Pam – Page 100 – New England's Narrow Road

Our Pack Monadnock Hike in June

Towers at mountaintop — At the Top of Pack Monadnock

Ever since I moved to this area of New Hampshire I’ve been driving over Temple Mountain and past Miller State Park where Pack Monadnock is located. It’s the smaller mountain with big, Mount Monadnock in the distance and I live so close that it was ridiculous not to hike the trails there.

Yesterday was sunny and gorgeous. With temps near 70 and clear skies, my teenage son and I drove about 10 minutes to the parking area of Pack Monadnock and then had to choose a trail to climb.
Knowing nothing except that there was a yellow trail – the Wapack Trail, and a blue trail, we chose the blue one and began our 1.4 mile trek to the top.

Now, 1.4 miles doesn’t sound like much, but to someone who doesn’t hike much, it turned out to be a strenuous little hike for me. All together it took us about 2 hours, with a short stop at the top. However, coming back down was not easy either as we chose the other trail – yellow – which turned out to be very rocky, but with great views of Mount Monadnock. The yellow trail seemed to be very well worn and I assume it is the most used. The blue trail was narrower and in the woods, without views. Next time I would hike the opposite way – go up on yellow and down on blue. Live and learn.

Don’t expect great views from the top either – unless you still have energy to climb the tower! There are probably great views from up there. There is a sign that points to “Boston views” and I got a photo, but the trees partially covered the view.
The top of Pack Monadnock has a road and parking area, with picnic tables and a bathroom, but it does not have a clear 360 degree view like other mountains I’ve climbed. One spot has a nice view of Mount Monadnock as you can see in my photo below. And you’ll get other views like this on the yellow trail. There is an Auto Road to the top so you don’t have to climb the trails, and it costs money to use it, but it was closed yesterday. Read more at the Miller State Park site.

Here are some of my photos of what you will see on the Pack Monadnock hike.

View of mount monadnock from pack monadnock — Heading Down The Yellow Trail from the Top, View of Mount Monadnock in Jaffrey

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

hiking {mt. monadnock} (delightfullyteal.wordpress.com)
Monadnock Music kicks off 2012 season with an American classic (thetipsheet.typepad.com)
Up! A Mother and Daughter’s Peakbagging Adventure {with Giveaway} (5minutesformom.com)

My Encounter With The Turd Bug

turd bug on tomato leaf — Little “turd bug” on my tomatoes.

As I was checking on my newly planted tomato plants the other day, I noticed this black spot on a leaf. I thought at first it was just a bird turd because that is what it looked like. The bluejays and chickadees like to perch on the wire cages that are around the tomatoes and I almost didn’t look further, but then I saw another one – and it looked exactly the same.

Upon closer inspection I saw that it was a bug! I picked it up and it had a hard shell that split in half to reveal wings and it flew away. Like a ladybug, but not as cute. I noticed quite a few of them and began to pick them off the leaves because I noticed that they were chewing holes. I call it a turd bug because I have no idea what it is, but it looks like bird poop.

I’ve never encountered this bug before. If you know what it is, please leave me a message.

Update: They are now on my potato plants too.
12-11-12 …. Also…. Thank you to the reader who said they may be the Clavate Tortoise beetle or Plagiometiona clavata. I think so…!!! Many thanks.

See more photos on my Hydrangeas Blue blog where I wrote again about this bug when it showed up again.

Thanks Cornell and Best of Luck Baby Hawks

Okay, this is my last hawk posting.

Off and on during the day for the past couple of months my eyes have been diverted to the live cam and the nesting hawk family at Cornell University in New York state. From laying eggs in a snowstorm and then the hatching of the three eggs, to the first flight, I have seen it live with many other viewers. Now the baby hawks are grown and fledging – leaving the nest.

Two of them have already left and then returned. This screenshot is #2 baby who stood on that metal ledge with his wings wide-stretched just enjoying the breeze it seemed. He stood like that a good long time and I loved the moment.

I will never look at hawks the same way again. I am watching less and less now Continue reading “Thanks Cornell and Best of Luck Baby Hawks”

Summer at The Lakes In New Hampshire

With only a few short months to swim, boat, vacation and enjoy the warmth up here in New Hampshire, the lakeside communities get filled up and busy quickly.
The photo below was taken a few years ago near the docks in Meredith on Lake Winnipesaukee. (Aerial view to the right.)
My “New England” blog is suppose to have photos of this area of the country, but I have been remiss in providing them. I’ve become caught up in moving and home improvements and haven’t ventured out anywhere.
So the photo is old, but I’ll bet that the Lakes Region will be jumping soon if it’s not already.
When my son comes to visit this summer, I want to take him out on the MS Mount Washington – the boat that cruises the big Lake Winni.
I hope to begin living like normal people this year and actually take a break and much needed vacation time for myself. Then I will have some New England photos to share here.