Monadnock Trails Week Wraps Up for 2021

Anna Berry | August 10, 2021

Tags:: Stewardship,; Recreation

A work crew on Mount Monadnock improves the trail. — One of the four work crews is pictured on the trail during Monadnock Trails Week 2021. (Photo: Dave Delay, volunteer)

Together, the Forest Society and NH State Parks hosted a successful, safe Monadnock Trails Week after a year off due to the pandemic in 2020. This year's Trails Week saw more than 25 volunteers give nearly 350 hours of service over 5 days, improving trails on Mount Monadnock as well as Gap Mountain.

Volunteers in hard hats help lift a boulder from a trail. — Volunteers help move a rock during Monadnock Trails Week 2021. (Photo: Andy Crowley)

The annual collaboration aims to protect, improve, and promote the trails of the Monadnock Region. The festivities kicked off on July 30 with a "Trails and Ales" party at Granite Roots Brewery in Troy and volunteers stayed fueled with coffee from Brewbakers in Keene and cold treats from Station 16 Ice Cream.
Volunteer work crews included the Punch Crew, working on the White Arrow Trail Project; the "Bridging the Gap" crew, LGBTQ2IA+ identified, working on bog bridges; Steps & Steeps Crew, working on the Marlboro Trail Project; and the Summit Cutters Crew on Gap Mountain.

"We had a huge amount of volunteer interest in joining a crew for Monadnock Trails Week this year," said Andy Crowley, Stewardship Projects Manager for the Forest Society. "If you didn't get a chance to sign up this year, or if you would like to put a special group together for 2022, please reach out to me. We want to add more local groups, build more affinity spaces, reach more regional business partners, and expand to other trails and mountain access points for next year. We will need your help to get it done!"

Thanks to all of the volunteers, Forest Society and NH State Parks staff, partners, and sponsors for making #MTW2021 possible! You can reach Stewardship Projects Manager Andy Crowley at acrowley@forestsociety.org to find out about future volunteer opportunities.

A trailwork crew poses on the job. — A trail crew takes a quick break during a project. (Photo: Courtesy of Jesse Zacrow, NH State Parks)

Forest Society staff member Andy Crowley in a hard hat. — The Forest Society

Members of a trail crew pose during Monadnock Trails Week. — Volunteers had much to do during Monadnock Trails Week after a year of heavy use on local trails and frequent summer rain. (Photo: Volunteer Keith Martin)

A trail, once eroded and covered in water, is now built up with rock steps and gravel to ensure better drainage. — After: an improved trail has better drainage, helping keep it safe and sustainable for future hikers. (Photo courtesy of Jesse Zacrow, NH State Parks)

Monadnock Trails Week Wraps Up for 2021

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