Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
| Peaks |
Mendon Peak, Killington Peak, VT |
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| Trails: |
Gated road, backcountry ski trails, bushwhack, Long Trail, Killington Spur, Bucklin Trail |
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| Date of Hike: |
Sunday, March 9, 2014 |
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| Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Wheelerville Road is passable for anyone right now. Pleanty of parking. I know that in muddy conditions they may post 'residents only' on this road. |
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| Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts |
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| Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
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| Water Crossing Notes: |
Some of the snowbridges over the crossings on the way to Mendon are getting very weak. One did start to give out on me. |
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| Trail Maintenance Notes: |
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| Dog-Related Notes: |
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| Bugs: |
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| Lost and Found: |
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| Comments: |
Started out on snowmobile trails (the gated road next to bucklin tr.) Snowmobile tracks stopped as the crossings are not passable for them. Snowshoe/ski tracks continued. This area is a little confusing for me and I did have to turn around and retrace my steps once. I used crossings and trail direction to keep track of my location on the road. I followed the road to where it turns south west and heads up hill. I continued on the road to where it makes a very sharp turn east. At this point I followed a straight compass line to the summit of Mendon. The snow was soft in many places and quite deep. However, there were a few breaks where a good crust was present. I was the first to sign in since November but I know many can’t in sign in winter if it is frozen (I got it open by tapping it with the side of the head of an ice axe. I don’t think I could have opened it otherwise). I followed my tracks back to the road/trail.
From here I intended to follow the road to where is follows the 3600 contour and head for Killington that way. At first I was following tracks, but these soon turned sharp uphill and south and I worried that they headed up to the Mendon little kill. col. So I took the unbroken route which soon faded and I found myself bushwhacking again in very deep snow. Eventually I hit the tracks again, realizing that I should have stayed with them. They took me to the top of the Killington gondola.
Killington spur is doable in snowshoes. Bucklin trail is well broken.
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| Name: |
zporter ColdRiverCampCook |
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| E-Mail: |
zap88@tds.net |
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| Date Submitted: |
2014-03-09 |
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| Link: |
https:// |
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Disclaimer: Reports are not verified - conditions may vary. Use at own risk. Always be prepared when hiking. Observe all signs. Trail conditions reports are not substitutes for weather reports or common sense. |
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