| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Dorset Peak, VT |
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 | Trails: |
Various trails |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, August 30, 2020 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parked where Edmunds Road takes a sharp left. There is a farm. The trail takes off straight ahead from here. Also, small kids live nearby who like to throw rocks. They are good kids who I had a brief conversation with as I was leaving, but it was a little disconcerting to have them hucking rocks near my vehicle. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
No worse than standing water and significant mud between South Dorset and North Dorset. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
This is an unmaintained trail. Do not expect it to be easy nor expect anyone to do maintenance on the trail. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
A couple of dogs live near the parking area. They were no trouble, but it's worth noting if you have dogs of your own. Trail is passable for dogs to South Dorset. From South to North Dorset, your dog may or may not like the mud. You potentially could take the left at the first rock cairn past the junction with the Dorset Approach to avoid the mud. Not 100% certain as I did not go that way. |
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 | Bugs: |
It was cool and breezy that day. Bugs stayed away. Might be an issue near the mud on a warm, windless day. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Found the remains of a firetower on South Dorset, remains of a cabin on Dorset, and a sweet trail sign for the East Ridge Trail with a skull on it past the Northeast Peak. Lost my way at the beginning. More below. |
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 | Comments: |
South Dorset, North Dorset, & Northeast Dorset
Danby Four Corners Approach
Posting the trip report to augment the GMC Guide's Four Corners Approach in the most recent guide, because it is out of date. At the start, go through the gate. Ignore the whole part about staying along the western edge of an overgrown field. Another confusing part was a three-way fork that was not mentioned in the guide, take the left fork. At the log landing, just continue straight through.In terms of the right fork 0.2 miles past this, take it. The left fork does not present itself as a viable option. There is no cairn as far as I could tell at the junction where the trail descends to Dorset and goes left to the peaks. Does not matter. It should be obvious to go left.
In terms of the rights at the two cairns after this junction, those are spot on. The direct approach at the second cairn is steep, but nothing insurmountable. You can go left at this cairn and still get there. It's just a bit longer. The best view is from the South Peak to the W/NW.
The path between South Dorset and North Dorset at worst has standing water and mud. It has some blowdowns too, but the herd paths around them are well-defined. There are various side paths going left and right, but just ignore them. Before North Dorset, there is a wooden sign confirming you are on the final ascent to the aforementioned peak.
There is a summit canister at North Dorset, but it needs to be replaced. Past North Dorset the trail continues to Northeast Dorset. It is growing in, but can be ascertained. The book mentions a view towards the Green Mountains by bushwhacking past the peak. It appears to have grown in during the last ten years. I would not recommend going to Northeast Dorset for the view.
The East Ridge Trail just past the Northeast Peak appears intriguing with the skull on the sign and the fact it goes off towards the marble quarry which goes underneath Dorset Mountain for 1.5 miles.
I came back the same way, but took a right before the South Peak and passed by the cairn on my left. The rest was easy.
There is likely an interesting skiing opportunity skinning the trail all the way up to South Peak and skiing down from there. |
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 | Name: |
Chance Yohman |
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 | E-Mail: |
chance.yohman@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2020-09-10 |
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 | Link: |
 https://www.strava.com/activities/3987802063 |
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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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