Second-year hiker Monica Chopra submitted photographs from her training hike on Mount Monadnock. Because of its easy accessibility and its close proximity to Boston, Mount Monadnock is said to be the second-most-climbed mountain in the world, after Japan's Mount Fuji. Located in Cheshire Country, New Hampshire, the mountain has an estimated 125,000 climbers every year. If it is a clear day, hikers are rewarded at the 3,165-foot summit with panoramic views of all six New England states. Unfortunately, Monica's group summited in cloud cover! Below, Monica describes the hike: On June 3, Abby, Becky, Lucy, Gina, Laura, and I set out to hike Mount Monadnock via the Marlboro Trail, which was a moderate five-mile trek, out and back.

Team leaders Abby and Becky did a fine job of guiding us up the trail to a cold, cloudy, and misty summit.

The hike itself was a great workout. We started out on smooth and comfortable terrain, which soon became a steep and rocky climb that slowed some of us.

As we neared the top, we were suddenly hit with very cold wind, which continued until the summit.


The entire hike took five hours to complete. It wasn't easy, and my legs were sore for a few days afterward. Nevertheless, it was a great way to start my hiking season.
Read more about Monica at her hiking blog here.