buckyball1
New member
long day-short hike(s)
I decided to try to get in "one more" before the snow flies (not much of a winter hiker). Having no idea whether the gate near Rt 302 would be open, I decided on another crazy early start.
I left Orrington around 2AM -no traffic, no rain, no fog, no large animals this time-just dark and way too early.
The approach to Signal is off Rt 302 a bit west of West Groton, VT. Most of the roads off 302 are signed, but not so the "Gore Rd"(dirt) which is the one you want. It's easy to find, just past a large, sandy parking lot and it has a sign for "Groton State Forest, Butterfield (something)". Once you find it, go about 0.35 miles to a "Y" and take the right (uphill) fork--stay on this road for about 2 miles? (ignore an ATV like trail which goes right from it) until you come to 2 large rocks blocking the road. Park just before the rocks (at about 2250'). There are no major problems/rocks on these roads, but the closer you get to the end, the more small sharp "washouts" running across the road you hit, so drive with care. The right fork you took and where you park is NOT the road you see on the topo map-i think you branch right from and are a bit "north" of that road.
You could head directly toward Butterfield from where I parked if you choose. I went this way a bit, then decided I really had no desire/need to summit that peak.
For Signal, I walked past the rocks, across a small bridge and headed uphill at the first skid road at a height of land (no more than 3 minutes from the car). The wack was a shade more than a mile, pretty much "north" and what I would consider easy. The first 1/3 of the hike was the "hardest" with the slope being moderately steep with numerous small "rock traps" and continual head high deciduous growth giving you a whipping, stinging facial. The slope lessens as you approach the evergreens/ridge and the woods is fairly open with easily navigable blowdown-there are boggy spots. I hardly needed a bearing, just went "up" the ridge. The jar was again obvious, but in comparison to the few names on Cold Hollow, all the usual recent suspects were there-Marc/Pamola/Nate and from last week Albee.
If the main gate is open, Signal is a short hike. It had little to recommend it other than being on the "list"--it's a non-descript lump from a distance, has no decent views, takes no real route finding skill--you do it because it's there. For an "easy" hike, I felt a shade uneasy being solo coming down as the lower slopes with slick root/rocks and heavy leaf cover made for slip sliding descent in spots.
Normally I'd have done Butterfield as I was there and it looked very straightforward, but since i have no 3K ideas at this stage of life, I figured why bother as it promised to be more of the same.
So I scooted over to NH and did Stinson (never been up it and on the 52WAV) for an aerobic workout--no problem, but w/o the tower and with tree growth on the summit, the promised expansive view was very limited and I'd think it's place on the 52WAV list should be in jeopardy.
Then the long drive home--11 hours in the car for 2 short hikes--silly me
Baker remains-in 2008
jim
I decided to try to get in "one more" before the snow flies (not much of a winter hiker). Having no idea whether the gate near Rt 302 would be open, I decided on another crazy early start.
I left Orrington around 2AM -no traffic, no rain, no fog, no large animals this time-just dark and way too early.
The approach to Signal is off Rt 302 a bit west of West Groton, VT. Most of the roads off 302 are signed, but not so the "Gore Rd"(dirt) which is the one you want. It's easy to find, just past a large, sandy parking lot and it has a sign for "Groton State Forest, Butterfield (something)". Once you find it, go about 0.35 miles to a "Y" and take the right (uphill) fork--stay on this road for about 2 miles? (ignore an ATV like trail which goes right from it) until you come to 2 large rocks blocking the road. Park just before the rocks (at about 2250'). There are no major problems/rocks on these roads, but the closer you get to the end, the more small sharp "washouts" running across the road you hit, so drive with care. The right fork you took and where you park is NOT the road you see on the topo map-i think you branch right from and are a bit "north" of that road.
You could head directly toward Butterfield from where I parked if you choose. I went this way a bit, then decided I really had no desire/need to summit that peak.
For Signal, I walked past the rocks, across a small bridge and headed uphill at the first skid road at a height of land (no more than 3 minutes from the car). The wack was a shade more than a mile, pretty much "north" and what I would consider easy. The first 1/3 of the hike was the "hardest" with the slope being moderately steep with numerous small "rock traps" and continual head high deciduous growth giving you a whipping, stinging facial. The slope lessens as you approach the evergreens/ridge and the woods is fairly open with easily navigable blowdown-there are boggy spots. I hardly needed a bearing, just went "up" the ridge. The jar was again obvious, but in comparison to the few names on Cold Hollow, all the usual recent suspects were there-Marc/Pamola/Nate and from last week Albee.
If the main gate is open, Signal is a short hike. It had little to recommend it other than being on the "list"--it's a non-descript lump from a distance, has no decent views, takes no real route finding skill--you do it because it's there. For an "easy" hike, I felt a shade uneasy being solo coming down as the lower slopes with slick root/rocks and heavy leaf cover made for slip sliding descent in spots.
Normally I'd have done Butterfield as I was there and it looked very straightforward, but since i have no 3K ideas at this stage of life, I figured why bother as it promised to be more of the same.
So I scooted over to NH and did Stinson (never been up it and on the 52WAV) for an aerobic workout--no problem, but w/o the tower and with tree growth on the summit, the promised expansive view was very limited and I'd think it's place on the 52WAV list should be in jeopardy.
Then the long drive home--11 hours in the car for 2 short hikes--silly me
Baker remains-in 2008
jim
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