Killington and Ellen questions?

[yvon]

January 14 2010-------

Somebody have up to date report on Killington by Bucklin Trail (I read a report of Jan2 on that one) and Ellen by the Jerusalem Trail?
I will maybe go this weekend

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I thinking to going for a hike in Vermont around Christmas or later in the winter. I do not know very much Vermont, I have made only 3 summits.
I want to do and I need Killington or Ellen and here are my questions:

For Killington:
Does the Wheelerville Road is plowed in the winter?
Is there room to park at the Trailhead?
Does the Bucklin Trail have been done lately?

For Ellen:
Does the Jerusalem Trail is the best choice in winter?
Does this trail have been done lately?
What are the conditions of the road to get to the Trailhead?

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In few words, Tell me which path you've done lately, or give me your suggestions on what is the best way to do these 2 peaks in winter.

Thank you for your help

 

[HockeyPuck]

I thinking to going for a hike in Vermont around Christmas or later in the winter. I do not know very much Vermont, I have made only 3 summits.
I want to do and I need Killington or Ellen and here are my questions:

For Killington:
Does the Wheelerville Road is plowed in the winter?
Is there room to park at the Trailhead?
Does the Bucklin Trail have been done lately?

For Ellen:
Does the Jerusalem Trail is the best choice in winter?
Does this trail have been done lately?
What are the conditions of the road to get to the Trailhead?

-----------------------------------------------------------------
In few words, Tell me which path you've done lately, or give me your suggestions on what is the best way to do these 2 peaks in winter.

Thank you for your help

Yvon.

I've hiked both in the winter of 04/05 via the routes you described.

Killington:
Wheelerville Rd From Rt 4 to the Bucklin trailhead was plowed. The trailhead lot was also plowed.

Ellen:
Jerusalem Rd and Jim Dwire road were both plowed. There was little parking available at the Jerusalem Trail head.

Keep in mind my info is 5 years old and you get what you paid for ;^)

 

[Kevin Rooney]

There are year-round homes on those public roads - they're kept plowed. I've done both the Batell and Jerusalem in winter - it's a toss-up as to whether they'll be broken out at any point in time. Same with the Bucklin.

 

[TEO]

If you take one of the ski lifts, it is only about a 1-2 minute hike to the summit of Mt. Ellen. It's definitely the recommended route. Just look for a trail in the woods on your left when you unload off of the summit quad lift. Yes, the road to the ski area and parking lot are plowed and there's plenty of parking.

 

[yvon]

If you take one of the ski lifts, it is only about a 1-2 minute hike to the summit of Mt. Ellen. It's definitely the recommended route. Just look for a trail in the woods on your left when you unload off of the summit quad lift. Yes, the road to the ski area and parking lot are plowed and there's plenty of parking.

Sorry Teo, by using the lift the summit does not count for the NE111. And it is not hiking Mt Ellen.

 

[Peaks]

Killington

The Bucklin trailhead is also an access point for the Catamount Trail. So, yes, the road is plowed, and there is ample parking at the trailhead.

 

[MichaelJ]

And be careful, where the Bucklin Trail and Catamount Trail diverge, not to end up on the wrong one. Also make sure you don't take the old carriage road, unless that's your intention (it's the route to Mendon).

The parking area is at a point where Wheelerville takes a sharp right turn. The Bucklin Trail is on the left, the old carriage road goes straight.

 

[snoshoovt]

Ellen, Killington

Agree with above posters, winter access no problem for these. On Bucklin, after the second brook crossing and walkiing up the south side of the brook for a while (10 or 15 minutes??), be sure to watch for the hard right heading up the hill, as sometimes the tracks will lead straight at this point and that's definitely not what you want to do. Should be obvious as long as you're looking for it. And good for you, Yvon, of course you can't just take the lift to either.
Enjoy,
John

 

[Kevin Rooney]

This is totally off-topic, but as I as reading John's post about not missing the right turn, I flashed on why I like the Bucklin trail - lots of balsam trees. Not that many places I've hiked have that many sweet-smelling balsams.

 

[Taconic]

I have a related question...

Over the years I've heard a bunch of horror stories about the big Vermont ski mountains and have avoided them like the plague in the winter. I'm in no hurry to get run over by somebody that rode a lift to the top and decided to ski down the LT, and from what I'm told it's pretty common. How often does this actually happen?

Are there any additional access restrictions in the winter. In other words, nobody would care if you decided to climb Killington at 2AM in the summer, but is this frowned upon by the resort in the winter?

 

[Kevin Rooney]

I have a related question...

Over the years I've heard a bunch of horror stories about the big Vermont ski mountains and have avoided them like the plague in the winter. I'm in no hurry to get run over by somebody that rode a lift to the top and decided to ski down the LT, and from what I'm told it's pretty common. How often does this actually happen?

Are there any additional access restrictions in the winter. In other words, nobody would care if you decided to climb Killington at 2AM in the summer, but is this frowned upon by the resort in the winter?

If you climb Killington via the Bucklin trail, you avoid the ski area entirely. As for Ellen/Abe - if you climb via the Battel trail, you'll avoid the ski areas also. If you use the Jerusalem trail, then it comes out on a ski slope a couple of hundred yards below the summit of Ellen so you may have to dog skiers.

As for Mansfield - I'd avoid the LT approach from the eastern side, as you may have skiers/boarders on the trail. Instead, use a trail from the west like Sunset Ridge. You may encounter a skier/boarder or two on the summit ridge, but they won't be a hazard to you (or vice versa) given the terrain/grade.

 

[MichaelJ]

I would avoid being on the trails of an active ski area after dark. You never know when you could come around a corner and be faced with a snow cat or snowmobile, or even just a line of snowmaking guns (which absolutely suck to have to hike past).

 

[snoshoovt]

Ski area hiking at night

Good point, Michael J, but I've been up Ellen quite a few times at night and find it a good way to go since hiking on the trails avoids most of the trip & fall hazards on the skinny hiking trails, and though the cats and guns are a hazard for sure, both make their presence well known by their sound. I'm guessing I've surprised a snowcat driver or two, but it's easy to step out of their way if one is paying attention. And if one doesn't, well, the stripes across one's back are a good badge of courage at the gym, eh?
John

 

[lx93]

I did them both in Feb. 2006.

While I don't recall much about the trailheads, I do agree that approaching Mansfield from the East led to a couple of close calls w/ skiers. Got lost on the trail really close to the summit, too- either it wasn't broken out really well, or there was an exposed part where the wind blew snow over the tracks, or maybe both. But what a sunset view of Lake Champlaign...

Killington has a decent view except for the audio soundtrack provided by the diesel generator from the ski lift.

 

[yvon]

Somebody have up to date report on Killington by Bucklin Trail (I read a report of Jan2 on that one) and Ellen by the Jerusalem Trail?
I will maybe go this weekend.

 

[The Lisa]

Bon matin, Yvon.
Re the Killington approach - I was on the Bucklin Trail on Jan. 02 and 03. The road and parking lot are always plowed, with plenty of room in the lot. The Bucklin trail always seems to be well-travelled but have snowshoes just in case. Have fun!