That's a Wrap on Monadnock Trails Week

Anna Berry, acrowley
July 28, 2022
Stewardship
Monadnock Region
Mount Monadnock
A group huddles around a muddy hole.
A group of volunteers and Forest Society staff makes improvements to the Marlboro Tail on Mount Monadnock during trails week. (Photo: Carrie Deegan)

 

Thanks to hearty volunteers and numerous local partners and sponsors, we accomplished significant trail improvements at Mount Monadnock and Gap Mountain during this year's Monadnock Trails Week, despite intense July humidity and heat.

A group of volunteers poses on the Marlboro Trail.
The Marlboro Trail work crew paused for a photo during a hot day on Mount Monadnock. (Photo: Carrie Deegan)

The Forest Society and NH State Parks worked together to host the 16th annual Monadnock Trails Week from July 22 to July 26, which included trail work, community-building events, and education programs.

A volunteer poses with a "I love Monadnock" sign frame.
Volunteers had the opportunity to help out for one day or all six during Monadnock Trails Week. (Photo: John Pooley)

The opportunity to be part of affinity groups, including female-identified and LGBTQIA+-identified trail crews, created a welcoming and inclusive environment for volunteers. A virtual presentation by Earl B. Hunter, Jr., founder and president of Black Folks Camp Too, built on the theme of working together to create unity in the outdoors.

On Monadnock's White Arrow Trail, volunteers and staff improved 100 feet of rocky trail and constructed two new drains, and on the Marlboro Trail, they added 130 feet of stone paving through a muddy section of trail. On Gap Mountain, volunteers added a new stone staircase at the junction with Gap Mountain Road. And, volunteer work at several trailheads — Old Toll Road, Gap North, Marlboro Trail and Dublin Trail — resulted in cleared brush, fresh paint and new signs to better welcome hikers to the trails, as well as a replacement roof on the kiosk at Old Toll Road.

By the end of Monadnock Trails Week, 42 volunteers had contributed approximately 550 hours to trail improvements. Forest Society staff and temporary crew leaders spent more than 336 hours leading and supporting the efforts.

A graphic depiction of significant trails week numbers with a group photo in the background.

Women lift a rock together.
A female-identified trail crew tackled improvements on the White Arrow Trail on Mount Monadnock. (Photo: Carrie Deegan)

The Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests is the majority landowner of Mount Monadnock, holding more than 4,500 acres in the public interest. Forest Society-owned lands on Mt. Monadnock are leased to New Hampshire State Parks and together the organizations manage the park for the thousands of outdoor enthusiasts that seek its year-round recreational opportunities.

People gather around a table with a screen for the program.
Participants and the public had the opportunity to hear from Black Folks Camp Too Founder and President Earl B. Hunter during a presentation on July 23 at the Dublin Taproom and Eatery in Jaffrey. (Photo: Carrie Deegan)

To help keep Mt. Monadnock safe and welcoming for hikers, the Forest Society and N.H. State Parks have hosted Monadnock Trails Week since 2005.

Volunteers point to an area needing improvement on Gap Mountain.
Gap Mountain volunteers pressed on, despite intense heat and humidity all weekend long. (Photo: Carrie Deegan)

A volunteer helps put a new roof on a trailhead kiosk.
A kiosk at the Old Toll Road trailhead needed a new roof and fresh paint. (Photo: Carrie Deegan)

Monadnock Trails Week 2022 was made possible thanks to the generosity of our sponsors and supporters, including Post & Beam Brewery in Peterborough, Dublin Road Tap Room & Eatery in Jaffrey, Grappelli’s Pizza in Peterborough, The Optimist Café in Jaffrey, Eastern Mountain Sports in Peterborough, Dublin General Store in Dublin, Nature’s Green Grocer in Peterborough, NH Charitable Foundation, and Monadnock Food Co-op in Keene.