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Monadnock News |
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| Update on State Park Cleanup Project | ||||
From Park Manager Patrick Hummel (2/20/09): As you may or may not have heard, the White Dot and White Cross Trails were opened to the public in mid-January. added 2/20/09 |
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| Monadnock Park Severely Damaged in Storm | ||||
The December ice storm caused so much damage to Monadnock State Park that the manager is comparing it to the 1938 hurricane. The park is currently closed and ongoing efforts to clean up the downed trees and broken branches is continuing slowly, but there is little hope that the work will be completed by the spring. Many of the tails, including the main trails, are blocked by fallen trees. After the 1938 hurricane many of the lesser-used trails such as the Marion Trail were not reopened until 1946. added Jan. 13, 2008. |
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| New Manager Named for State Park | ||||
Patrick Hummel, the former assistant manager of Monadnock State Park, has been named by the state as the new manager. Patrick has worked at the park for eight years and is one of the resident experts about the mountain's trails, history and lore. He takes over at a time when the park is struggling with a reduced staff in the busiest season of the year. Say hello when you see him and congratulate him on his promotion! Sue Tirrell, who formerly worked at Pillsbury State Park, has been appointed the new assistant manager at Monadnock State Park. .... added Nov, 9, 2008 |
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Patrick Hummel |
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| Monadnock Documentary in the works | ||||
| A group of local residents met last night in Fitzwilliam to discuss plans to film the first documentary film about America's favorite mountain. Led by Keene Sentinel staffers Steve Hooper and Amanada Borozinski, the group plans to fund the project through donations to produce a film that would be shown on PBS and at film festivals. The group has already formed a not for profit group for the fundraising. The film would focus on stories of people connected with the mountain and feature archival photos from its long history. added Sept. 25, 2008 | ||||
| Monadnock State Park to get New Manager | ||||
Andrew Zboray, manager of Monadnock State Zboray worked at the park since 1994 and was a resident expert who spent many hours assisting me in the preparation of my book Monadnock: More that a Mountain, including reading the manuscript before publication. He knew every inch of every trail in the park and also explored the abandoned trails. Many of the 100,000 visitors to the park each year recall his friendly and helpful advice. We wish Andrew the best in his new home up north, and while he can never be replaced, we hope his successor will take as good care of the mountain as he did. added Sept. 12, 2008 |
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Halfway House View Restored |
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The famous view from the Halfway House site at the foot of the White Arrow Trail, which has been covered up by trees for over 30 years has been restored by the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, which owns the site. Hikers who use the Old Toll Road to get to the White Arrow Trail are now able to look out over Perkins Pond, Troy and all the way to the Green Mountains on a clear day. added Aug. 25, 2008 |
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Two Hikers Airlifted off Summit on Same Day |
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| Two women had to be airlifted by helicopter off the summit of Mount Monadnock on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2008. One woman fell and injured her leg on the White Dot Trail about three quarters of the way up. In an unrelated incident a woman on the summit was diagnosed as dehydrated and having difficulty walking, Both women were airlifed from a spot just above the junction of the White Cross and White Dot trails. Helicopter medivac rescues can only be performed in dalight, in good weather and when the wind is not too high. Otherwise the two women would have to have been taken down on a stretcher, which involves half a dozen people. (from the Keene Sentinel) Added Aug. 25, 2008 | ||||
Emerson's Well Explained |
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| Thanks to Park Ranger Proulx, stationed at the Old Toll Road trailhead last Saturday, I have the answer to the previous post about Emerson's Well. It was originally dug by the boy scouts to provide water for their camp in Paradise Valley. During the 1950s, however, the well was the main source of water for the summit refreshment stand. Rangers carried the water in backpack tanks called Indians up the White Dot Trail to the summit, where it was used to make the Kool-Aid that was served at the summit. He said the well was originally much deeper than it is today. added June 20 2008 | ||||
| Emerson's Well | ||||
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While hiking across the Paradise Valley trail from the
White Arrow to the White Dot on Saturday, I noticed a small well that I
had never seen before. It was located about halfway along the trail near
the remains of the old Boy Scout camp. It was about a foot in diameter
and about a foot deep, perfectly round. There was a piece of wood next
to it with an old sign that identified it as "Emerson's Well." Does
anyone know anything about this? I assume it was part of the old Boy
Scout camp and it must have been covered up for a long time by the
pieces of wood. If anyone knows anything about this, please share! I'll
post any information here. Send your comments
here.
