Damselfly
Active member
With my husband, Steve, our dog, Skipper, and friends Karen and Ken Robichaud, we headed to Vermont for Columbus weekend with plans to hike four peaks for my NEHH finish.
Hotel rates for Columbus weekend were jacked up everywhere I called, so we opted for staying two nights at Emerald Lake Campground (north of Manchester / south of Rutland). We had a huge lean-to which protected us from the rain and hot (coin op) showers.
On Saturday, driving over from NH, we elected to first hike Mendon. We mistakingly accessed Wheelerville Road from the south; a bridge was out that cost us an extra mile of walking each way. No matter... we had all day. From Bucklin Corner, we followed the logging road just past the gate as described in many other trip reports. There were four water crossings.. a couple of them were high, but all were rock hoppable. Following the logging road around to the NE slope of Mendon allowed us to gain most of our elevation along a logging road. At about 3400', at the second rock cairn, with most of the hard climbing done, we took a compass bearing for the summit. We passed through open and easy woods, intersecting with a herd path that took us to the summit (#97). (Thanks to Bryan Cuddiehee for his trip report.) Once on the top, it started to rain. Although we had contemplated a different route and longer bushwhack out, with it now raining, we elected to retrace our steps out via the logging road. By the time was got back down, we were all pretty much soaked. (With our extra 2 miles of road walk, we hiked about 10 miles, 5 3/4 hours, 2500' gain.)
Staff at the campground directed us to the laundermat in Manchester, where we spent the best $.75 we had ever spent on 15 minutes of dryer time! We ate out at the Double Hex - which we all recommend.
Sunday would be a two-fer: Dorset and Equinox. We started with Dorset, easily reached via Rt. 7, to Morse Hill Road, to Dorset Hollow Road, to Lower Hollow Road. At about 4.1 miles the well packed gravel road turns into a muddy forest road, and it's time to park. We elected for the standard loop up to its south peak, then main peak proper. As we progressed up the road, a portion was washed out by hurricane Irene; we followed via the herd path on the left. While there are several off-shooting logging roads, the main road proceeds directly and straight up a steep ravine to a HOL at about 2980'. (This is well marked on maps.) As the maps show, turn right and follow an ATV trail along a flat grade. At .3 mile, turn right at the fork. Continue on this ATV trail, which climbs steeply for about .4 mile. Look for a well-worn footpath that climbs .15 mi. up to Dorset's south peak. The metal skeletal remains of a fire tower confirm you're on the south peak. We followed the trail NE towards the main peak. It was an easy 15 minute hike. You'll pass a junction of ATV / snomo trails, but ignore them and walk straight to the main peak... (it will make sense when you're on the ground). We arrived at the main / proper peak (#98) and checked out a few artifacts from the old ranger cabin(?). We continued NE off Dorset, and hiked an extra 5 minutes over to its north peak, which is really no more than a tiny bump. To complete the loop (minus the north bump), hike .2 mi. NE off of Dorset, and in a small col, at the "triangle" intersection, turn left. Hike this ATV trail until you complete the loop. This hike makes a lot more sense on the ground than reading about it! (About 7 miles, 4 hours, 2600' gain).
We ate lunch as we drove south to hike Equinox. We headed for the parking lot at the upper end of West Union St. off of Semiary Ave. The lot was full, but there was room along the road for quite a few cars. This hike was straight forward but it surprised us by how un-relentingly steep it was. We followed the well marked blue trail, or "Summit Trail." For its first half, to about 2400', the trail is "road wide." Above this spot, it becomes a single track, root and rocky NE-type trail. Once on the summit (#99), we took a few minutes to take in some of the historical displays in the summit building. We then headed over to Lookout Rock. It was cool and cloudy, but we had really nice views down to the valley and Manchester. From here, we followed the "Yellow Trail" until it brought us back to the blue trail. The descent was steep... but it passed. (about 5+ miles, 4 hours, 2870' gain)
After two hikes we were hungry. We elected for wood-fired pizza at a place just prior to downtown Manchester. Very nice pies.
It poured buckets Sunday night... but it was dry inside our lean-to. When we woke Monday morning, we decided to skip the oatmeal and head to Denny's!!
After a good breakfast in Rutland, it was off to Pico. We parked at the gravel parking lot at the height of land in Sherburne Pass. We followed the well-marked blue trail, or Sherburne Pass Trail to the summit. From all the rain the night prior, the trail was very wet, slippery and muddy. And as we gained elevation, there was wet snow covering the ground! Despite the wet ground, the trail climbed at a nice moderate grade. At about 3500', the trail contours around to the Pico Cabin shelter. It seemed like an awful waste of mileage before beginning the final climb to Pico, so we agreed to skip this section on the way down. From the cabin it was a steep and quick .4 to the summit. At the top there was wet snow and lots of mud from the tracks of Pico maintenance vehicles. It took a minute to figure out where the actual summit was. We had to climb the stairs of the "information building," pass through a side porch, and walk a few yards past it to a small bump. On the bump is a rock with a blue square... the summit... (#100). It was a little anticlimatic finishing the NEHH on a peak with so many out buildings, but the juxtaposition of a thin blanket of snow with the fall colors in the valley made up for it. We descended via a slippery path down the ski trail, re-entering the woods at about 3500'. (about 5.5 miles, 3 1/4 hours, 1815' gain)
On the way home, we treated ourselves to lunch and brew at the Longtrail brewery... and contemplated new adventures!
Completing the NEHH was not done without the support and company of Steve, as well as many friends along the way... and to all of you I whole-heartedly thank you.
