Out-Doors
by Elizabeth Bassett

Seasonal Ideas

Leave the bug spray behind. Pack a wooly hat and mittens. Autumn hiking can be the best of the year.
When my children were young, we often spent an October day at Mount Independence. The drive to Orwell, through orchard and farm country, is beautiful. Pick apples, buy some cider, bring a picnic, and take a walk through history.
In anticipation of a British attack on Lake Champlain, soldiers built a massive fort on the Mount during the summer of 1776. The community of 12,000 soldiers and their families rivaled Boston in size. The battle never occurred but remnants of domestic and military life constitute one of the least-disturbed archaeological sites of the American Revolution.
The state-of-the-art visitor center closes in mid-October, but six miles of trails, including one that meets outdoor standards for handicapped access, wind through 300 acres of lakeside meadows and woods. The property undulates gently, making it suitable for walking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Trails thread past the site of a hospital, battery, whipping post, fort, gravestones and foundations.
Mount Independence is six miles from Routes 22A and 73 in Orwell.
Meg Smith suggests a day trip to Skylight Pond in the Breadloaf Wilderness. “Skylight Pond is the perfect place for a picnic,” Meg says, “an easy hike with a very nice end point to munch and lunch.” From Route 7 south of Middlebury, follow Route 125 east to USFS (Forest Service) Road 59. Go north 3.6 miles to a primitive campsite on the east side of the forest road and park in the gravel lot. (Road 59 is not plowed in winter beyond Burnt Hill Trail, 1.1 miles from Route 125.) The trail ascends an old logging road, crosses two streams, and reaches the Long Trail at 2.5 miles Follow signage 0.1 mile to Skyline Lodge at Skylight Pond, 2.6 mile.
Trails in the Moosalamoo area of the Green Mountain National Forest (GMNF) suffered flooding last August. Several favorite walks and hikes, the Robert Frost Interpretive, Leicester Hollow and North Branch Trails, are closed because of washouts. In addition, many roads and bridges were damaged and remain closed. A section of the Green Mountain National Forest website lists closings of trails and trailheads, roads, bridges, and culverts. In order to reach trails to Falls of Lana and Rattlesnake Cliffs (just east of Lake Dunmore), one needs to arrive from the south, not the north. If in doubt, call the GMNF in Middlebury at (802) 388-4362.
True hikers take a break only during spring mud season, in deference to fragile trails, not weather. The Green Mountain Club (GMC), steward of Vermont’s Long Trail and its network of side trails, maintains trails and shelters, offers classes and workshops, and organizes hikes and outings. The following list represents only a fraction of volunteer-led hikes from mid-October through December. Check the Green Mountain Club’s website, greenmountainclub.org for a complete inventory of outings (including leaders’ names and contacts), workshops and volunteer opportunities. Members of the GMC receive a quarterly newsletter and schedule.
Elmore Mountain, Saturday, 10/18. Four-mile easy hike with optional clamber up the summit fire tower for views of Jay Peak and Canada.
Bolton Notch Road to Harrington’s View, Sunday, 10/19. Moderate walk at moderate pace along the Long Trail, 6.6 miles and 1600-foot elevation gain.
Noonmark Mountain, Sunday, 10/26. Great 360-degree views of Adirondack High Peaks. Moderate hike with a few steep pitches, 4.2 miles round trip with ascent of 2175 feet.
Lake Mansfield via Nebraska Notch, Saturday, 11/8. Easy to moderate 7-mile hike, less than 700-foot elevation gain.
Camels Hump via Monroe Trail (Dogs welcome), Saturday, 11/15. Moderate 6.8-mile hike with 1800-foot ascent.
Full Moon Hike to Butler Lodge, Saturday, 12/13. Moderate hike (or snowshoe) from Stevensville Road, 4 miles at moderate pace, under a full moon – with any luck!
LaPlatte River Snowshoe Walk, Saturday, 12/20. Walk on water (frozen) up the LaPlatte River to cars staged at Route 7 crossing. Three easy miles. If no ice, walk to the lake at Shelburne Farms.
Snowshoe Mt. Ethan Allen (Dogs welcome). Less crowded than its neighbor Camel’s Hump, this summit offers great views, moderate ascent via Forest City and Long Trails. Round trip 6.4 miles, approximately 4 ½ hours.
GMC workshops and classes include wilderness medicine, conservation training, natural resource protection and stewardship skills, map and compass/GPS, outdoor leadership, and “Leave no Trace” skills. Full payment is required to register: (802) 244-7037 or gmc@greenmountainclub.org.

Think snow
Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are among the least expensive, most accessible and healthiest forms of winter exercise. Both are low-impact on joints and can be as aerobic as your fitness allows. If you can walk, you can snowshoe. Cross-country skiing requires a bit more balance and technique but can be mastered at nearly any age.
Fall is the time to buy season ski passes at pre-season prices. The closest ski areas to Charlotte are the Nordic centers at Sleepy Hollow in Huntington (skisleepyhollow.com, 434-2283) and Catamount Family Center (catamountoutdoorcenter.com, 879-6001), both a 30-minute or less drive from town. An adult season pass at Sleepy Hollow, postmarked by October 31, costs $145. (Catamount had not returned calls by deadline.) In recent years I have hedged my bets by purchasing, at spring pre-pre-season prices, a cross-country pass at Bolton Valley. The elevation of Bolton’s base is higher than any Nordic center in the east, similar to that of the cabin at Trapp Family Lodge. A pre-season pass at Bolton (BoltonValley.com) is $150. Before December 1, a Nordic pass at Trapp’s costs $200. During snow droughts in recent years the base area at Trapp’s has lacked snow. Last year the resort added limited snow making to help skiers get across the sunny meadow into the snowy, wooded hills.

Stay safe
November deer season begins November 15 and continues until November 30. Rifle season is a time to be careful (wear bright orange) and to choose outings with an eye to safety.