This report is primarily about access and parking via the Emily Proctor Trail and Long Trail in January 2017. The actual hike is through open woods down low, with one significant crossing (was ice bridged) that appears to have decent rocks to cross on, and some 50+ rills all of which are step-overs. There are blue blazes along most of the Emily Proctor Trail and the corridor itself was easy to follow once transitioned from hardwoods to softwoods. The Long Trail corridor was mostly easy, except on top of Wilson and the blazes (being white) were not always obvious due to snow and rime stuck to the trees. I was lucky in that the entire trail was packed 9 days earlier and I had consolidated conditions the whole way (I did wear snowshoes above the Emily Proctor Shelter.)
You cannot access the Emily Proctor (and Cooley Glen) trailhead from the Middlebury College side (125 and Steam Mill Road) on FR 59 in winter. Nor can you access it via FR 59 (Natural Turnpike) in Ripton Center, although you can get as far as the Skylight Pond Trailhead, which is about a 4 mile road walk to the Emily Proctor Trail from the south end of FR 54. Winter access is from the north on FR 54 (South Lincoln Road). FR 201 to the actual trailhead is not maintained and is about .3 miles on foot. Note that I did see a 4WD pickup had made it to the summer trailhead on my way out.
Use Solar Sweet Maple Farm for a GPS waypoint when driving and you'll be less than .25 miles from the winter parking lot. All navigation and mapping apps I tried found this location without problems. Note that there is little or no cell phone reception (on Verizon anyway) from Middlebury Gap to the trailhead so if you are using a phone, you might want to screenshot the stretch from the top of Middlebury Gap to the end, or do it the old-fashioned way.
Note that when you walk up FR 201, the summer parking area will be on the left. Straight ahead are the two trailheads. The Cooley Glen sign is facing you and to the left. Less obvious is the Emily Proctor sign, which is to the right, but is turned 90 degrees, making it easy to miss (I started down the Cooley Glen Trail for a few 10ths before I realized the mistake.)
Map showing road access
Emily Proctor sign is not really visible as you approach but it is over to the right
Parking is just above (past) FR 201 at the end of the maintained stretch of FR 54. FR 201 is downhill on the right in this photo.
There was a small yellow sign on the light pole marking this the "Catamount Trail".
Tim
You cannot access the Emily Proctor (and Cooley Glen) trailhead from the Middlebury College side (125 and Steam Mill Road) on FR 59 in winter. Nor can you access it via FR 59 (Natural Turnpike) in Ripton Center, although you can get as far as the Skylight Pond Trailhead, which is about a 4 mile road walk to the Emily Proctor Trail from the south end of FR 54. Winter access is from the north on FR 54 (South Lincoln Road). FR 201 to the actual trailhead is not maintained and is about .3 miles on foot. Note that I did see a 4WD pickup had made it to the summer trailhead on my way out.
Use Solar Sweet Maple Farm for a GPS waypoint when driving and you'll be less than .25 miles from the winter parking lot. All navigation and mapping apps I tried found this location without problems. Note that there is little or no cell phone reception (on Verizon anyway) from Middlebury Gap to the trailhead so if you are using a phone, you might want to screenshot the stretch from the top of Middlebury Gap to the end, or do it the old-fashioned way.
Note that when you walk up FR 201, the summer parking area will be on the left. Straight ahead are the two trailheads. The Cooley Glen sign is facing you and to the left. Less obvious is the Emily Proctor sign, which is to the right, but is turned 90 degrees, making it easy to miss (I started down the Cooley Glen Trail for a few 10ths before I realized the mistake.)
Map showing road access
Emily Proctor sign is not really visible as you approach but it is over to the right
Parking is just above (past) FR 201 at the end of the maintained stretch of FR 54. FR 201 is downhill on the right in this photo.
There was a small yellow sign on the light pole marking this the "Catamount Trail".
Tim
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