Killington from Bucklin 2/20

[Tom Rankin]

Met Puck and we started at 8:45. The road is snowy but easily passable. The trail is hard packed, with a new coat of fluffy stuff, just 1-2 inches most of the time, drifting here and there. Cold, but almost no wind today, beautiful skies and views. At the Shelter, we opted to walk over to the ski lift and go around the mountain, avoiding the windy side. Great views at the top but a few clouds hurrying by. We then opted to walk down the windy side. Big mistake! The trail was crusty and steep and the wind was howling. We survived the brief blast of wind and the treacherous descent, and made it back to the shelter. Mendon was planned, but we were tired and cold, so we skipped it. But this would be a great time to go, as the snow is very hard packed, even off trail.

We talked a lot about birds today, but saw only a couple. Good food and brew (and Irish music!) at the Long Trail Inn. Great to spend a day with Puck and bag our first W-VT-4K!

 

[Scotzman]

Grats on your first W VT 4k I didn't think about going up the ski trail side when I did it, I opted for the "treacherous" part. I'll have to keep that in mind next time, depending on the conditions. The Long Trail Inn sounds like the happy end to a hike.

 

[Tom Rankin]

Grats on your first W VT 4k I didn't think about going up the ski trail side when I did it, I opted for the "treacherous" part. I'll have to keep that in mind next time, depending on the conditions. The Long Trail Inn sounds like the happy end to a hike.

To tell the truth, it was inadvertent, but it worked out well. And there's a warm building over there (which we did not use).

 

[Tom Rankin]

Just 2 pics, one of the fire tower:

and VFTT:

 

[Chip]

Puck and Mendon can't seem to get it together.

 

[Puck]

It was a great day. The bottom of Bucklin is in a decidious forest and really opens up in the winter. Not much in the way of birds....some mammal tracks. The Guiness was as I always remember. To bad hiking conditions can't be that consistent and good.

 

[yvon]

Very Nice pictures Tom.
You and Laurie have had a nicer view than we had last year.