Monadnock Weekly Report 06.07.13

06.07.13

“We were left alone with the night hawks…their dry and unmusical, yet supermundane and spirit-like voices and sounds gave fit expression to this rocky mountain solitude…it was a thrumming of the mountain’s rocky chords; strains from the music of Chaos, such as were heard when the earth was rent and these rocks heaved up.”
 
Henry David Thoreau, June 2, 1858. Mount Monadnock.

 

Night hawks? Turkey Vultures, actually, seen on Monadnock's southern face. I counted 14, but could not get them all in frame. 06.04.13. Photo by Patrick Hummel.
Night hawks? Turkey Vultures, actually, seen gathering on a late afternoon on Monadnock’s southern face. I counted 14, but could not get them all in frame at the same time. 06.04.13. Photo by Patrick Hummel.

 

Absorbing the descriptions and thoughts of Thoreau, in any of his brilliant works, stirs feelings of wonder and joy and gives me a continusouly renewed appreciation for the natural world that is unmatched by any other author, except perhaps John Muir.

Coincidentally, on the political spectrum, as artists, Thoreau’s and Muir’s activism and writings have caused me to stand up, take notice, and take action, in just as much of an always hopeful, positive inspiration as given to me by the music and words of the Clash or the Dead Kennedys. John Muir? Joe Strummer? There are more parallels than you may realize. But, that is for another time and a whole other piece I am working on.

There will be more Thoreau to reflect upon later in the “history section” of this week’s Report. You did notice the date of his journal entry, did you not?

 

The "quiet waters" of Mount Monadnock's Meade Brook. 06.04.13. Photo by Patrick Hummel.
The rambling waters of Mount Monadnock’s Meade Brook. 06.04.13. Photo by Patrick Hummel.

 
We have enjoyed a much steadier week of weather in the Monadnock Region this week. The mountain somehow dodged some strong thunderstorms last weekend, although the rain eventually came Sunday evening and carried into Monday. The skies cleared by Tuesday and temperatures hovered in the upper 60’s and low 70’s for the week.

 

The Cypripedium acaule (also called the "Pink Lady's Slipper", spotted in the eastern woods of Mount Monadnock, 06.04.13. Photo by Patrick Hummel.
The cypripedium acaule (also called the “Pink Lady’s Slipper”), spotted in the eastern woods of Mount Monadnock, 06.04.13. Photo by Patrick Hummel.

It does not look like we will be as fortunate for the upcoming weekend. Today’s heavy rains will carry into Saturday morning. Cloudy skies and gusty winds are expected for the remainder of Saturday and passing showers could pop up on Sunday.

Has anyone else run into our friendly deer roaming the southwest woods of Monadnock? See if you can pick her out in my photo, off of the Fairy Spring Trail on 06.04.13. Photo by Patrick Hummel.
Has anyone else run into our curious deer roaming the southwest slopes of Monadnock? Here she is just off of the Fairy Spring Trail on 06.04.13. Photo by Patrick Hummel.

 

The beginning of next week looks to bring more rain. Sunday appears to be the best window to get a dry hike in, but the forecast is changing routinely, so check before you go! Temperatures should remain, at the base of the mountain, in the upper 60’s and low 70’s for the next few days.

Expect muddy, wet trails this weekend and bring some extra layers as it will be brisk above treeline.

The "quiet water" of Mount Monadnock's  Fairy Spring. 06.04.13. Photo by Patrick Hummel.
The “quiet water” of Mount Monadnock’s Fairy Spring where Henry David Thoreau and Harrison Blake likely ate their dinner on June 2, 1858. More info later in the Report. 06.04.13. Photo by Patrick Hummel.

 

The black flies have mostly clocked out for the season and it is now the mosquitoes’ turn to take an unwelcomed role in your hike. I would not say they are more abundant than usual, but they are present. If you’re a hiker who opts for “bug dope”, bring your spray along and be ready to have your patience tested at times. Their numbers will thin out as you move higher, out of wooded areas of trails.

 

One of my favorite Monadnock haunts; Monte Rosa and its historic weathervane, as seen here with the summit rising above. 06.04.13. Photo by Patrick Hummel.
One of my favorite Monadnock haunts; Monte Rosa and its (recently rehabilitated) historic weathervane, as seen here with the summit keeping watch. 06.04.13. Photo by Patrick Hummel.


This Week in Monadnock History

155 years ago, Henry David Thoreau made his third journey to Mount Monadnock, traveling to the mountain and camping on its southern shoulder with friend Harrison Blake, from June 2nd to June 4th, of 1858.

