una_dogger
Well-known member
I'd been dreaming of doing this hike ever since I first discovered Shrewsbury Peak and the amazing forest that is surrounded by the Long Trail in this area. I spent weeknights last summer running, walking, or mountain biking with the traildoggies on Wheelerville Rd in Mendon VT just gazing up at the ridgeline thinking, "what a great day hike that would be". Even though I'd gone through this area during my Southern 100 LT Backpack in 2003, and have hiked Killington & Pico from every conceivable approach, including the Mendon Bushwack (where I didn't actually go to Mendon but just made a loop with the Bucklin Trail!); the concept of stringing the serene and quite neighbor of Shrewsbury Peak in with this section of the LT was something I'd really been wanting to do.
So yesterday, MichaelJ and I left his car up at the AT/LT crossing on VT Rt 4; and my car up on the CCC road (just beyond the still open gate and about a mile of mud and glare ice); crossed our fingers that we could still get to it later; and began this novel hike.
We pulled into the parking lot behind a blue Jeep Cherokee with VT tags, and immediately recognized two VT good ole boys that we've seen out on these local trails before. We gave them a bit of a headstart as we got our gear out. The sun was shining, the sky was blue, it was about 40 degrees; and all I could think at that moment was "wow, the snowmobilers must be hurtin' for something to do today!".
We set off on the trail which begins a steep ascent and then levels before reaching the Russell Hill Shelter at about 0.2 miles. It then gradually climbs up over Russell Hill through a pretty beech forest. The trail quickly descends into a deep ravine, the rocks still mossy and the ferns still green. We soon caught up with the other group and passed them briefly on the far side of the ravine, only to pause momentarily for a "layer break" where they met up with us again. We, of course, spoke about the weather. "Warm for this time of year", "Ski areas are really beginning to feel the pinch"....soon we were off again and climbing steadily up through the hardwood forest. We left them soon enough and wouldn't see them again until the summit.
One of the coolest things about this trail (to me) is that its pure hardwood and then BAM! pure softwood. As you scoot along a contour line at about 2500 feet, the trail approaches an evergreen stand. Here the prescence of moose becomes evident with many tracks and bedding sites. And suddenly, the hiker enters an ethereal conifer forest, never to see the hardwoods again. You can literally take a step back and be in the sunlit hardwood forest and a step forward and be surrounded by the cool comfort of the pines. Just lovely...its like someone opens an invisible door to another world.
From here the grade steepens. Moose tracks are everywhere, along with prominent browse marks on nearly every tree along the trail. The moose may use this narrow path more than people! There is still blowdown from the last time I hiked here (back in October) as well as some new stuff. Up and up the trail climbs, always steep but at the same time soft underfoot. A few areas of exposed rock and forced us to consider our footing, but we barebooted to the summit and were greeted by FANTASTIC south facing views of Ascutney, Stratton, Dorset and Equinox. The high valley below where we parked sprawled out in the foreground and the never ending rolling tableau of the Greens stretched out as far as we could see. Greylock may have been there, too, if we had cared to strain our eyes...but the glorious sun shining down on us as we ate our salami, cheese and crackers and spied on ponds and wetlands below from our solitary perch, me dreaming of moose; all that was an eyeful and we drank it in. Soon our new friends were on top. I had wondered if they'd make it up, with the ice. They were father and adult son, and the Dad was wearing plastic muck boots. But here we all were, smiling and feeling accomplished! We left them to the summit. I had overheard in the parking lot that they'd be taking the Black Swamp Trail back down to the CCC road, which adds a bit of road work but makes a sweet little five mile loop for anyone who is interested. We wondered aloud if they'd see our car, and would wonder where we had gone off to today. Noteworthy, the gate on the Black Swamp Trail stays closed until July, there is a spring in the area that is a watering spot for black bears and their young (as noted by the GMC).
MichaelJ and I continued on. When I was on Shrewsbury for the first time, I was with a friend new to hiking, and we were doing an out and back. I remember seeing the spikey spruce covered ridge unfold before us then, and I soooooo wanted to keep hiking that day...alas, we turned back then, but I KNEW I'd come back here and explore that ridge. And today was the day!
A small trail comes in from the left here. I *suspect* it is the old Long Trail and some USGS maps show a footpath coming up here, following the ridge we will cross to Little Killington, continuing to Mendon, then dropping down a ravine before reaching the first knob on Mendon and continuing down to meet the all terrain section of the Notch Rd. If anyone has beta on that trail, I'd love to hear it! (and it may be on VAST Maps, which I will be ordering! )
Continuing along, the Black Swamp Trail (marked by a decrepit sign stating "Shelter" drops off to the right/east. Our blue blazed Shrewsbury Peak trail narrows, winding close to the surrounding spruce. Moose tracks and scat are everywhere, and its FRESH! Yay! MJ will attest with my obsession with seeing moose or any evidence of these magestic keepers of the North Woods. But, since we are sooo chatty, its doubtful today we'll see one. One pile, two piles, three piles and "sssshhhh" says MichaelJ. "I just heard a snorting sound over there in the woods!". We stand, I am completely polarized staring headlong into the spruce. To my right, a chickadee russles and takes flight. I nearly scream....OK....I gotta work on that if I want to see some wildlife!!! (tee hee). We continue onward, we can feel the descent but its so gradual, so soft, so circuitous! Its a wonderful trail and I am so happy we came! Soon we enter a clearing, we look behind us and spot our ridgewalk...its so green, so quiet, so hidden. MJ is very into the clearing. Several small brooks start here and radiate off in alternating directions. We've hit a divide.
