Gorham Lodge Relocation Scouting Hike # 4

Location Bamforth Ridge
Leader John Buddington
Date 29 Decemeber 2001
Event Scouting Hike
Participants 3 Duncan W, Dave H, John B

This hike continued the exploration of sites along the proposed Route G Long Trail South-of-the-Winooski relocation. We intended to compare the Big Boulder site found on 19 December with the G-4240 site we failed to find on that trip.

Eric S was scheduled to lead the hike but could not attend. Duncan provided maps of the wetlands, endangered wildlife, topographic maps, and aerial photographs. (None of the sites we are investigating are within these areas.) We carried snowshoes but did not use them.

We met at the Middlesex exit of I-89 at 7:30 and arrived at the Long Trail parking area on River Road at 8:00. When we started it was about 20 degrees and cloudy and a moderate west wind.. Towards noon the skies cleared but the temperature did not rise out of the 20's. There was about 6 inches of snow at the trailhead and about a foot on the east side of Bamforth Ridge.

We hiked the Long Trail on well-packed snow and arrived Duxbury Window at 9:15. We continued on the LT to “Eric’s Slot,” arriving there at 10:10, and investigated the Big Boulder site.

At mile 2.1, we placed a red band on a tree in Eric’s Slot. This location is marked by a left bend around a vernal pool, a 180-degree change of direction, and 3 rock steps up a short rise. This is the first dip in the hardwoods beyond Spruce Knob, the usual end of maintenance walk-throughs. (We placed another red band about 200 feet (125 paces) south where a spur trail could be located.

We turned left (east) from the LT and paralleled a brook which quickly forms for 450 feet (300 paces). To the north is the brook and a 25-foot cliff. To the south is an iced-over cliff. At this point we placed another red band and headed up a short rise, past a small brook (no water), to a flat area with large boulders. This appeared to be a possible leanto site. We triple-blazed a tree with red flagging tape here.

Returning to the brook, we followed it down and inadvertently passed the Big Boulder–which wasn’t so big when viewed from the uphill side. Big Boulder is 250 paces from the ice-cliff and 550 paces (800 feet) from the LT. We placed a red flag on the uphill side of the Big Boulder.

Because the boulder isn't so big and the ridge to the south is a possible site, I'm going to call this site  Boulder Ridge. Duncan took some photographs with a digital camera, which are on the Boulder Ridge Summary page.

From Big Boulder, Dave hiked south 100 yards or so through a gap in the ledge paralleling the brook and worked his way back to the first location. Duncan and he followed this ridge back to the LT.

This site is relatively flat with large boulders. It is wooded with yellow and white birch with a moderate understory. Spruce is beginning to make inroads. In winter, the Worcester Range is visible through the trees to the northeast. There may not be sufficient flat area for a full-scale lodge.

A possible site configuration: leave the LT at the second flag and go slightly uphill through hardwoods for 400-500 feet. Continue on the ridge past a leanto site. Privy site towards the right. Continue on to tent platform sites. Drop through a small gap to Big Boulder and the water source. The site is not visible from the LT.

At 12:00 we continued south to the junction with Route G. We followed Route G to the point where the 19 December hike had lost the markings. Dave inferred that the last 3 flags placed on a scouting hike by Smith E several years ago. These flags are well-faded and now are no more than bands around the branches.

From the 90-degree drop, we followed a gulley to the right, through a small dip and out on to a ledge where Dave had eaten lunch with Greg W earlier this year. The route at this point turns to the south and follows a series of deep gullies. From the lunch spot, the right gully is impassable. We backtracked a bit to the left the proceeded down the left gully. (If we continued to the left we would have been on top of a 200-foot cliff.) We headed down this gully and encountered lime green flagging tape, which we followed to G-4240.

Route G turns east at the bottom of the gully, follows the base of the cliff, and heads north. At this point there is a bowl about 100 yards across. A stream flows to the east. The bowl is dominated by cliffs to the north and west. Yellow birch and some small beech grown here. It is likely, however, that the bowl becomes a vernal pool and could remain wet through the summer.

At 2:00 we left G-4240 and followed the Route G’s flags. This route is easily followed. The junction with alternate routes is marked by triple-bands. The route to Duxbury Window is marked with orange; we followed blue flags (right) out to River Road. We arrived at River Road at a triple-banded tree at 3:40. We followed River Road for 2.0 miles west and arrived at the parking area at 4:20.

Observations and recommendations

Effort: 2 people, 9.0 hours each (including travel); total: 18.0 hours; not included: GMC staff time.