Winter hike up Pack Monadnock

2.5 miles of hiking • 1500' elevation gain •

This was my first winter hike up Pack Monadnock, a mountain I frequently hike in the spring/summer/fall. I went up the Wapack trail (yellow markers - walk a little ways up the auto road and look left for the yellow blazes). It was a beautiful day, warm for a New Hampshire winter day. It was also very clear, which provided great views. The trail was packed snow and easy to follow - almost easier than navigating rocks during the warm season. Awesome views at the summit. I took the Mariom Davis trail down (blue blazes), which has few difficult areas. It is definitely easy enough for a beginner with the correct gear.

Speaking of gear, I would highly suggest wearing crampons. I used Freesteps crampons, which are nothing too fancy ($40 at EMS) but definitely helped. There are some icy spots hidden underneath the snow that could pose big problems on the descent for someone without extra traction. I didn't have any trekking poles but a sturdy stick worked fine. I wore Under Armor Cold Gear top and bottom with my big winter jacket and was almost too warm most of the time. Windproof and waterproof layers are necessary, especially at the summit where it is windy.

Miller State Park is not staffed in the winter, but there was a man that came up on the auto road on a Bobcat and seemed to be checking up on the place. There were 3-4 cars in the parking lot but I only passed one group of 2 on the trail, no other hikers at the summit. It is a world of difference from the busy summer months!

Overall this is a great winter hike. It's definitely easy enough for a beginner as long as they have the proper gear. There are several trails to choose from and the views are great!