Adventure Chronicles: Pack Monadnock

The first weekend of fall 2012 was shaping up to be warm (for September) and sunny, so Matt and I starting talking about an adventure... ideas ranged from camping in Maine (too rainy, as it turned out) to apple picking (too boring) and in the end, we settled on a hike.  Hike plans also were all over the map, from a 1 mile flat sauter in the woods to a 4.5 mile trek up a "real" mountain... in the end we settled on a 3 mile hike up a decent sized mountain - Pack Monadnock.  In fact, this was the first mountain I hiked in New England back in 1999 or so, that began many years of hiking many more mountains.  The only down side of Pack Monadnock is that there is also an auto road up to the top, so it loses a little something when you don't get to reach an isolated summit. 

In any case, the day started out rainy, but we put our faith in the meteorologists and headed out around 8 am.  After beginning our adventure with a diner breakfast along the way, we were ready to hit the trail around 10:30, shortly after the sun came out.

Before: my mini Hikers ready to hit the trail... see below for the after shot

 Roddie hit the trail running.  He literally attacked the steep rocky trail, chattering things like "Big Climber" and "Up There" all the while.  We were passed by many hikers, most who were amazed to see Norah, then blown away to see Rod moving under his own steam (and neither Matt nor I with a backpack for him).  He did really great, and managed to do most of the ascent on his own - with some help over big rocks (we'd help him "fly") and as we got closer to the summit, with staying focused.  The time honored tradition of bribing children with M&M's helped a lot here. 

The shiney rock Norah wanted to carry the whole way!

Norah did great on the way up also, but the return trip was where she really blew my socks off.  The last time we did a long hike, Norah was getting a little cranky on the descent and I really had to use my imagination to keep her mind off of complaining (even the M&M's had failed me that time!)  We ended up making up a story, where she would make up a bit, then I would, and so on.  This trip, I kicked off a new story as we began the trip down.  Norah very literally talked the ENTIRE 1.4 miles down the mountain, only occasionally getting me to take a short turn.  She bopped from rock to rock like a pro, and we were down in just over an hour.  The one stop she did request was for a snack - about 100 yards from the parking lot!

Break time!

Kids Break Time

Yeah, that's Boston, about 60 miles away she's looking at!

Mom and Rod nearing the summit!  yay Roddie!

Rod's trip down was a little less eventful, meaning he pretty much missed it all.  It was 2:00 when we left the summit, so well past nap time, and his legs were looking a little spongey, to say the least.  Matt picked him up to carry him down a steep section, and wouldn't you know it, he fell asleep.  He didn't wake up until we stopped for gas on the way home!  Poor Matt had to carry 30 lbs of dead weight while I was busy chatting with Norah.  I'd say I got the better end of that deal!

Roddie posing with the funny face on the way down

Quiet time, Mom and Norah on the summit

Second chance to find the funny face... can you see it?

aannnnddd here's the after!  Roddie slept on Matt's shoulder much of the descent

Norah, finally starting to look a little tired, but she kept on talking....

All in all, we had a great day!  I am so happy that the kids love being outside so much!  They are already talking about their next hike - Norah said she didn't want to go again the next day, but maybe the day after!