We had a wonderful weekend trip, doing about 11 miles on our snowshoes with a +/- of around 2k elev. This is a private forest in Southern Vt. that is an experimental farm, that also has extensive trails over 2 mountains, cabins, shelters and dispersed camping, all hike in of at least a mile.

This is a kind of where's Waldo? This wilderness stream had 2' of ice on it most places, but I found this one small open pool- there's 3 wild brook trout in the picture. There was a school of about a dozen- very heartening to see in winter!

This one of the rental cabins- JimmyB, this might be a wonderful spot to hike to in colder months and stay- this old sugar shack has a big woodstove and is rustically beautiful inside and out.

The snow was very high in water content and the 18-24" only packed down about 6". Not a ton of wood available with the open hardwood forest, so we skipped a fire. Next time I'll bring a light aluminum fire pan and a small saw in these conditions. This is the first winter trip in 40 years I broke the 25 lb. pack barrier. It got down to 3 degrees. I slept in an EMS Mountain Light 15, my wife used 2 EMS 30 degree bags together. Neo-air pads w/ emergency blanket underneath us. We both were warm. I wore a fleece jacket, a fleece vest, and my Columbia Omni-Heat bomber.

It was incredible to see a normally shy critter, a Pine Marten, sunning itself out in an upper farm field. Last time I saw one, it was in Jasper NP in Alberta.

Looking towards the Tongue Mt. range of the Adirondacks

Looking across the Taconics and Greens in Vt.

Nancy with her favorite Merino sweaters she knitted. If I didn't sweat so much and have to control ventilation constantly, I'd wear them, too. We've gotten out a bunch this winter, and we'll maybe get in one more trip before leaving for the Grand Canyon 3/31. Thanks for looking, kind of a tame trip, but beautiful to us.

Bluefish, nice report. Especially the Marten sighting. We love to see the critter pics. Those Martins are neat little animals. We have only seen a couple in our travels. Many years ago we awoke to a Martin jumping across our tent sight in the High Peaks of the Adirondacks in the twilight of morning and again a few years ago in the Rockies. Spring may at last be at hand here and the temps are getting more appealing for us to kick off the season. Looks like you had a nice trip. I visited the forest web sight and it looks like a nice weekend loop could be put together. Any suggestions on which trails offer the best hiking?

Thanks for thinking of us. Very much appreciated,
jimmyb

Jimmy, Masters Mountain Trail is a pretty hike up lots of switchbacks through nice mature hardwood with filtered mountain views that gains almost 1600' if you take it to Mt. Antone. It's a bit overgrown as it's rarely used. We also like Lookout Road (where our campsite was this trip). You can enter at the visitor center or at the South Gate and access most of the trails from Old Town Rd. The Glen is a horse camp that has a neat structure with a large outdoor fireplace, above it in a pretty meadow are 2 lean to shelters. If you can go during the week, it should be empty. We saw 3 people this weekend, though there was probably people renting some of the cabins. Dispersed camping is 5 bucks a night. The area from Dunc's camp down to the South Gate should be avoided in black fly season unless you have head nets. It's one of the most brutal areas I've ever encountered. From Mt. Antone as you look east, you're looking over at Peru and Baker peaks and out towards White Rocks on the LT/AT, an area I'm sure you've hiked. It's worth taking a look at the farm: draft horses, prize sheep,a giant sugaring operation silviculture projects, all in all a neat place. We live close- everyone in our area loves Merck. Not as many bears as Greylock, and no Money Brook Falls, but it has some charm of its own. Lots of Owls! I've spent many nights there, and never had a night where I didn't thrill to the sound of Barns, Screeches, and Great Horneds. If I can help your hike in any way, just ask.


Charlie