Gorham Lodge Relocation Scouting Hike # 3

This hike explored a possible site for the replacement to Gorham Lodge. The site was identified by Greg W of GMC in December 2000 as 4240 feet from the Long Trail on Route G. His description:

Possible overnight site. Stream continues straight (east). Cliff bends to the north. 
Flat wet area opens up to front. Turn left.

The day was cloudy and in the 30's. There were moderate breezes in the morning, which abated during the day. About 6 inches of wet (but not slushy) snow were on the ground. We brought snowshoes but did not use them.

We started from the Long Trail parking area on River Road at 9:15. We arrived at Duxbury Window at 10:30 and the beginning of Route G at 11:45.

This spot has been identified by Eric S as "that narrow stone cleft that we always talk about fixing." It is 2.9 miles from River Road at an elevation of 2065 feet. The Long Trail continues with a steep climb to a knob. This spot is the next slot south of Eric’s Slot, described below. Route G’s start is marked by a triple-blue-banded tree about 25 yards east of the trail. This tree is not always visible as one walks north on the LT. Stand about 25 yards before of the beginning of the climb. About 5 yards from the trail is a 2.5-foot-diameter scarred yellow birch. There is a northbound white blaze. The triple-flagged tree is visible on the left (east) from this point.

For convenience, Greg's designations as distances from the LT in feet will be referred to as "G-[feet]." We started at G-0.

We followed Route G for perhaps 200 yards. The trail bends slightly to the right and passes by a rock with a 2-foot overhang. The route is marked by red and blue flagging tape. At one point the flags are obscured; they are especially difficult to find in the opposite direction. We were always within sight of a flag.

We crossed a small brook and stopped at a yellow flag which had been placed on the 12 November scouting hike.

Route G, marked with many blue and red flags, appeared to end in about 100 yards. As we were to discover, the route continues. The apparent end is at a blue flag on a large rock. The next flag is obscured by trees but no more than 25 yards away. Look slightly to the right.

We followed the yellow flags for about 100 yards, keeping the stream to the right. For the next 100 yards, the flags continue through thick spruce. Flags are not always visible, but are spaced no more than 20 yards apart. We emerged on top of a cliff and ate lunch. We had a 180-degree view from Mount Mansfield to Camels Hump (in clouds).

We followed the yellow flags along the cliff top and down a ravine to the yellow-banded tree at the junction with Route G. This point is about G-1200 from the LT. Route G is amply flagged in this area. We turned left and discovered that this segment of Route G connected to the segment beginning at the LT. Route G and the Yellow alternate are about the same length; the former is an easy hike; the latter offers memorable views but some bushwacking and a steep ravine.

We followed Greg’s description of Route G until G-2930. The first section, through dense spruce to G-1643, was flagged at 10-yard intervals. (This was the section where the leader had lost the trail on an earlier hike.) From G-1643 to G-2572 the trail follows the bare ledge and is irregularly flagged. Between G-1843 and G-1896, the trail dips into a ravine. The flags here are difficult to spot. A larger ravine at G-2572 is again flagged, but not obviously. Standing above the ravine, we had a magnificent view of the Worcester Range. We continued following sparse flags until G-2930, where no more flags were visible.

At this point we continued the heading at the base of the 90-degree slope referred to as G-2798. (In retrospect, it appears that Route G had turned downhill at this point. We had found one or two flags belonging to the spur trail.) We spread out looking for the fall line features described in the next 800 feet. We descended through difficult terrain and shortly came to a slope with hardwoods. We spread out to sweep an area about 200 yards wide and descended to a small brook which appeared to match the description at G-3809.

We were fairly certain that we had lost Route G, but didn’t know whether it was to our right or left. The left looked even steeper and less hospitable than the slope we followed. The left might afford a side-hill path under the cliffs. Since the directions told us to turn left, follow stream and right, cliffs on right, and the terrain had a stream and cliffs, we did so. We followed the stream uphill (left) for a short way, explored an alternate configuration downhill, proceeded perhaps several hundred feet, where another valley sloped downhill, and found a possible tenting site.

The site was located on the topographic map at about 44 degrees, 21.058 North, 72 degrees, 51.682 West. It is located in a eastern-facing bowl. There are no views. Interesting cliffs rise on the south; lesser cliffs on the north. A brook runs in the middle. There is a garage-size boulder in the middle. The spot is virtually level, about 100 yards by 50 yards, depending on how much slope is tolerable. (Photos will be posted later.) It appears that the brook flows east-north-east, then turns to a west-north-west bearing and enters the Winooski north of Duxbury Window (check your topographic maps).

The soil supports hardwoods; no spruce is evident. The overstory is mature yellow birch. The understory, quite thin at present, is hobblebush and beech.

We arrived at the site about 2:30

At this point, we anticipated hiking back down the valley to where we first encountered the stream, then follow the stream out, perhaps to the Camels Hump Road. If we were fortunate, we would find the original trail but then have to follow flags 1.5 miles to River Road in the dusk, and a 1.3-mile road walk back to the trail head.

Instead, we continued up the valley 1000 feet (as paced) and encountered the Long Trail at Eric’s Slot.

Eric’s Slot, is the site of a trail adjustment that Eric S did about 5 years ago. The trail once went across a 20-yard mire. This is replaced by a u-shaped turn. Approaching the Slot from the north, the trail sidehills to the east, takes a quick bend across "height-of-land," then climbs 3 rock steps. It is 2.1 miles from River Road and is the first slot south of Spruce Knob, the usual end of spring and fall work hikes.

At 3:05 we hiked north on the Long Trail, arriving at River Road at 4:55. Although it was getting dark, headlamps were not necessary.

Observations and recommendations

• The site is not likely the G-4240 site. That site should also be explored, approached via Route G or the route we used to return to the LT (the "Eric's Slot" route).
• The Eric's Slot route should be considered for the Long Trail-South relocation. The first 1000 feet from the LT starts as a narrow slot, then broadens out. The descent is moderate (200 feet in 1000) and there is sufficient width to build a trail away from the brook. The area below the site is wider yet and filled with hardwoods. We didn't explore the last 1000-1500 feet to where we thought Route G was located. Greg may have found insurmountable obstacles.
• The site is a desirable distance from the LT (0.2 miles) using the current route, Route A, and Route B, and is likewise close to Route G.
• We did not examine the site other than for the existence of flat ground and water. At this stage, the site is merely a possibility.

Effort: 3 people, 9.25 hours each (including travel); total: 27.75 hours.