Dorset/Jackson Peak

[Nate]

In the Day Hiker's Guide to Vermont, in its trail description for Dorset Peak, it mentions Jackson Peak as being to the west of Dorset (i.e. from the Dorset Hollow route, on the left at the height of land on the old logging road, while the north and south Dorset Peaks are on the right and up the snowmobile trail). Is Jackson the same as West Dorset Peak, or is it a summit bump before West Dorset? Is the most common route to West Dorset via by going left at the height of land? Considering there isn't a register on this peak, does that mean there's a herd path that goes to it (as is often the case in Vermont)?

 

[audrey]

We were there about a year ago and found no herd path and no canister, after four of us circled the summit for a long time. The woods were open and easy going, though.

 

[dms]

The summit of West Dorset is a large flat area of open woods. I have never heard it called Jackson Peak. As Audrey says, there is no herd path, other than 3k peak baggers, it's not a popular destination. I did the peak with John Swanson a few years ago, and we did find a register, one of those small peanut butter jars. It was, more or less, right in the center of the flat open summit.

 

[Dennis C.]

I've found conditions over to West Dorset pretty much as dms (Dennis) describes. I've been there a couple of times and used to take off through open woods from the trail height-of-land, Nate. Shortly after we started to get into the extended flat area, the woods were much thicker, so we'd drop 50-100 ft off the north side of the ridgeline and follow along parallel for some distance. The woods were pretty open along there, Audrey. There was a glass jar register on the flat summit back in the mid 80s and early 90s, but usually they won't last beyond 10 years at most without replacements. We're counting on the current peakbagging generation to maintain a long standing tradition with summit registers on New England bushwhack peaks. Most climbers appreciate finding one .... but someone has to put it there.

 

[RoySwkr]

There is a nearby group called the Smokey House Project that calls the W Peak of Dorset "Jackson Peak" on their map. I don't know where they got the name or whether the DHG copied it from there or elsewhere.

 

[audrey]

Dennis,

I often carry a jar, string, paper, pencil, etc., to replace a worn out canister, but I prefer not to put it up when I'm not positive I'm standing on the summit.

We've found more than one jar on a couple of peaks, and evidence of where registers once were, on others. Cow Ridge and N-N Crocker come to mind.

 

[Mike]

We were there about a year ago and found no herd path and no canister, after four of us circled the summit for a long time. The woods were open and easy going, though.

I hiked West Peak on 11/05/05 and found the register in a red nalgene water bottle. My route started at a gated "logging" road on Darby Mtn Road, 100' south of the north junction with Scallop Drive. The "logging" road takes you almost half way to the summit. Three hours round trip at a leisurely pace.

 

[Nate]

I made it up to West Dorset on 7/30 and successfully found the canister. I started my 'whack from the Dorset col, and by picking my spots I was able to climb most of the way up to the West Dorset ridge before hitting some dense stuff. Thankfully it soon gave way to moderately open woods, which aren't too bad as long as you pick your spots. However, they're dense enough that on the out trip I didn't have a good sense of how the ridge proceeded or how much further it was to the true high point. The woods were thick enough that my GPS had trouble getting a good signal. By continuing forward, I found that the ridge arcs slightly to the left, and by keeping at it, I reached what was clearly the highest summit bump (having passed over a lower bump or two en route). Reaching the high point, I found the Nalgene bottle lying on the ground, so I reaffixed it to the tree. It has minor puncture holes all around it's exterior, so it's just a matter of time before rain water leaks in. Thankfully the register was encased in a couple of plastic bags and was still dry.

By the time I had to make the return trip to the Dorset col I was more familiar with what the ridge did, so I knew that going east the ridge would arc a bit to the right. Rather than rely on the GPS, instead I determinedly stayed on top of the ridge until I could see Dorset Peak right in front of me through the trees. Then it was simply a matter of dropping down to the col.

 

[AntlerPeak]

Nate congrats on finding the top of Jackson. Just last week my buddy and I were in the col on our way up Dorset when he pointed to West Dorset and asked "is there a herd path up Jackson?" I said "up what?" He repeated "Jackson" I looked at West Dorset saying "Where do you get this Jackson crap from that's West Dorset." Showing me the Day Hikers Guide to Vermont he said "right here." I read it then showed him the usgs which did not say Jackson and asked, "How many mistakes have you found in that guide?" He said "lots" I answered "well add this one to it, that's West Dorset."

Seriously I never heard of Jackson until I saw that reference. The usgs shows this summit to be 3515. Peakbagger. com lists it as west Dorset Mt. PeakBagger

TopoZone calls it Dorset MountainTopo

While Mountain Peak's list of Vermont hundred highest calls it Dorset Mountain @ 3515 as opposed to the higher summits they call Dorset Peak. Mountain Peaks

Where the name Jackson came from I have no idea but it seems the official name is West Dorset. In any event it's the same hill.

 

[Raymond]

Nate, what do you think caused those little holes in the water bottle? Teeth?

 

[Nate]

Raymond, I guess I'd have to look at it again. At the time I didn't think they were bite marks, and I didn't give it much thought. They're not very large, and they seemed too round to be made by teeth. When I think about it now, they remind me of holes that could be made by a small BB, but that's probably not what it is either. I'm sure the next person who reports back about this peak will have a much better idea about what made them.