Henry David Thoreau, pictured here circa 1856. Out of all of the famous New England mountains he climbed, including Washington and Katadhin, Monadnock was his favorite.
Henry David Thoreau, pictured here circa 1856. Out of all of the famous mountains he climbed in the northeast, including Washington and Katahdin, Monadnock was his favorite.

Grand Monadnock has long been a magnet, attracting and inspiring generations of artists, writers, painters, musicians, and photographers. The most well known admirer of our great mountain is arguably Henry David Thoreau, the famous Concord, MA Transcendtalist author, explorer, and activist. Thoreau visited Mount Monadnock four times in his life, camping for a total of 11 days.

One year before he began his infamous stay at Walden Pond, Thoreau first stepped foot on Monadnock in July of 1844, at the age of 27. There is little remaining documentation of this short visit, with the exception of a few remarks written years later. Thoreau returned to Monadnock for his second visit in September of 1852.

Thoreau’s third visit to the Region began on June 2nd, 1858. He took the 8:30am train from Concord, Massachusetts, picking up Blake at the stop in Fitchburg, and both arrived at the train station in Troy, NH (which still stands) at 11:30am.

An old view of the town of Troy, NH and Mount Monadnock.
An old view of the town of Troy, NH and Mount Monadnock.

 Here are some notes from each day of Thoreau’s 1858 visit:

June 2: 
Almost immediately after leaving the Troy Depot, Thoreau mentions the mountain is in sight;  “its sublime gray mass- that antique, brownish-gray, Ararat color.” On their hike from Troy to Monadnock, Thoreau mentions passing a school and was allowed to take a shortcut through an old man’s field, who was quite impressed with the size of Thoreau’s and Blake’s packs. The elderly man also lamented to them that he “shall never go up [Monadnock] again.”

 

The stone foundation of Joseph Fassett's house, where Thoreau and Blake passed, can still be seen today on the Fairy Spring Trail. 06.04.13. Photo by Patrick Hummel.
The stone foundation of Joseph Fassett’s house, where Thoreau and Blake passed, can still be seen today on the Fairy Spring Trail. 06.04.13. Photo by Patrick Hummel.

 

As he often did on his adventures, Thoreau takes note of plants he is able to identify on the walk to the mountain (and even on the train ride from MA earlier). Eventually, they start climbing Monadnock,  passing by the small house of Jospeh Fassett (foundation pictured above), who was “so busily at work inside that he did not see us.” Thoreau and Blake stopped to eat their dinner likely at the spot that is now known as Fairy Spring.

 

Another view of the stone wall base of Fassett's house. Fairy Spring (pictured earlier in this blog), is not too far above the site. 06.04.13. Photo by Patrick Hummel.
Another view of the stone wall base of Fassett’s house. Fairy Spring (pictured earlier in this blog), is not too far above the site. 06.04.13. Photo by Patrick Hummel.

Thoreau and Blake saw a dozen people on their hike up and his journals mention the “very pleasant” conditions of the day. They ran into a man and a boy who were out hunting “pigeons”, but had “only killed five crows.”

Thoreau and Blake continued up and selected and prepared a campsite in a place that Thoreau estimated to be about a half mile from the summit. They cut spruce to create a shelter and beds. Camping and fires are no longer permitted on the mountain.

There is debate as to the exact location of the 1858 campsite. This is the location where we at the Park think Thoreau camped that year. This photograph was taken in May of this year (on a rainy afternoon. Former Monadnock Manager Ben Haubrich stands slightly hidden in the background. Photo by Patrick Hummel.
There is debate as to the exact location of the 1858 campsite. This is the location where we at the Park and some Thoreau historians think Thoreau and Blake camped that year. This photograph was taken in May of this year (on a rainy afternoon). Former Monadnock Manager Ben Haubrich stands slightly hidden in the background. Photo by Patrick Hummel.

 

Thoreau and Blake then left their packs at camp and hiked/bushwhacked to the summit for sunset. On the way, Thoreau found a nest with three eggs and also “commonly” observed “rabbit’s dung”, in addition to identifying more moss and plants, including mountain cranberry.

Thoreau and Blake were hopeful for a sunset on their first night, but found the conditions to be too hazy. This sunset from April of 2013 as viewed from Monadnock's summit. Photo by Patrick Hummel.
Thoreau and Blake were hopeful for a sunset on their first night, but found the conditions to be too hazy. This sunset from April of 2013 as viewed from Monadnock’s summit looking towards our great neighboring state of Vermont. Photo by Patrick Hummel.

Thoreau and Blake found the view to be too “hazy” and returned to their camp just before sunset, becoming lost on the way down. “…for nothing is easier than to lose your way here, where so little trail is left upon the rocks and ravines are so much alike.”

Before bed, Thoreau, referring to Monadnock as a “temple”, complained about the garbage left by visitors at the summit and the graffiti of the times; chiseled names in the stones.

Mr. Spaulding defaced Monadnock's summit just a few years prior to Thoreau's 1858 stay. Photo by Patrick Hummel.
Mr. Spaulding defaced Monadnock’s summit just a few years prior to Thoreau’s 1858 stay. Engravings like this enraged Thoreau. Photo by Patrick Hummel.

 

Thoreau remarked that “you could not hire a stone-cutter to do so much engraving for less than several thousand dollars,” and brilliantly referred to the vandals as “false pretenders to fame”.

That night, Blake and Thoreau kindled a fire, then sat on a “rocky plateau” near the camp, “taking our tea in the twilight.” During the night, Thoreau thought he faintly heard a dog barking from the base of the mountain and Blake noted he heard a “bullfrog.”

Thoreau was awake by 1am, awoken by a “little bird”. He mentioned the sight of the moon and that on Monadnock, “every sound is a little strange there.”

Viewed from the summit, the sun rises over the North Ridge of Mount Monadnock. Photo by Patrick Hummel.
Viewed from the summit, the sun rises over the North Ridge of Mount Monadnock. Photo by Patrick Hummel.

June 3, 1858:

Disappointed in the conditions for sunset the night before, Thoreau and Blake instead tried for sunrise and breakfast at the summit, getting out of bed at 3:30am (would be 4:30am now, given “daylight savings”) having been awoken by birds, including a Junco and a Robin. It was still a bit hazy and the view did not reach as far as Thoreau would have liked, hoping to catch a glimpse of the White Mountains (90+ miles to the north).

Thoreau spent the morning exploring the upper reaches of Monadnock, taking inventory of plants, including one of my favorite spring flowers, the Rhodora.

The Rhodora blooms are nearly gone. This one seen on Monadnock's Cliff Walk, 06.04.13. Photo by Patrick Hummel.
The Rhodora blooms are nearly gone for the season. This one seen on Monadnock’s Cliff Walk, 06.04.13. Photo by Patrick Hummel.

   

Thoreau and Blake spent the entire day circumnavigating the upper elevations of the mountain at a pace in which he described as “slowly sauntering”, taking notes and inventory of the plantlife. Thoreau included a list of dozens of plants in his journals that were found “within a dozen rods” of the peak of Monadnock. For those who are not aware, 1 rod = 16.5 feet.

Mountain Ash were among the plants inventoried by Thoreau on his 1858 visit. Photo by Patrick Hummel.
Mountain Ash were among the plants inventoried by Thoreau on his 1858 visit. Photo by Patrick Hummel.

 
Interestingly in his journals on this date, Thoreau, without much of any background in geology, notes some key features of Monadnock, including identification of certain rocks and noting glacial scratches (and their direction of movement) on the mountain’s surface.

Thoreau was much more interested in the ecology of Monadnock, but made some notes about the geology, including quartz veins, like this one seen here on the Pumpelly Trail. Photo by Patrick Hummel.
Thoreau was much more interested in the ecology of Monadnock, but made some notes about the geology, including quartz veins, like this one seen here on the Pumpelly Trail. Photo by Patrick Hummel.

The bogs around the mountain’s shoulder proved to be of high interest to Thoreau as well and he spent much time exploring around them, and apparently in them, “sinking a foot into wet moss.”

"Thoreau Bog" on the northeast shoulder of Monadnock. Thoreau visited and studied this "wild swamp" eventually named for him, on his 1858 visit, but spent more time there on his 1860 trip. Photo by Patrick Hummel.
“Thoreau Bog” on the northeast ridge of Monadnock. Thoreau visited and studied this “wild swamp” eventually named for him, on his 1858 visit, but spent more time there on his 1860 trip. Photo by Patrick Hummel.

Thoreau was also impressed with the condition and shape of the spruce trees on the ridgelines, which have obviously been influenced by the winds and weather.

The way the winds effected the growth of the trees on the North Ridge made an impression on Thoreau. This picture was taken on the Pumpelly Trail by Patrick Hummel.
The way the winds effected the growth of the trees on the North Ridge made an impression on Thoreau. This picture was taken on the Pumpelly Trail by Patrick Hummel.

