Willoughby
Member
Once again we spent some time around my namesake lake this summer - actually this is the 38th year running! And as usual we did some climbing around the Lake, visiting two old friends and - who'd'a thunk it - making a new acquaintance!
Burke Mt: For some reason we had never climbed Burke, so this year my brother and I went up it. We took the CCC road from the Toll Road, then up the West Peak trail. The CCC road cuts across the ski trails, with good views towards the Lake Willoughby gap. Then it's into the woods for the West Peak Trail, a classic Vermont path-through-the-woods with some steep bits and a few muddy and eroded patches. The trail comes out on a rocky outcrop with great views West of the Green mountains across the valleys. From there it's a short way to the West Peak itself, and another rocky viewpoint South to Franconia notch and the Whites.
As we dropped into the col, a ruffed grouse crossed the path ahead of us - fluffed its ruff once - then wandered into the underbrush along the trail. Magic!
The trail then took us over to the main summit, coming out near the parking lot at the head of the lift and ski trails. There's a summit path off the back of the parking lot, which takes a meandering approach finally coming out in the summit area with observation tower and, sadly, massive cell tower. (Two guys were putting up new Verizon antennas while we were there.) As usual I only made it partway up the observation tower, but we had views of 3 states (VT, NH, and Old Speck in Maine) and Quebec. In the Whites we identified Old Speck, Cabot, Waumbek, the Northern and Southern Pressies (including the rockpile of course), Crawford Notch, Field, Hale, Twins, Garfield, Lafayette, Cannon and the Cannonballs, Kinsmen, and over to Moosilauke - whew! In the Greens we picked out Jay, Mansfield, and Camels Hump, as well as Ascutney (approx 80mi away) and many other peaks. Scudder says you should be able to see Bond poking up between the Twins -- you would need to climb higher up the firetower than I was willing to go, I think.
We walked down the Toll Road to save my brother's knees. A few notes on routes: we reached the CCC Road from the Toll Road - which meant we had to pay the toll ($4), but also that we had to wait until the gate was opened, nominally at 8AM but actually closer to 8:15. This wasn't mentioned in the Day Hiker's Guide, and put a crimp in our 7:15 start time, alternates would be to find the other end of the CCC Road, or to use the Kingdom Trails Association trails to connect with the CCC Road from a better starting point. Also, the summit is 2 minutes walk if you follow the driveway to the bottom of the cell tower, following the summit path was a needless diversion.
Wheeler Mt: An old favorite, this year we climbed it with my son and nieces (ages 7, 9, and 10). Lots of great climbing along rock ledges and great views from the lunch spot: across Willoughby, into the Gap, and over to the Whites (Cabot and the Franconia area). We exercised due care and attention on the way down, and had lots of handholding for the 7-year-old (who is small), but everybody did great and loved it.
Mt. Pisgah: I returned to Pisgah with my son, at 3.4-3.8 miles roundtrip (up the South Trail and past the summit to the Overlooks) this is the longest hike he had done, and the second (with Wheeler) carrying his own pack with his own water. Hooray, no more Dad the pack mule! Someday he will be carrying me... As noted last year the overlooks below Pulpit Rock, and the summit area have become somewhat overgrown over the years, but still some great views and a fun mountain. This year we spotted a small cairn marking the summit, which I didn't find last year. And yet again I was unable to find the spur to the East Overlook promised by the Day Hikers Guide.
These may not be the most challenging mountains, but they're good climbs for training the next generation (as I was trained) and it's a gorgeous corner of creation. Pictures here.
Burke Mt: For some reason we had never climbed Burke, so this year my brother and I went up it. We took the CCC road from the Toll Road, then up the West Peak trail. The CCC road cuts across the ski trails, with good views towards the Lake Willoughby gap. Then it's into the woods for the West Peak Trail, a classic Vermont path-through-the-woods with some steep bits and a few muddy and eroded patches. The trail comes out on a rocky outcrop with great views West of the Green mountains across the valleys. From there it's a short way to the West Peak itself, and another rocky viewpoint South to Franconia notch and the Whites.
As we dropped into the col, a ruffed grouse crossed the path ahead of us - fluffed its ruff once - then wandered into the underbrush along the trail. Magic!
The trail then took us over to the main summit, coming out near the parking lot at the head of the lift and ski trails. There's a summit path off the back of the parking lot, which takes a meandering approach finally coming out in the summit area with observation tower and, sadly, massive cell tower. (Two guys were putting up new Verizon antennas while we were there.) As usual I only made it partway up the observation tower, but we had views of 3 states (VT, NH, and Old Speck in Maine) and Quebec. In the Whites we identified Old Speck, Cabot, Waumbek, the Northern and Southern Pressies (including the rockpile of course), Crawford Notch, Field, Hale, Twins, Garfield, Lafayette, Cannon and the Cannonballs, Kinsmen, and over to Moosilauke - whew! In the Greens we picked out Jay, Mansfield, and Camels Hump, as well as Ascutney (approx 80mi away) and many other peaks. Scudder says you should be able to see Bond poking up between the Twins -- you would need to climb higher up the firetower than I was willing to go, I think.
We walked down the Toll Road to save my brother's knees. A few notes on routes: we reached the CCC Road from the Toll Road - which meant we had to pay the toll ($4), but also that we had to wait until the gate was opened, nominally at 8AM but actually closer to 8:15. This wasn't mentioned in the Day Hiker's Guide, and put a crimp in our 7:15 start time, alternates would be to find the other end of the CCC Road, or to use the Kingdom Trails Association trails to connect with the CCC Road from a better starting point. Also, the summit is 2 minutes walk if you follow the driveway to the bottom of the cell tower, following the summit path was a needless diversion.
Wheeler Mt: An old favorite, this year we climbed it with my son and nieces (ages 7, 9, and 10). Lots of great climbing along rock ledges and great views from the lunch spot: across Willoughby, into the Gap, and over to the Whites (Cabot and the Franconia area). We exercised due care and attention on the way down, and had lots of handholding for the 7-year-old (who is small), but everybody did great and loved it.
Mt. Pisgah: I returned to Pisgah with my son, at 3.4-3.8 miles roundtrip (up the South Trail and past the summit to the Overlooks) this is the longest hike he had done, and the second (with Wheeler) carrying his own pack with his own water. Hooray, no more Dad the pack mule! Someday he will be carrying me... As noted last year the overlooks below Pulpit Rock, and the summit area have become somewhat overgrown over the years, but still some great views and a fun mountain. This year we spotted a small cairn marking the summit, which I didn't find last year. And yet again I was unable to find the spur to the East Overlook promised by the Day Hikers Guide.
These may not be the most challenging mountains, but they're good climbs for training the next generation (as I was trained) and it's a gorgeous corner of creation. Pictures here.
Last edited:
