Mt Monadnock is one of the most climbed mountains in the world due to its proximity to major urban centers and the alpine aesthetics of its exposed granite summit cone. It is not a long outing and the ascent consists largely of walking well-established trail through dense woodlands. At about 2,600 feet the trail encounters craggy granite domes in coniferous forest. At 2,900 feet the route steepens considerably as you work your way up a section of ledges in the final stretch; these ledges are not terribly technical but fall consequences exist. It is extremely important to check and heed weather reports before setting out, visibility is often limited making route finding difficult. Crampons and ice axe are necessary for this outing.

The summit of Mt Garfield is a striking feature in the Franconia Range, easily making the list of New Hampshire four thousand footers. The climb to the summit is a little on the long side but the views on top and the descent make it worthwhile. On the trail you’ll find yourself in a forest setting of thick hardwoods at lower elevations giving way to evergreens that surround an exposed summit.

Duke’s is one of the oldest ski trails in New England, originally cut in 1934. The trail climbs at very consistent, moderate grades to meet the Manning trail just below the summit of Firescrew Peak. From here you can simply reverse direction for the descent or ski over the summit of Cardigan and descend the Alexandria Trail.

This tour climbs Mount Moosilauke, a summit located almost entirely on land acquired and maintained by the Dartmouth Outing Club. The climb encounters relatively mild grades and finds the summit after about five miles of slogging. The descent follows the south ridge for about a mile and then pitches off east facing aspects for a quick cruise back to your vehicle.