Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
| Peaks |
Mendon Peak, Killington Peak, Pico Peak, VT |
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| Trails: |
Eddy Brook logging road, bushwhack, Long Trail, Killington Spur, Shelburne Pass Trail, Pico Spur |
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| Date of Hike: |
Thursday, July 4, 2013 |
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| Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Tons of parking available at the Shelburne Pass Trailhead across from the Long Trail Inn, smaller lot at the Bucklin Trailhead at the sharp turn on Brewers Corner where we parked to start the traverse from. |
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| Surface Conditions: |
Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Standing/Running Water on Trail |
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| Recommended Equipment: |
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| Water Crossing Notes: |
The lower 2 or 3 crossings on the Eddy Brook logging road were running very high and required finding alternative routes across. We found suitable spots using trees/rocks upstream on these crossings. The lowest crossing looks like it took some major damage during Irene. Remaining crossings on this route were trivial or had footbridges. |
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| Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Couple large blowdowns in the switchbacks on the logging road. One particularly obnoxious one on the extension from the road to the Long Trail that required the only real bushwhack of the day to get around.
The trails themselves were in good shape, damp from all the rain, but not too much standing or running water was observed. |
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| Dog-Related Notes: |
Shouldn't be anything terribly tricky for experienced trail dogs on this route. Plenty of streams for water on the way up to the start of the 'whack to Mendon, but not a ton after that until low on the Shelburne Pass Trail. Water at Cooper Lodge and Pico Camp. |
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| Bugs: |
Mosquitoes and black flies around if we stopped for long, except on Killington and Pico where a breeze kept them at bay. No problems when we were on the move. |
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| Lost and Found: |
Picked up a few candy wrappers on Mendon... |
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| Comments: |
Decided to add Mendon to the planned Killington/Pico traverse, which meant I got company on the trails this day :) Followed the main logging road that starts near the Bucklin Trailhead up to the 3rd cairn (above the switchbacks where it suddenly levels out), took a bearing, and struck out towards Mendon following a mix of herd paths here and there and otherwise just 'whacking through open woods. Near the climb to the East peak of Mendon we ran into a more defined herd path, and followed that all the way over to the West peak and the register. Coming back we followed this herd path to within about 1/10 mile of the logging road where it finally petered out, and we just cut towards the road from there ending up about 30 feet down the road from where we started. Followed the road from there, soon taking a right turn up what looks like a streambed but actually is the road (straight will take you to a bad place), and this got less and less road-like, but took us right to the Long Trail not far from Cooper Lodge without the need to 'whack. Worked real nice!
From there was a straight-forward trek, climbing the steep Killington Spur to the top where the views were hazy but otherwise nice. A number of people had ridden up from the ski area, but there were a few hikers about too that came up the Bucklin Trail. After a break, we carried on over a nice gentle ridge walk to the Pico Camp and took the spur from there up and back before heading down to the spotted car and the cooler of cold drinks. Retrieved the car on Wheelerville Road, and a good dinner was had at the pub in the Long Trail Inn during which a nasty thunderstorm rolled through about 7:15PM. Glad we missed that!
My first hike in Vermont, it was really hot and humid, but it was a fun hike! Thanks Theresa for coming along on the fun to 2 extra peaks you were just at and congrats on another NEHH checkmark! |
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| Name: |
madmattd |
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| E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2013-07-08 |
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| Link: |
https://mattshikes.blogspot.com/ |
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Disclaimer: Reports are not verified - conditions may vary. Use at own risk. Always be prepared when hiking. Observe all signs. Trail conditions reports are not substitutes for weather reports or common sense. |
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