Rain forecasted on this day weeks leading up to this challenge.  Mother nature blessed us with perfect hiking conditions.  Starting at the Undermountain trail head, the 1st mile or so gets your heart pumping and is a bit deceiving on the incline.  Once we hit the fork in the trail, we decide to go the clockwise route.  Highly marked trail, flowers (wild?) galore at the beginning allowing for some cool shots.  Not much rest needed after the breathing normalized, and the rest of the way we were at a good clip.  Probably, a little over an hour up.  The top is very different than other ascents one usually makes to the summit of a mountain.  We usually encounter a spacious summit with observation areas, signage, etc.  This was huge pile of rocks perched up high to allow you to see such beautiful sights.  Somewhat to partly cloudy on this day, but still picturesque.  I hear you can see Monadnock, even peaks of Greylock on clearer days.  We even spotted a new adventure for the next time we are in the area …. Mt. Everett.  The ranger dude up top was very cool, and said it was a great hike.  I am surprised it is not part of the New England pack of six.  🙂

Anyway… the descent down the other side of Bear is a lot stepper coming right off the summit.  I see where some reviews were saying counter clockwise is the tougher trek.  Fun spots trying to navigate the step, slide on your rear and gingerly take the pain from the joints.  Counter might be fun next time after we do Everett.  LOL  All in all, such a great experience.  It is very different than the other peaks in New England and in this Challenge, but well worth it.  After some pix, some great convos with some experienced hikers and the ranger … we round tripped it at under 3 hours.  Not too shabby.

Enjoy it if you get here.  Good times with good people.  On to our next challenge…