Peace... and may there be many, many more hikes to come.
Beth Zimmer
btzimr at gmail dot com
Hotel rates for Columbus weekend were jacked up everywhere I called, so we opted for staying two nights at Emerald Lake Campground (north of Manchester / south of Rutland). We had a huge lean-to which protected us from the rain and hot (coin op) showers.
On Saturday, driving over from NH, we elected to first hike Mendon. We mistakingly accessed Wheelerville Road from the south; a bridge was out that cost us an extra mile of walking each way. No matter... we had all day. From Bucklin Corner, we followed the logging road just past the gate as described in many other trip reports. There were four water crossings.. a couple of them were high, but all were rock hoppable. Following the logging road around to the NE slope of Mendon allowed us to gain most of our elevation along a logging road. At about 3400', at the second rock cairn, with most of the hard climbing done, we took a compass bearing for the summit. We passed through open and easy woods, intersecting with a herd path that took us to the summit (#97). (Thanks to Bryan Cuddiehee for his trip report.) Once on the top, it started to rain. Although we had contemplated a different route and longer bushwhack out, with it now raining, we elected to retrace our steps out via the logging road. By the time was got back down, we were all pretty much soaked. (With our extra 2 miles of road walk, we hiked about 10 miles, 5 3/4 hours, 2500' gain.)
Staff at the campground directed us to the laundermat in Manchester, where we spent the best $.75 we had ever spent on 15 minutes of dryer time! We ate out at the Double Hex - which we all recommend.
Sunday would be a two-fer: Dorset and Equinox. We started with Dorset, easily reached via Rt. 7, to Morse Hill Road, to Dorset Hollow Road, to Lower Hollow Road. At about 4.1 miles the well packed gravel road turns into a muddy forest road, and it's time to park. We elected for the standard loop up to its south peak, then main peak proper. As we progressed up the road, a portion was washed out by hurricane Irene; we followed via the herd path on the left. While there are several off-shooting logging roads, the main road proceeds directly and straight up a steep ravine to a HOL at about 2980'. (This is well marked on maps.) As the maps show, turn right and follow an ATV trail along a flat grade. At .3 mile, turn right at the fork. Continue on this ATV trail, which climbs steeply for about .4 mile. Look for a well-worn footpath that climbs .15 mi. up to Dorset's south peak. The metal skeletal remains of a fire tower confirm you're on the south peak. We followed the trail NE towards the main peak. It was an easy 15 minute hike. You'll pass a junction of ATV / snomo trails, but ignore them and walk straight to the main peak... (it will make sense when you're on the ground). We arrived at the main / proper peak (#98) and checked out a few artifacts from the old ranger cabin(?). We continued NE off Dorset, and hiked an extra 5 minutes over to its north peak, which is really no more than a tiny bump. To complete the loop (minus the north bump), hike .2 mi. NE off of Dorset, and in a small col, at the "triangle" intersection, turn left. Hike this ATV trail until you complete the loop. This hike makes a lot more sense on the ground than reading about it! (About 7 miles, 4 hours, 2600' gain).
We ate lunch as we drove south to hike Equinox. We headed for the parking lot at the upper end of West Union St. off of Semiary Ave. The lot was full, but there was room along the road for quite a few cars. This hike was straight forward but it surprised us by how un-relentingly steep it was. We followed the well marked blue trail, or "Summit Trail." For its first half, to about 2400', the trail is "road wide." Above this spot, it becomes a single track, root and rocky NE-type trail. Once on the summit (#99), we took a few minutes to take in some of the historical displays in the summit building. We then headed over to Lookout Rock. It was cool and cloudy, but we had really nice views down to the valley and Manchester. From here, we followed the "Yellow Trail" until it brought us back to the blue trail. The descent was steep... but it passed. (about 5+ miles, 4 hours, 2870' gain)
After two hikes we were hungry. We elected for wood-fired pizza at a place just prior to downtown Manchester. Very nice pies.
It poured buckets Sunday night... but it was dry inside our lean-to. When we woke Monday morning, we decided to skip the oatmeal and head to Denny's!!
After a good breakfast in Rutland, it was off to Pico. We parked at the gravel parking lot at the height of land in Sherburne Pass. We followed the well-marked blue trail, or Sherburne Pass Trail to the summit. From all the rain the night prior, the trail was very wet, slippery and muddy. And as we gained elevation, there was wet snow covering the ground! Despite the wet ground, the trail climbed at a nice moderate grade. At about 3500', the trail contours around to the Pico Cabin shelter. It seemed like an awful waste of mileage before beginning the final climb to Pico, so we agreed to skip this section on the way down. From the cabin it was a steep and quick .4 to the summit. At the top there was wet snow and lots of mud from the tracks of Pico maintenance vehicles. It took a minute to figure out where the actual summit was. We had to climb the stairs of the "information building," pass through a side porch, and walk a few yards past it to a small bump. On the bump is a rock with a blue square... the summit... (#100). It was a little anticlimatic finishing the NEHH on a peak with so many out buildings, but the juxtaposition of a thin blanket of snow with the fall colors in the valley made up for it. We descended via a slippery path down the ski trail, re-entering the woods at about 3500'. (about 5.5 miles, 3 1/4 hours, 1815' gain)
On the way home, we treated ourselves to lunch and brew at the Longtrail brewery... and contemplated new adventures!
Completing the NEHH was not done without the support and company of Steve, as well as many friends along the way... and to all of you I whole-heartedly thank you.
Peace... and may there be many, many more hikes to come.
Beth Zimmer
btzimr at gmail dot com
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