http://www.vftt.org/forums/ trail conditions in Vermont en Wed, 22 May 2013 17:54:43 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.vftt.org/forums/images/misc/rss.png http://www.vftt.org/forums/ http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?49071-haystack-mountain-5-17-13&goto=newpost Fri, 17 May 2013 23:31:09 GMT date: 5/17/13 trails: haystack trail, deerfield ridge trail, haystack mountain trail conditions: from route 9 in wilmington i drove in haystack road then through a maze of roads a bit over 2.5 miles to the trailhead on upper dam road (good description in the vermont day hikers guide). ... date: 5/17/13

trails: haystack trail, deerfield ridge trail, haystack mountain trail

conditions: from route 9 in wilmington i drove in haystack road then through a maze of roads a bit over 2.5 miles to the trailhead on upper dam road (good description in the vermont day hikers guide). roadside parking for a number of cars there. the trail begins as a rough jeep road and is marked as "haystack trail" though my map refers to it as binney brook trail. a bit over a half mile the trail leaves the road to the left at a new sign for deerfield ridge trail. the "trail closed" signs are for snowmobiles in the winter. the trail is nice and dry as it climbs the ridge towards haystack becoming muddier and more like a multi use/ski trail as it levels before reaching the spur trail to the summit. this trail was in good shape and mostly dry to the summit ledges.

equipment: nothing in particular.

comments: given the long drive to this part of vermont i thought a second shorter hike was in order after grass/spruce earlier in the day. it was a real nice walk and the summit provided some good views up to mt. snow as well as more distant looks to ascutney and monadnock. could see some of the readsoboro area peaks, a couple windfarms and mt. greylock to the south as well. a beautiful day to be outside.

bryan

bryancuddihee@yahoo.com ]]> Vermont bryan http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?49071-haystack-mountain-5-17-13 http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?49070-grass-mountain-spruce-peak-5-17-13&goto=newpost Fri, 17 May 2013 23:15:42 GMT date: 5/17/13 trails: shaftsbury hollow road, jeep/atv roads, bushwacks conditions: parked at a fork on shaftsbury hollow road about 2.5 miles from where it turns off grainger hollow road. google map directions were pretty much spot on. the road to the left looks to go to another house... date: 5/17/13

trails: shaftsbury hollow road, jeep/atv roads, bushwacks

conditions: parked at a fork on shaftsbury hollow road about 2.5 miles from where it turns off grainger hollow road. google map directions were pretty much spot on. the road to the left looks to go to another house and the much rougher continuation of the hollow road to the right leads to the grass/spruce col. i will note that a couple hundred yards up (at a split) there was a single no trespassing sign that i wasn't expecting as i had heard this route was ok. based on other prints from mountain bikes, atvs, etc that continued up i decided to do the same hoping it was meant more to keep out trouble makers than recreationalists. i had no trouble today and there were no other signs prohibiting travel in the area, but you will have to make your own call. after passing a house/camp in another half mile the road gets rougher and begins crossing over little white brook sometimes with culverts, sometimes without. there are a number of roads that break off, but as long as you stick to the road paralleling the brook you will be on track. the road gets rougher with some washouts as it climbs towards the grass/spruce col getting pretty far above the brook before leveling and meeting another prominent road coming up from the southeast into the col. what looks like a pile of rocks and debris is actually a final resting place for a passenger car of some sort. from there i bushwacked directly up to grass through mostly open hardwoods with some young, low growth and hobblebush to the broad summit plateau. the highpoint is to the northern end near where an atv trail leaves to the north. the summit seems to receive a lot of visitors from that side via atvs. i headed back to the col and picked up the other road coming into the col that slabs around spruce peak walking it for a few minutes before bushwacking up to the ridge and on to the summit which is also pretty broad and marked with a cairn and much to my surprise a usgs benchmark. woods were again open hardwoods with some lower growth. i descended roughly the same way to the col and back down the road. the brook crossings were not an issue though stepping stones were pretty greasy.

equipment: nothing in particular.

comments: i had grass in mind for a while and today looked like a nice day to give it a shot and visit spruce peak as well. the route up through the hollow along the brook was beautiful and quiet as were the bushwacks through lovely open woods to the summits. cool temps and a steady breeze meant no bugs and comfortable walking. a great hike.

bryan

bryancuddihee@yahoo.com ]]> Vermont bryan http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?49070-grass-mountain-spruce-peak-5-17-13 http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?49059-Long-Trail-County-Road-to-Roaring-Branch-5-14-13&goto=newpost Thu, 16 May 2013 00:11:06 GMT Some new potholes on Class 4 section of County Road, low slung cars use caution. No snow and only a few muddy sections. Lots of blowdowns over winter mostly cleared. Some new potholes on Class 4 section of County Road, low slung cars use caution. No snow and only a few muddy sections. Lots of blowdowns over winter mostly cleared. ]]> Vermont RoySwkr http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?49059-Long-Trail-County-Road-to-Roaring-Branch-5-14-13 http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?49025-burke-mountain-5-12-13&goto=newpost Mon, 13 May 2013 04:24:44 GMT date: 5/12/13

trails: red trail, west peak trail, summit trail, ski trails

conditions: trails were in great shape with a mix of dry and wet footing, but never muddy. some wet and slippery ledge up high. the ski trails were pretty much more of the same. it's worth noting that there is a large amount of trash all around the shelter on top of west peak. more than we were equipped to deal with today.

equipment: nothing in particular.

comments: after hiking east in the morning we headed over to burke. some real nice trail and great views from ledgy areas up high as well as from the fire tower. a real great day up in vt. thanks to jeremy for a good hike.

bryan

bryancuddihee@yahoo.com ]]> Vermont bryan http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?49025-burke-mountain-5-12-13 http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?49024-east-mountain-5-12-13&goto=newpost Mon, 13 May 2013 04:16:09 GMT date: 5/12/13 trails: radar road conditions: we drove in radar road from gallup mills, vt expecting to park at a closed gate a bit over 4 miles in leaving about 3.5 miles via the road to the summit. to our surprise the gate was open so we drove in a bit further parking at the base area of... date: 5/12/13

trails: radar road

conditions: we drove in radar road from gallup mills, vt expecting to park at a closed gate a bit over 4 miles in leaving about 3.5 miles via the road to the summit. to our surprise the gate was open so we drove in a bit further parking at the base area of the former military complex on the mountain and hiked up from there. up to that point the roads were in good shape. from there to the top the road was paved and in great condition. we could really have driven all the way to the summit, but were looking for a hike. i don't believe this is always the case. our guess is that the gate was open for snowmobile season and had not been closed yet.

equipment: nothing in particular.

comments: a unique hike. the old military infrastructure low on the mountain and on the summit was quite a thing to see. we were able to carefully climb the stairs and then a ladder in one of the buildings on the summit to access a platform which provided views in all directions. certainly one of the more interesting summits i've visited over the years and the first i can think of where i walked on pavement the whole way up.

bryan

bryancuddihee@yahoo.com ]]> Vermont bryan http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?49024-east-mountain-5-12-13