One of New Hampshire's most well-loved mountains needs your help. Mount Monadnock's trails were heavily damaged during the December 2008 ice storm, and the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests is organizing a cleanup effort. Forest society staff and volunteers will be joined by others from Eastern Mountain Sports from July 11 through 15 to clear and mark trails, cut brush, move fallen trees and rebuild water bars and stone steps.
The cleanup effort is part of Monadnock Trail Week, an annual trail maintenance event organized by the forest society. The organization has been awarded a recreational trails grant from the Department of Resources and Economic Development's Division of Parks and Recreation Bureau of Trails to purchase tools and fund some of the professional sawyer work required, but more help is still needed.
“Because of the extensive ice storm damage, this year will be more challenging than most,” said Forest Society land steward coordinator Carrie Deegan. “We'll need about 500 hours of volunteer service to complete the work that needs to be done.”
Mount Monadnock is one of the most-climbed mountains in the western hemisphere. In 1915 the Forest Society conserved its first tract of 406 acres on Mount Monadnock, beginning a long-term effort to protect the natural integrity of the mountain and its surroundings.
To volunteer, contact Carrie at cdeegan@forestsociety.org or 224-9945, ext 318.
