After a busy and challenging work week, it was a pleasure today to return to one of my local peaks for a quick morning outing. I’ve already climbed Mount Cube a few times this year, in winter, spring, and summer, partly because it is close by (less than 30 minutes’ drive) and because it has a remarkably nice view for such a short climb (2 miles). The Rivendell Trail up Mount Cube is a favorite of many in the area, so I was surprised to see only one car at the trailhead when I arrived a bit before 9am.
Soon I was striding up the trail, muddy from all the recent rains, hoping to leave behind the thick valley fog and climb into the sunshine above. The views at the first outlook, then the second, did not offer much hope, with the valley fully ensconced and the fog rising to our elevation.
Still, when I reached the top the summit was clear and we had a decent view along the Appalachian Trail to the south; the view to the west across the Connecticut River valley was not bad either. A north-bound thru-hiker was there, marveling at the view, as was a pair of day-hiking women with their dog.
I spent only a few minutes on the summit, having summited in 0:54 and headed back down around 0:58. I was on the lookout for my lost gaiter – from my climb last month, on which I set out with two gaiters but returned with only one – but sadly saw no sign of it today. I finished at 1:47, a decent time for a mountain I like to round-trip in under two hours.
On the way home I stopped at a farm stand for fresh corn and tomatoes, which made a lovely complement to Pam’s fresh pie made from home-grown blueberries and rhubarb, accompanied by local sourdough bread.
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Hike stats:
Distance: 6.29km
Time: 1h47m
Gain: 436m
David Kotz 