Oncoman
Active member
Left Montreal at 05h45 and was on the Emily Proctor trail at 09h30. Immediately after crossing the bridge on South Lincoln Rd approx. 2 miles south of South Lincoln, you encounter a fork. Do not continue straight ahead on #54. Instead turn left on the final dirt road (#201), there is no sign indicating that the E.P. trailhead is barely ¼ mile ahead.
Upon signing the register I noticed that a fresh set of pages had been placed. Change of season? My entry was the 2nd, after the one of the ranger 8 days ago.
There was only 2 inches of snow on the trail; so I decided to bareboot. Higher up there was 4 to 8", not enough to switch to snowshoes.
The ascension was not too hard. I had to cross many small brooks none of which were difficult. However 2 of these could prove to be challenging in the next few weeks if there was rapid snow melting.
Here are my rules for brook crossings solo in spring:
1. If upon attempting to cross a water vein the level of the water is above knee level, turn back and try elsewhere. The reason being should you fall downstream with a foot jammed by rocks the current may prevent you from ever rising up again with thus drowning guarenteed, unless you can remain calm and succeed to untie your boot, free yourself, turn on your belly and swim downstream to safety; but why ever risk it.
2. If your advancing foot is swept away by the current before you transfer your weight on it, turn back.
Upon approaching the E.P. shelter I noticed bear tracks crossing the trail on 2 occasions, luckily not fresh of the morning, probably one day old. I only hoped that it was not a hungry mother bear just awakening from hibernation. I would hate to be mistaken for Kentucky fried chicken. If you are interested in learning to recognize animal tracks check out this link www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Wildlife/Wildlife_PDFs/Track_Card.pdf
I reached the shelter & the Long Trail 1h¾ after leaving the parking lot. Not being tired I immediately headed north for Wilson. In the open forest at the Wilson/Breadloaf col following the snow covered L.T. proved very difficult and after 10-15 min. of searching I gave up and decided to bushwhack straight up the ridge. This proved to be a good decision since the whack was not difficult and that I was able to easily find the trail upon reaching the ridge. Therafter I had no problem crossing over the 2 bumps refered to by Papa Bear's report and continuing onward to the slightly lower northern peak from which I was able to have acceptable views of the northern Green Mountains on this great clear sunny day despite the fact that I was mostly under tree cover.
Back to the E.P. shelter I briefly rested and climbed on the shelter's roof to take a western 280° bearing up Breadloaf. I estimated that this would be more time saving then trying to find the L.T. The first 10 min. were tough with thick spruce but thereafter it was easy sailing and once again I fell on the trail higher up and was able to follow it to the summit about 50 feet to the right of the trail on your way up. No view unless you climb a tree and no canister. But if you continue on the trail past the summit to its dead end, about 5 min. further on, you will be rewarded by a superb view of the western range of montains. Sorry I have no camera for pics.
Since it was only 14h30 when I again returned to the E.P. shelter and that the temps were so warm, the snow and ice now melting off the trees, I therefore decided to bushwhack up the 2 southern bumps of Breadloaf. My exloration was not very gratifying with no good views, being always under tree coverage and no canisters found. My topo map & watch altimeter both convinced me that these bumps were lower than the north-western peak.
Back to the shelter for the 4th time I took a 20 min. rest to eat & rehydrate before heading down. I then noticed in the snow boot tracks different from mine. After all I was not alone on the montain that day. I departed at 16h25 and raced downhill with no stops except for a brief exchange of greetings half way down with 2 hikers on their way out.
Lower down I noticed that the snow had almost completely melted away on this warm sunny spring day with now a few mud spots on the trail. This really worried me since there was mud vehicle tracks almost 1 foot deep on the final dirt road that I had managed to negociate with my minivan by driving between the tracks on the frozen ground. But now the first few inches of ground were surely mud. The more I thought about it the more my stomach was getting upset. So I decided to forget about it and worry later. If things came to worst I could always wait for the ground to freeze again during the night. Was back to my car 1 hr after leaving the shelter and yes I did make it out safely, though my front wheel Honda spinned and swayed dangerously on that mud road. God was that ¼ mile road interminable for my nerves. I hope the 2 other hikers also made it out safely. Over the next few weeks one would be well adviced to park on the road before the last turnoff.
