Pitcher Mountain: Easy Climb, Great Views and Wild Blueberries

Pitcher Mountain in Stoddard, N.H. is 2,153 feet tall but it will perhaps be the easiest New Hampshire mountain you will ever climb -- and it comes with all the “great view” perks of a tougher climb.

The hike to the top (300 vertical feet from the trailhead) is less than ½ mile (0.4 miles to be exact); the main trail (the one to the right of the parking lot and blazed with white triangles) is a well-traveled wide fire road through what is known as Andorra Forest, owned and managed by the Faulkner family for more than 70 years.

The hike gets those who are even just moderately fit up to the summit in about 20 minutes with barely breaking a sweat (there is another rocky/bolder trail option to the left of the parking lot, blazed with blue if you’d like more of a challenge). The easy-peasy path will reward you along the way with bucolic views of the 200-acre Pitcher Mountain Farm, which raises Scottish Highland beef cattle.

Once at the top you can see, on a clear day, the southern portion of Vermont’s Green Mountains, most of the Monadnock Region (including Mt. Monadnock) and even the White Mountains (Mt. Lafayette) if the sky is really clear. The 50-foot fire tower at the top can be climbed to get an even better 360 degree view.

View of mountains from fire tower

 If you happen to climb Pitcher Mountain in mid- to late-August, be sure to bring along a coffee can, basket or bucket to collect the mountain’s wealth of wild high-bush blueberries (the small, dark and incredibly sweet kind) – there’s 50 acres of these berry bushes at or near the summit. Payment is by honor system at the trailhead in the parking lot – give an honest estimate of how much you picked – and drop a dollar or two per pint on your way out.

Easy climb. Great views. And sweet blueberries to pick in August. You can’t ask more of a mountain hike. Plus the drive to Pitcher Mountain on Route 123 is a scenic pleasure.

Mt. Monadnock: The Mountain that Stands Alone

Our region is defined by Mt. Monadnock, an Abenaki word that means “mountain that stands alone.” Mt. Monadnock, a stately mountain that rises to 3,165 feet at the summit, can be seen from just about every corner of the region and with its bald top has panoramic views of six New England states.

While its certainly not as tall as Mt. Fuji – the most climbed mountain in the world – Mt. Monadnock still ranks #2 in the world for the most climbers (about 120,000 hikers reach its summit every year). It is a favorite among hikers for several reasons according to the “Monadnock Guide,” the little booklet first published in 1970 by the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests:

• It has a bare summit area; you can see as you climb. Most of the trails are open to views 2/3 of the way. And the view from the top is spectacular; on a clear day you can see the Boston skyline.
• It has variety – in landscape, flora and its many routes to the top: Mt Monadnock Hiking Trails Printable Map (pdf)
• It has historic interest. It has been climbed by people for centuries and has been the subject of poems, essays and paintings – from the transcendental writings of Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson to the iconic paintings of Abbot Handerson Thayer.  According to the site MonadnockMountain.com, there are even operas, symphonies, waltzes and Morris dances written about it.
• It’s easy to get to from major metropolitan areas in the Northeast.

So when visiting the Monadnock Region, don’t forget to pack your hiking boots for a trip to the summit of Mt. Monadnock.

But before you go, here are some tips to make your hike fun and safe:

1. Don’t expect a walk in the park. While climbing Mt. Monadnock doesn’t require sophisticated hiking gear, expect to break a sweat while climbing over bus-sized boulders to make it to the top. Wear sturdy hiking shoes.
2. Allow 4-5 hours for the round-trip hike. Make sure you arrive early enough so that you are not caught descending the mountain at nightfall.
3. Bring food and water. And remember that Monadnock State Park is a carry in/carry out park – you’ll need to take out all your trash.
4. Leave your dog at home. As much as you’d like to take your pooch along, there are not pets allowed in the park.
5. Know the routes. The easiest route to the top is the White Cross Trail (serious hikers may want to try the White Dot Trail, which is a better challenge).
6. Bring money for the admission fee. Admission is $4 for adults, $2 for children ages 6-11. Free admission for children ages 5 and under and N.H. residents age 65 or over.

The Monadnock State Park is located off Route 124 near Jaffrey, N.H. and is open year round. The best times to climb are late spring through fall season. For more information visit the New Hampshire State Parks website.

Your local innkeeper should have plenty information about climbing Mt Monadnock and other great hikes around the area.