Movin' On Up

Mount Monadnock

Located in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, Mount Monadnock is the second-most climbed mountain in the world after Mount Fuji in Japan.   The mountain reaches a height of 3,165 feet, and offers multiple trails with varying levels of difficulty by which climbers can reach the top.  I'll admit it--my trip to Mount Monadnock was less than ideal.  I made the mistake of hiking this huge mountain on less than three hours of sleep, scowling at the small children who seemed to be making their way to the top so easily.  However, if you are smart about preparation, Monadnock serves as an excellent source of recreational exercise and delivers some truly awesome, 100-mile views.   I recommend visiting the mountain in early October (when I visited), because you'll get to see the autumn leaves at their best, and the weather is still nice.  Also, dress in layers--all the climbing makes you hot, but as you can probably guess, the top of the mountain is chilly!  Climbing to the top of Mount Monadnock takes a couple of hours, so pack a lunch to enjoy atop a scenic rockface during your ascent.  Keep in mind that cellphone reception is almost non-existent high up on the mountain, so if you're an inexperienced climber, it's safer to go with a group.   Need an ego boost?  Climbing Mount Monadnock guarantees to make you feel on top of the world.   

Find out more about Mount Monadnock.

View along the way

The top of the mountain!