So yesterday, MichaelJ and I left his car up at the AT/LT crossing on VT Rt 4; and my car up on the CCC road (just beyond the still open gate and about a mile of mud and glare ice); crossed our fingers that we could still get to it later; and began this novel hike.
We pulled into the parking lot behind a blue Jeep Cherokee with VT tags, and immediately recognized two VT good ole boys that we've seen out on these local trails before. We gave them a bit of a headstart as we got our gear out. The sun was shining, the sky was blue, it was about 40 degrees; and all I could think at that moment was "wow, the snowmobilers must be hurtin' for something to do today!".
We set off on the trail which begins a steep ascent and then levels before reaching the Russell Hill Shelter at about 0.2 miles. It then gradually climbs up over Russell Hill through a pretty beech forest. The trail quickly descends into a deep ravine, the rocks still mossy and the ferns still green. We soon caught up with the other group and passed them briefly on the far side of the ravine, only to pause momentarily for a "layer break" where they met up with us again. We, of course, spoke about the weather. "Warm for this time of year", "Ski areas are really beginning to feel the pinch"....soon we were off again and climbing steadily up through the hardwood forest. We left them soon enough and wouldn't see them again until the summit.
One of the coolest things about this trail (to me) is that its pure hardwood and then BAM! pure softwood. As you scoot along a contour line at about 2500 feet, the trail approaches an evergreen stand. Here the prescence of moose becomes evident with many tracks and bedding sites. And suddenly, the hiker enters an ethereal conifer forest, never to see the hardwoods again. You can literally take a step back and be in the sunlit hardwood forest and a step forward and be surrounded by the cool comfort of the pines. Just lovely...its like someone opens an invisible door to another world.
From here the grade steepens. Moose tracks are everywhere, along with prominent browse marks on nearly every tree along the trail. The moose may use this narrow path more than people! There is still blowdown from the last time I hiked here (back in October) as well as some new stuff. Up and up the trail climbs, always steep but at the same time soft underfoot. A few areas of exposed rock and forced us to consider our footing, but we barebooted to the summit and were greeted by FANTASTIC south facing views of Ascutney, Stratton, Dorset and Equinox. The high valley below where we parked sprawled out in the foreground and the never ending rolling tableau of the Greens stretched out as far as we could see. Greylock may have been there, too, if we had cared to strain our eyes...but the glorious sun shining down on us as we ate our salami, cheese and crackers and spied on ponds and wetlands below from our solitary perch, me dreaming of moose; all that was an eyeful and we drank it in. Soon our new friends were on top. I had wondered if they'd make it up, with the ice. They were father and adult son, and the Dad was wearing plastic muck boots. But here we all were, smiling and feeling accomplished! We left them to the summit. I had overheard in the parking lot that they'd be taking the Black Swamp Trail back down to the CCC road, which adds a bit of road work but makes a sweet little five mile loop for anyone who is interested. We wondered aloud if they'd see our car, and would wonder where we had gone off to today. Noteworthy, the gate on the Black Swamp Trail stays closed until July, there is a spring in the area that is a watering spot for black bears and their young (as noted by the GMC).
MichaelJ and I continued on. When I was on Shrewsbury for the first time, I was with a friend new to hiking, and we were doing an out and back. I remember seeing the spikey spruce covered ridge unfold before us then, and I soooooo wanted to keep hiking that day...alas, we turned back then, but I KNEW I'd come back here and explore that ridge. And today was the day!
A small trail comes in from the left here. I *suspect* it is the old Long Trail and some USGS maps show a footpath coming up here, following the ridge we will cross to Little Killington, continuing to Mendon, then dropping down a ravine before reaching the first knob on Mendon and continuing down to meet the all terrain section of the Notch Rd. If anyone has beta on that trail, I'd love to hear it! (and it may be on VAST Maps, which I will be ordering!
)Continuing along, the Black Swamp Trail (marked by a decrepit sign stating "Shelter" drops off to the right/east. Our blue blazed Shrewsbury Peak trail narrows, winding close to the surrounding spruce. Moose tracks and scat are everywhere, and its FRESH! Yay! MJ will attest with my obsession with seeing moose or any evidence of these magestic keepers of the North Woods. But, since we are sooo chatty, its doubtful today we'll see one. One pile, two piles, three piles and "sssshhhh" says MichaelJ. "I just heard a snorting sound over there in the woods!". We stand, I am completely polarized staring headlong into the spruce. To my right, a chickadee russles and takes flight. I nearly scream....OK....I gotta work on that if I want to see some wildlife!!! (tee hee). We continue onward, we can feel the descent but its so gradual, so soft, so circuitous! Its a wonderful trail and I am so happy we came! Soon we enter a clearing, we look behind us and spot our ridgewalk...its so green, so quiet, so hidden. MJ is very into the clearing. Several small brooks start here and radiate off in alternating directions. We've hit a divide.
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