added June 9, 2008 |
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| Timlow's "The Heart of Monadnock" republished | ||||
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Elizabeth Weston Timlow's account of her 1921 spiritual
connection with Monadnock "The Heart of Monadnock," has been republished
by Surry Cottage Books and is available from Toadstool, Borders and
Amazon. The book is printed in the original small size with all the
original photos and some that were left out of the original edition.
Included is an introduction about Timlow's life that I wrote for this
new edition. You can read more about it on the
Surry Cottage Books web
site.
posted June 1, 2008 |
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| White Cross and White Dot Trails snow free | ||||
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The two main trails from Monadnock State Park are free
from snow and ice as of April 23. The near record high temperatures have
melted off winter's remains far ahead of schedule and Park Manager
Andrew Zboray said attendance was very high compared to a normal April.
While there was still some snow and ice off the trail, hikers will have
no problems on their way to the top. The trails are also very dry from
the lack of rain so smokers need to be careful.
added March 24, 2008 |
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| Monadnock user fees increase by $1 | ||||
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The daily user fee at Monadnock State Park will be
increasing from $3 to $4 this year. The state approved the increase to
fund the state parks, which are run entirely by these fees. Day use
rates for state parks will increase $1 a person to $4 for adults and $2
for children between ages 6 to 17. Camping rates generally will rise $5
a night. One option is to purchase a season pass for $60 per year. If
you visit state parks more than 15 times a season you will save some
cash. . added April 1, 2008 |
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| New trailhead and parking for Dublin Trail | ||||
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A new trailhead and parking for 20 cars have
been added to the Dublin Trail on Old Troy Road. The new entrance was
made necessary when the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire
Forests, which owns the area, decided to harvest trees along the old
trail. The new trail starts .3 miles west of the old trailhead and
merges with the old trail at the .6 mile mark. Rangers have asked
hikers not to use the old trail because of the hazards in an active
logging operation.
added July 17, 2007 |
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| Dance celebration returns to Monadnock | ||||
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Diane Eno's annual Mount Monadnock Celebration of Dance
will return to the summit on Sept. 22. The performance, which features
dancers in colorful costumes performing modern dances on the summit, is
in its 22nd year. Many of the dances were composed in honor of Mount
Monadnock and were inspired by the work of Henry Thoreau, Waldo Emerson,
Abbott Thayer and Galway Kinnell. Volunteer "sherpas" carry the speakers
and equipment to the summit and there is a special place for the
audience to view the show, which is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. The
performance is free and no tickets are necessary.
added July 17, 2007 |
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| Book release party set for Aug. 15 | ||||
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A kick-off party for the new book Monadnock:
More than a Mountain will be held at the pavilion at the State Park
Headquarters from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 15. You can buy a copy of
the book, chat with the author, sip some wine and enjoy some excellent
snacks. Everyone is invited! Please note that all visitors will have to
pay the $3 state park fee. Among the featured guests will be members of
Dianne Eno's dance troupe, "Monadnock Tales" composer Larry Siegel, the Jack in the Green Morris Dancers, keyboardist Carol Compton
and the
Lone Mountain Artists group of painters. Hope to see you there!
added July 20, 2007 |
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| Got an item for Monadnock News? Send it to: news@monadnockmountain.com | ||||
| This page last updated on July 20, 2007. | ||||
Park since 2000 and assistant manager before that, has been reassigned to the White Mountains. The state is currently going through a search to find a new manager for the park.