A sunny day without children calls for outdoor activity for my WTB (wife-to-be) and me. So we decided to make it a high-calorie-burning adventure up Mt. Monadnock in western New Hampshire.

The leisurely 1.5 hour drive to Mt. Monadnock from our house gave us a chance to chat before we started doing the 3,100 feet ascent. After getting a trail map from the park service ranger, we began our climb.

We chose the most direct path up the mountain (the White Dot Trail). A fairly steep, rugged climb ensued which took us about 2 hours to complete. The cardio work was intense at times and had our hearts racing and lungs taking in air.

Once on the summit, we sat and rested while we took in the amazing panoramic views. After a 15 minute rest, we began the descent. Choosing a slightly easier descent path (the White Cross Path), we were able to complete the return trip in a little over 1.5 hours.

According to my calorie calculator, it was a tremendously wonderful cardio workout, incorporating great views and great company, that burned a little over 2,200 calories for my 225 pound frame.