Was back in Montreal by 20h00 very pleased with my marvelous 8 hrs spring day hike in southern Vermont. My car was horribly muddy but no car wash that night. Had to show up at work the following morning as is and face the reprobating questions from my colleagues. But what the hell it was worth it!
Upon signing the register I noticed that a fresh set of pages had been placed. Change of season? My entry was the 2nd, after the one of the ranger 8 days ago.
There was only 2 inches of snow on the trail; so I decided to bareboot. Higher up there was 4 to 8", not enough to switch to snowshoes.
The ascension was not too hard. I had to cross many small brooks none of which were difficult. However 2 of these could prove to be challenging in the next few weeks if there was rapid snow melting.
Here are my rules for brook crossings solo in spring:
1. If upon attempting to cross a water vein the level of the water is above knee level, turn back and try elsewhere. The reason being should you fall downstream with a foot jammed by rocks the current may prevent you from ever rising up again with thus drowning guarenteed, unless you can remain calm and succeed to untie your boot, free yourself, turn on your belly and swim downstream to safety; but why ever risk it.
2. If your advancing foot is swept away by the current before you transfer your weight on it, turn back.
Upon approaching the E.P. shelter I noticed bear tracks crossing the trail on 2 occasions, luckily not fresh of the morning, probably one day old. I only hoped that it was not a hungry mother bear just awakening from hibernation. I would hate to be mistaken for Kentucky fried chicken. If you are interested in learning to recognize animal tracks check out this link www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Wildlife/Wildlife_PDFs/Track_Card.pdf
I reached the shelter & the Long Trail 1h¾ after leaving the parking lot. Not being tired I immediately headed north for Wilson. In the open forest at the Wilson/Breadloaf col following the snow covered L.T. proved very difficult and after 10-15 min. of searching I gave up and decided to bushwhack straight up the ridge. This proved to be a good decision since the whack was not difficult and that I was able to easily find the trail upon reaching the ridge. Therafter I had no problem crossing over the 2 bumps refered to by Papa Bear's report and continuing onward to the slightly lower northern peak from which I was able to have acceptable views of the northern Green Mountains on this great clear sunny day despite the fact that I was mostly under tree cover.
Back to the E.P. shelter I briefly rested and climbed on the shelter's roof to take a western 280° bearing up Breadloaf. I estimated that this would be more time saving then trying to find the L.T. The first 10 min. were tough with thick spruce but thereafter it was easy sailing and once again I fell on the trail higher up and was able to follow it to the summit about 50 feet to the right of the trail on your way up. No view unless you climb a tree and no canister. But if you continue on the trail past the summit to its dead end, about 5 min. further on, you will be rewarded by a superb view of the western range of montains. Sorry I have no camera for pics.
Since it was only 14h30 when I again returned to the E.P. shelter and that the temps were so warm, the snow and ice now melting off the trees, I therefore decided to bushwhack up the 2 southern bumps of Breadloaf. My exloration was not very gratifying with no good views, being always under tree coverage and no canisters found. My topo map & watch altimeter both convinced me that these bumps were lower than the north-western peak.
Back to the shelter for the 4th time I took a 20 min. rest to eat & rehydrate before heading down. I then noticed in the snow boot tracks different from mine. After all I was not alone on the montain that day. I departed at 16h25 and raced downhill with no stops except for a brief exchange of greetings half way down with 2 hikers on their way out.
Lower down I noticed that the snow had almost completely melted away on this warm sunny spring day with now a few mud spots on the trail. This really worried me since there was mud vehicle tracks almost 1 foot deep on the final dirt road that I had managed to negociate with my minivan by driving between the tracks on the frozen ground. But now the first few inches of ground were surely mud. The more I thought about it the more my stomach was getting upset. So I decided to forget about it and worry later. If things came to worst I could always wait for the ground to freeze again during the night. Was back to my car 1 hr after leaving the shelter and yes I did make it out safely, though my front wheel Honda spinned and swayed dangerously on that mud road. God was that ¼ mile road interminable for my nerves. I hope the 2 other hikers also made it out safely. Over the next few weeks one would be well adviced to park on the road before the last turnoff.
Was back in Montreal by 20h00 very pleased with my marvelous 8 hrs spring day hike in southern Vermont. My car was horribly muddy but no car wash that night. Had to show up at work the following morning as is and face the reprobating questions from my colleagues. But what the hell it was worth it!
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