Ed'n Lauky
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- Feb 15, 2007
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Parked at the end of pavement on Belknap mountain road.
The trailhead situation has changed since the trail guide was written. There is a small paved area for parking at the end of the paved road. The gate has been removed, but 200 yards further up the road is intentionally blocked by downed trees. The trail still leaves 130 yards from the parking area, but I missed it because there are now two new houses there and you have to head up the trail between the two houses. Thinking that the trail would leave beyond the last house I walked right by it.
We found a tote road heading up about .7 of a mile beyond the houses. The tote road passes through some muddy areas which were fairly easily bypassed. It goes all the way to the top of Whiteface.
Heading toward Piper you turn right at the meadow where the tote road turns left and follow the Piper--Whiteface link.
The upper half of the Piper trail was smooth granite, it was dry and almost like walking on a steep sidewalk.
From near the top of Piper we took the yellow, then blue trail to Swett Mt. The trail appears to not be frequently used but was easy to follow through fairly open woods to the open ledges at the summit.
Back up on Piper we took the blue, orange and white trails to the summit of Belknap.
From Belknap we took the blue trail down to the col with Gunstock looking for the plane wreck which we didn't find. Out of time at this point we retraced our path back over Belknap and Piper and headed back to car. All trails in good condition with very few blowdowns.
Ticks are out, however, we carried a few back to Bridgton with us. We're trying to improve the breeding stock up here.
Link to trip report and pictures http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?t=35854
[email protected]
The trailhead situation has changed since the trail guide was written. There is a small paved area for parking at the end of the paved road. The gate has been removed, but 200 yards further up the road is intentionally blocked by downed trees. The trail still leaves 130 yards from the parking area, but I missed it because there are now two new houses there and you have to head up the trail between the two houses. Thinking that the trail would leave beyond the last house I walked right by it.
We found a tote road heading up about .7 of a mile beyond the houses. The tote road passes through some muddy areas which were fairly easily bypassed. It goes all the way to the top of Whiteface.
Heading toward Piper you turn right at the meadow where the tote road turns left and follow the Piper--Whiteface link.
The upper half of the Piper trail was smooth granite, it was dry and almost like walking on a steep sidewalk.
From near the top of Piper we took the yellow, then blue trail to Swett Mt. The trail appears to not be frequently used but was easy to follow through fairly open woods to the open ledges at the summit.
Back up on Piper we took the blue, orange and white trails to the summit of Belknap.
From Belknap we took the blue trail down to the col with Gunstock looking for the plane wreck which we didn't find. Out of time at this point we retraced our path back over Belknap and Piper and headed back to car. All trails in good condition with very few blowdowns.
Ticks are out, however, we carried a few back to Bridgton with us. We're trying to improve the breeding stock up here.
Link to trip report and pictures http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?t=35854
[email protected]
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