New England Trail Review

Mount Tom - Metacomet / Monadnock Ridge

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 The tip of a long ridge at the southwest end of a massive arc of cliffs and slopes, marked with highly visible communication towers, long ago the home of a resort hotel. 

 

 Images 2 to 6 of 28

Mt. Tom / Metacomet - Glistening Leaves On The Trail

On this midday hike, coming soon after an extended rainfall, the leaves on the ground are glittering in the sunlight. The trail is heading south, and at near noon on a December weekend, this points us directly toward the sun and its brilliant light.

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12/4/2001

Mt. Tom / Metacomet - Orange Jelly

Easily mistaken for slime molds by those unfamiliar with the type, these are jelly fungi fruiting bodies. Jelly fungi are a type of mushroom. In this case, the type is Orange Jelly, which fruits on conifers (such as pines and hemlock), rather than the Witch's Butter, which, though similar in apprearance, is limited to deciduous trees.

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12/4/2001

Mt. Tom / Metacomet - Starting The Steep North Slope of the Mt. Tom Ridge

Just after crossing a more road-like trail, the Metacomet-Monadnock begins to rise toward the ridge. A few stone beams protect against erosion. Nevertheless they seem foolish when we see the steep parts of the trail beyond, which are completely unprotected.

12/4/2001

Mt. Tom / Metacomet - The Steep Switchbacks

At the corner of the first switchback on the north end of the Mt. Tom ridge, we can take a breather and see the steep remaining section to the second switchback, which will be followed by a flnal swerve to the west before the ultimate straightening of the trail toward the south. The slope here is 30-45 degrees, so the switchbacks are a pleasant assist.

Though the actual course of the trail can be hard to see in this image, it proceeds straight ahead from this position.

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12/4/2001

Mt. Tom / Metacomet - First Outlook

The top of the steep section that rises from the Mt. Tom park leads quickly to an outlook and rest spot. In this image, the trail crosses the frame from right (north) to left (south).

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12/4/2001

Related

Two To Four Hours

Two To Four Miles

Moderate

Ridge

By Name

Winter

Straight Out, Straight Back

Summits

Metacomet-Monadnock


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