Date Hiked: 6/27/09
Trails Hiked: Weathersfield Trail
Total Distance: 5.8 mi
Difficulty: Moderate
Conditions: Good
Special Required Equipment: none
Trip Report:
had the parameters of a sub-three hour drive from Boston, and nothing east of I-93 in NH due race traffic concerns, so VT it was. Ascutney ended up being a good choice as it was a beautiful day in general.
Made it to the trailhead by about 10:30 with a buddy and two four-legged companions. Superbly maintained trail the entire way up. Cascade falls at mile 1.2 was a very nice vista and provided some cool relief on the way down. The trail itself has some good vertical stretches, but it's never for too long a stretch, thanks to some really well placed switchbacks. Definitely a workout though, and my legs still feel it today.
At the summit, the West Peak was the place to be. Blue skies + distant storm clouds made for a beautiful vista that we enjoyed from the wooden hang gliding deck. Summit proper & lookout tower was a little crowded (a dozen + folks around 1pm), but the west peak, while not a 360 like the tower, was perfect. Also took a side trip over to Brownsville Rock. After an hour or so on/around the summit we headed down.
Would have made great time except for a flare up of tendonitis in my buddy's knee; he basically did the entire descent on one leg. ouch. a few hundred expletives and 3.5 hours later, we were back at the car.
Trails Hiked: Weathersfield Trail
Total Distance: 5.8 mi
Difficulty: Moderate
Conditions: Good
Special Required Equipment: none
Trip Report:
had the parameters of a sub-three hour drive from Boston, and nothing east of I-93 in NH due race traffic concerns, so VT it was. Ascutney ended up being a good choice as it was a beautiful day in general.
Made it to the trailhead by about 10:30 with a buddy and two four-legged companions. Superbly maintained trail the entire way up. Cascade falls at mile 1.2 was a very nice vista and provided some cool relief on the way down. The trail itself has some good vertical stretches, but it's never for too long a stretch, thanks to some really well placed switchbacks. Definitely a workout though, and my legs still feel it today.
At the summit, the West Peak was the place to be. Blue skies + distant storm clouds made for a beautiful vista that we enjoyed from the wooden hang gliding deck. Summit proper & lookout tower was a little crowded (a dozen + folks around 1pm), but the west peak, while not a 360 like the tower, was perfect. Also took a side trip over to Brownsville Rock. After an hour or so on/around the summit we headed down.
Would have made great time except for a flare up of tendonitis in my buddy's knee; he basically did the entire descent on one leg. ouch. a few hundred expletives and 3.5 hours later, we were back at the car.