After dinner, Thoreau and Blake hiked down the northeast shoulder of the mountain, nearby what would later become the Pumpelly Trail (blazed 30 years later). Thoreau talks of the great views of Jaffrey and Dublin from this side of the mountain and remarked that, what is now known as Dublin Lake, looked “worth to sail on.”

Their second night proved quieter than the first, although Thoreau complained a bit about the mosquitoes. Gathering clouds led the two companions to locate a nearby overhanging rock as a better shelter from the elements if their spruce boughs were “not tight enough.”

One of the summit bogs Thoreau likely explored. This one is found next to the Pumpelly Trail. Photo by Patrick Hummel.
One of the summit bogs Thoreau likely explored. This one is found next to the Pumpelly Trail. Photo by Patrick Hummel.

June 4th, 1858:

Thoreau and Blake arose from the slumber and began their descent at 6am traveling through Rindge, NH on their way to Winchendon, MA, opting not to hike over Gap Mountain to the train station in Fitzwilliam. During their departure, Thoreau looked back at Monadnock (probably often). “It is remarkable how, as you are leaving a mountain and looking back at it from time to time, it gradually gathers up its slopes and spurs to itself into a regular whole, and makes a new and total impression.”

Another view of Thoreau and Blake's likely 1858 campsite on Monadnock's southern face. Photo by Patrick Hummel.
Another view of Thoreau and Blake’s likely 1858 campsite on Monadnock’s southern face. Photo by Patrick Hummel.

Henry David Thoreau would return to Mount Monadnock for the fourth and final time in August of 1860. He would die from a bout with Tuberculosis in 1862.

Many followers of Thoreau think he would have written a detailed book about Monadnock, perhaps even a field guide of sorts, if he lived longer. He even appeared to be linking his 1858 journal entries to his previous 1852 Monadnock journals. Thoreau was one of the first people to intimately study and identify the plantlife and wildlife on Monadnock and his notes and observations have been used to present day, to evaluate how the mountain has changed.

Rocks, moss, and trees were all part of Thoreau's interests on Monadnock. 06.04.13. photo by Patrick Hummel.
Rocks, moss, and trees were all part of Thoreau’s interests on Monadnock. 06.04.13. photo by Patrick Hummel.

Henry David Thoreau was strongly drawn to Mount Monadnock, like many of us are. Thoreau was obviously quite interested in studying Monadnock. He remarked that “those who simply climb to the peak of Monadnock have seen but little of the mountain. I have come not to look off from it, but to look at it.”

But, I whole heartedly believe Thoreau was not only drawn to Monadnock merely as a place to learn and study the natural world, but because he found something deeper at this mountain. The same inexplicable force that causes all of us to fall in love with Monadnock struck Thoreau too. Things like litter and graffiti might not have irked Thoreau the way they did if he did not view the mountain as sacred ground. I think Thoreau and Monadnock had a solid understanding of each other. And for those of us who love Monadnock, I think we have a solid understanding of Thoreau.

Henry David Thoreau, circa 1861.
Henry David Thoreau and those striking eyes of his, circa 1861. Monadnock was on his mind, even when he climbed Mount Washington, remarking that the rocks and the geology on Mount Washington were “not as interesting” as on Monadnock.

 

Reading through Thoreau’s  journals has influenced me over the years to be more observant, to study my surroundings, and to take in the natural world with deeper breaths and pace closer to a “slow saunter”.

Thoreau is an American icon that will forever be tied to this great mountain. We are fortunate that Thoreau cared as much about Monadnock as we do and maybe helped us to understand the mountain, and ourselves, a little bit better.

 

Remember Thoreau while on your hikes. Better yet, pick up his journals and books and study! Tree off of the White Arrow Trail. Photo by Patrick Hummel.
Remember Thoreau while on your hikes. Better yet, pick up his journals and books and study! Tree off of the White Arrow Trail. Photo by Patrick Hummel.

 

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Patrick Hummel, Mount Washington State Park

As the Park Manager of Mount Washington State Park, I oversee and manage the operations of the 60 acres of the summit of Mount Washington; the highest peak in the northeast US at 6,288'. Our Park is staffed 24/7, 365 days a year and is sometimes referred to as the "Home of the World's Worst Weather". Previously, I served as the NH State Parks Volunteer Program Manager and before that, the Park Manager at Monadnock State Park, home to the most climbed mountain in the Western Hemisphere. IG= @topofthenortheast

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