bryan
New member
date: 6/14/14
trails: jeep road, bushwhack, woods roads
conditions: parked in the typical spot for dorset mountain off of tower road in dorset hollow. trying to drive any farther up the jeep road at this point is pretty pointless. the road was in decent shape with a well worn bypass of the section washed out by irene a couple years back. i was looking for a road shown on the usgs heading up into the south facing drainage of west dorset, but not being sure of where to pick it up i ended up walking a bit past the old camp and decided to just start bushwhacking crossing over a ridge and into the drainage. woods were nice and open, but wet and a bit slippery. i eventually found an old road that was likely the extension of the one i had been looking for and i followed it until it turned well off course. i then crossed the nearby brook to the west and headed in a direct line for the summit as the woods became relentlessly steep and extra special steep in a few spots. still nice and open though. reaching the broad flat plateau i continued along in beautiful woods up to the recognized highpoint. my initial plan was to turn east and head over to the upper jeep road, but i felt compelled to go over the other 3500 contour to the southwest. more great woods. continuing down the southwest ridge i picked up a nice old atv trail that eventually turned west and i continued back down into drainage to the southeast crossing many old woods/logging roads before hitting a distinct old road that came up just below the old cabin on the main jeep road confirming this was the road i had wanted on the way up. water crossings were not an issue.
equipment: nothing in particular.
comments: real great hike/bushwhack. it ultimately may have been easier and faster to go in and out from the saddle between the west and main peaks on the jeep road, but this route proved to be pretty interesting with endless nice woods. the map contours don't lie as some of the woods were impressively steep. found one limited north view just east of the highpoint. also jumped a deer up on the summit ridge. a fair amount of moose and bear sign along the way too. nice morning.
bryan
[email protected]
trails: jeep road, bushwhack, woods roads
conditions: parked in the typical spot for dorset mountain off of tower road in dorset hollow. trying to drive any farther up the jeep road at this point is pretty pointless. the road was in decent shape with a well worn bypass of the section washed out by irene a couple years back. i was looking for a road shown on the usgs heading up into the south facing drainage of west dorset, but not being sure of where to pick it up i ended up walking a bit past the old camp and decided to just start bushwhacking crossing over a ridge and into the drainage. woods were nice and open, but wet and a bit slippery. i eventually found an old road that was likely the extension of the one i had been looking for and i followed it until it turned well off course. i then crossed the nearby brook to the west and headed in a direct line for the summit as the woods became relentlessly steep and extra special steep in a few spots. still nice and open though. reaching the broad flat plateau i continued along in beautiful woods up to the recognized highpoint. my initial plan was to turn east and head over to the upper jeep road, but i felt compelled to go over the other 3500 contour to the southwest. more great woods. continuing down the southwest ridge i picked up a nice old atv trail that eventually turned west and i continued back down into drainage to the southeast crossing many old woods/logging roads before hitting a distinct old road that came up just below the old cabin on the main jeep road confirming this was the road i had wanted on the way up. water crossings were not an issue.
equipment: nothing in particular.
comments: real great hike/bushwhack. it ultimately may have been easier and faster to go in and out from the saddle between the west and main peaks on the jeep road, but this route proved to be pretty interesting with endless nice woods. the map contours don't lie as some of the woods were impressively steep. found one limited north view just east of the highpoint. also jumped a deer up on the summit ridge. a fair amount of moose and bear sign along the way too. nice morning.
bryan
[email protected]
