| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
East Knox Mountain, Knox Mountain, VT |
|
 | Trails: |
Snowmobile corridor 302, snowmobile corridor 302B, bushwhack |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Monday, February 12, 2024 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
large VAST lot off Rt 302. The bag of trash for last week had been torn apart by wildlife, its contents of cans, eggshells, cig butts are ALL OVER THE PARKING LOT. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Any on groomed trails are bridged, otherwise stepped over, or in the case of a beaver pond - walked across, still solid. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Groomed trails are down to earth in many corners, as slush had been thrashed aside by sleds. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
|
|
 | Bugs: |
Nope |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
Sledders lost plenty of crap out on the trails - I was not even going to begin picking up their trash after carrying trash out last week. |
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
VAST snomo corridors (302, 302B - currently closed to sleds), bushwhack
Snow was in great shape, solid and crusty in many places. Ascended Knox Mtns from the snowmobile trails because I had encountered many reports of Posted property when attempting from the west. I saw 1 Posted sign but it was just off the groomed snomo trail, protecting an old woods road or something.
Opted to slab steeply up East Knox first as side-hilling was really taking a toll on my patience. This was such a great call, encountered a bootleg trail at the summit crest which had sled tracks on it, followed from the recognized summit of East Knox into the East Knox-Knox col, shortly into the descent I emerged from mature spruce-fir into a stunning, frosted tipped birch glade. Nice open woods allowed quick travel through the col and steeply up Knox.
Thankfully the snowpack crust took snowshoe crampon points well, easy to pick steep steps up the open face. Couldn't even begin to guess how much snow remains - perhaps 18-24" in many places beneath that super hard crust.
Followed sled tracks NE to a beaver pond, crossed on sled tracks (figured if the ice held a machine, it can hold me!), from there I entered trailless woods, mixed but primarily northern hardwood. Once on groomed trail, I departed as soon as terrain allowed, opting to trek straight toward my awaiting car instead of a needless arc, adding an extra .5 or whatever. Great day in VT woods! Many reports claim KNOX mountain to be the Number 1 bushwhack of Vermont - if this claim is valid - I personally enjoyed Butterfield 1000x more for many reasons. To each their own.
As per the norm, please find attached a brief write up with accompanying color photography - for those looking for a more in depth bushwhack tale. |
|
 | Name: |
Erik Hamilton |
|
 | E-Mail: |
ehamilton9481@gmail.com |
|
| Date Submitted: |
2024-02-12 |
|
 | Link: |
 https://www.atalkinthewoods.com/trail-reports/knox-mountains |
|
|
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. |
|
