Pack Monadnock
Encyclopedia
Pack Monadnock or Pack Monadnock Mountain 2290 feet (698 m), is the highest peak of the Wapack Range
of mountains and the highest point in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire
. The mountain, a monadnock
, is located in south-central New Hampshire
within the towns of Peterborough
and Temple
. The 22 mi (35.4 km) Wapack Trail
and a number of shorter trails traverse the mountain. A firetower and ledges on the summit offer long views north to the White Mountains
, west to Mount Monadnock
, and south into Massachusetts
. North Pack Monadnock Mountain
is located directly to the north along the Wapack ridgeline; Temple Mountain
to the south.
Much of the mountain is located within Miller State Park
. A seasonal automobile road ascends from the south to a picnic area at the summit. The summit also has a manned air-pollution monitoring station.http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070704/COLUMNISTS03/70704012
The east side of the mountain drains into the Souhegan River
watershed, thence into the Merrimack River
and Atlantic Ocean
; the west side drains into the Contoocook River
, thence into the Merrimack River.
The mountain is the home of the Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory, where birdwatchers
from around the region gather for the annual hawk
migration. During the peak migration season in September, birdwatchers search the sky for kettles
of hundreds of hawks swarm
ing above rising thermals as they migrate south.
The mountain's summit at Peterborough is also home to the transmitter of NOAA Weather Radio
station WNG575
.
word for "little" and "monadnock" is used to describe an isolated mountain summit; thus "Little Monadnock" refers to its relationship to the higher Mount Monadnock, 3165 feet (964.7 m), 11 miles (17.7 km) to the west. Pack Monadnock should not be confused with Little Monadnock Mountain
, located 17 miles (27.4 km) to the west.
Wapack Range
The Wapack Range, sometimes referred to as the Pack Monadnock Range, is a 20-mile range of mountains in south-central New Hampshire and adjacent Massachusetts. The range is considered very scenic and rugged with many bare summits and ledges ranging from 1,800 feet to 2,290 feet. The 22 mile Wapack...
of mountains and the highest point in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire
Hillsborough County, New Hampshire
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 380,841 people, 144,455 households, and 98,807 families residing in the county. The population density was 435 people per square mile . There were 149,961 housing units at an average density of 171 per square mile...
. The mountain, a monadnock
Monadnock
A monadnock or inselberg is an isolated rock hill, knob, ridge, or small mountain that rises abruptly from a gently sloping or virtually level surrounding plain...
, is located in south-central New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
within the towns of Peterborough
Peterborough, New Hampshire
Peterborough is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 6,284 at the 2010 census. Home to the MacDowell Art Colony, the town is a popular tourist destination....
and Temple
Temple, New Hampshire
Temple is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 1,366 at the 2010 census.- History :Incorporated in 1768, Temple takes its name from colonial governor John Wentworth's lieutenant governor, John Temple.- Geography :...
. The 22 mi (35.4 km) Wapack Trail
Wapack Trail
The Wapack Trail is one of the oldest public, interstate hiking trails in the United States. Opened in 1923, it follows the Wapack Range north-south for , between Mount Watatic in Ashburnham, Massachusetts and North Pack Monadnock mountain in Greenfield, New Hampshire...
and a number of shorter trails traverse the mountain. A firetower and ledges on the summit offer long views north to the White Mountains
White Mountains (New Hampshire)
The White Mountains are a mountain range covering about a quarter of the state of New Hampshire and a small portion of western Maine in the United States. Part of the Appalachian Mountains, they are considered the most rugged mountains in New England...
, west to Mount Monadnock
Mount Monadnock
Mount Monadnock, or Grand Monadnock, is the most prominent New England mountain peak south of the White Mountains and east of the Massachusetts Berkshires, and is the highest point in Cheshire County, New Hampshire...
