strewn with potholes and rocks. The Marlboro Trail is short and steep like most of the more popular routes to the peak. It climbs just under 2,000 feet in just over 2 miles.  Someone in reasonable shape should be able to complete the ascent in 2 hours. 

 

We started our hike on a cloudy late December morning with temperatures in the 30s. There was no snow on the ground but the slight chill in the air reminded us that winter is coming. The Marlboro trail starts with a gentle climb bordered by stone walls in a classic New England forest which was a great way to warm up for the climbing that lay before us. I was surprised at how well the trail was marked with carins and white marks from the very start.

 

After .8 miles the trail’s personality drastically changes and the climbing begins with a steep and icy pitch. At this point the ice could be easily avoided since it was mostly in the center of the trail. 

 

The climb quickly becomes steeper on mostly exposed rock slabs. This allowed for a true alpine experience with more than enough ice to justify Microspikes.

 

We were rewarded for this climb with expansive and exposed views into the valley below. On a clear day I imagine this view could be even more breathtaking. 

 

The icy rock slab climbing continued for about a mile as we found ourselves approaching Monadnock’s summit. 

Visibility and temperatures dropped near the summit while wind increased and ice was everywhere which is typical for a NH summit this time of year. We added a few layers that made it much easier to deal with the conditions.

 

We found quickly found ourselves at the summit which was encased in clouds that denied any sort of a view.  With these conditions Monadnock felt much higher than its true elevation.  We spent a few minutes on the summit to have a snack and to put on ice traction.

 

The sky began to clear as we left the summit which gave us a hint of the grand views that were possible from here.

We descended cautiously due to the steep and icy conditions.  The wind died and the temperatures felt much warmer once we left the summit so we were in no rush.

The view from the rock slabs remained stunning as we descend toward flatter terrain.

We quickly found ourselves back on the stone wall lined trail in the forest which meant the trailhead was almost within reach. We only encountered about 6 other hikers during the trip, which is very small considering the popularity of Monadnock. I highly recommend trying the Marlboro Trail If you seek a less crowded, but still beautiful, route to the Monadnock summit 

Please visit this link for more details on the Marlboro Trail.