INTRODUCTION:
On a
recent Sunday afternoon, I did a simple "out and back" hike to Mt.
Monroe (5,372 ft). This mountain was
named in 1820 after James Monroe, our fifth President. It's generally thought that Mt. Monroe was
first ascended in 1642 by Darby Field, accompanied by a contingent of Native
Americans.
The
hiker's parking lot at Marshfield Base Station was my starting point for this
hike. From there, I walked a short
distance to pick up the 0.3 mile long spur path that connects with the
Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail. My route
entailed a round-trip hike of about 5.6 miles, with an elevation gain of about
2,900 ft.
The
route used for this hike is highlighted on the map presented below.
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| Route used for hike is highlighted in orange |
PHOTOS:
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| This photo was taken from the Marshfield Base Station before setting forth on the spur path to the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail. The day started out with heavy overcast on the high peaks, but thankfully the overcast dissipated while en route to Mt. Monroe. |
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| Photo was taken at about the half-way point during the ascent. At upper left, notable landmarks include Bretton Woods Ski Area and Mt. Washington Hotel (red roofs), and at lower right is Marshfield Base Station where the hike began. |
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| Approaching AMC's Lakes of the Clouds Hut. A great stopover spot before ascending the summit of Mt. Monroe! |
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| This photo collage was taken during my approach to Mt. Monroe. LEFT PANEL: a mother who was hiking with her two boys; RIGHT PANEL: one of her sons waving and shouting that he made it to the top! |
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| Photo shows a classic view from top of Mt. Monroe. At top center on the horizon is Mt. Washington, followed by Mt. Clay and Mt. Jefferson at center/left. The Lakes of the Clouds Hut, and the Lakes of the Clouds are seen near bottom/center. |
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The Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail has numerous picturesque spots along the way. This photo shows just one of many.
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The hike as described here is very rewarding unto itself. However, if time and stamina permit, it can be made even more rewarding by including Mt. Washington in your itinerary, or doing other add-ons using a variety of trail combinations in the nearby vicinity of Mt. Monroe.