, and south into Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. North Pack Monadnock Mountain
North Pack Monadnock
North Pack Monadnock or North Pack Monadnock Mountain is a monadnock located in south-central New Hampshire, at the northern end of the Wapack Range of mountains. It lies within Greenfield and Temple, New Hampshire; the Wapack Trail traverses the mountain. Ledges on the summit offer long views...
is located directly to the north along the Wapack ridgeline; Temple Mountain
Temple Mountain
Temple Mountain is a monadnock located in south-central New Hampshire within the Wapack Range of mountains. It lies within Sharon and Temple, New Hampshire; the Wapack Trail traverses the mountain, and the northern face includes the Temple Mountain Reservation, owned by the state...
to the south.
Much of the mountain is located within Miller State Park
Miller State Park
Miller State Park is the oldest state-run park in New Hampshire, a state in the New England region of the United States. It is mostly located in Peterborough.The park is centered on Pack Monadnock, the 2,290 foot mountain...
. A seasonal automobile road ascends from the south to a picnic area at the summit. The summit also has a manned air-pollution monitoring station.http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070704/COLUMNISTS03/70704012
The east side of the mountain drains into the Souhegan River
Souhegan River
The Souhegan River is a tributary of the Merrimack River in the northeastern United States. long with a drainage area of , it flows north and east through southern New Hampshire to the Merrimack River....
watershed, thence into the Merrimack River
Merrimack River
The Merrimack River is a river in the northeastern United States. It rises at the confluence of the Pemigewasset and Winnipesaukee rivers in Franklin, New Hampshire, flows southward into Massachusetts, and then flows northeast until it empties into the Atlantic Ocean at Newburyport...
and Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
; the west side drains into the Contoocook River
Contoocook River
The Contoocook River is a river in New Hampshire. It flows from Pool Pond and Contoocook Lake on the Jaffrey/Rindge border to Penacook , where it empties into the Merrimack River. It is one of only a few rivers in New Hampshire that flow in a predominantly northward direction...
, thence into the Merrimack River.
The mountain is the home of the Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory, where birdwatchers
Birdwatching
Birdwatching or birding is the observation of birds as a recreational activity. It can be done with the naked eye, through a visual enhancement device like binoculars and telescopes, or by listening for bird sounds. Birding often involves a significant auditory component, as many bird species are...
from around the region gather for the annual hawk
Hawk
The term hawk can be used in several ways:* In strict usage in Australia and Africa, to mean any of the species in the subfamily Accipitrinae, which comprises the genera Accipiter, Micronisus, Melierax, Urotriorchis and Megatriorchis. The large and widespread Accipiter genus includes goshawks,...
migration. During the peak migration season in September, birdwatchers search the sky for kettles
Kettle (birds)
A kettle is a term that birdwatchers use to describe a group of birds wheeling and circling in the air. The kettle may be composed of several different species at the same time. Nature photographer M...
of hundreds of hawks swarm
Swarm
Swarm behaviour, or swarming, is a collective behaviour exhibited by animals of similar size which aggregate together, perhaps milling about the same spot or perhaps moving en masse or migrating in some direction. As a term, swarming is applied particularly to insects, but can also be applied to...
ing above rising thermals as they migrate south.
The mountain's summit at Peterborough is also home to the transmitter of NOAA Weather Radio
NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards
NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards is a network of radio stations broadcasting continuous weather information directly from a nearby National Weather Service office. It is operated by the NWS, an agency of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration within the United States Department of...
station WNG575
WNG575
WNG575 is a NOAA Weather Radio station that serves Southern New Hampshire, Windham County, Vermont, and North Central Massachusetts. Some cities served include Manchester, Nashua, Keene, and Lowell. However, the station can be received in parts of Central and Western Massachusetts as well as a...
.
Etymology
According to local tradition, the word "pack" is a Native AmericanNative Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
word for "little" and "monadnock" is used to describe an isolated mountain summit; thus "Little Monadnock" refers to its relationship to the higher Mount Monadnock, 3165 feet (964.7 m), 11 miles (17.7 km) to the west. Pack Monadnock should not be confused with Little Monadnock Mountain
Little Monadnock Mountain
Little Monadnock Mountain, , is located in the towns of Fitzwilliam and Troy, New Hampshire. Most of the mountain is located within Rhododendron State Park; there are scenic vistas from ledges just below the summit...
, located 17 miles (27.4 km) to the west.