Ascutney Mountain Letterbox LbNA #21355 (ARCHIVED)
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Add Location| Owner: | NH Puma  |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Apr 9, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Weathersfield |
| County: | Windsor |
| State: | Vermont |
| Boxes: | 1 |
| Found by: | Hiking Vikings |
|---|---|
| Last found: | Jun 21, 2013 |
| Status: | FFFaFr |
| Last edited: | Apr 9, 2006 |
About the Area:
Mount Ascutney, (elevation, 3144ft). Though not the highest peak in Windsor County, Vermont (that honor falling to Gillespie Peak to the west), Mount Ascutney is the state's only monadnock, or lone mountain. Particularly noteworthy about the mountain is its granite outcrops, one of which, at its peak, serves as a launching point for hang-gliders. The mountain is very steep, and its trails, traverse a Vermont state forest.
T he mountain's base straddles several villages- Ascutney, Brownsville, Windsor, and West Windsor - and it is located only several miles off of exit 8 on Interstate-91. The Mountain itself is visible from seventy miles away atop Mount Washington.
Warnings:
We Went on April 9 and climb the last part was difficult do to the trail being all ice.
We got there around 9am by the time we left around 3pm the parking lot was overflowing with cars.
Bring at least water and good foot wear, it’s a real hike.
Directions:
Trailhead is 3.3 miles from Rte. 91, and they're right on the money. Turn right on Cascade Falls Rd., and go .3 miles, bearing left at a fork. You'll see a turn off just before the road ends.
The Hike:
Weathersfield Trail
This hike is more challenging then it may first appear. It is 2.9 miles to the peak with 2,100 feet of elevation gain.
The trail starts at the wooden steps of the parking lot. At .4 miles the trail crosses Little Cascade falls. After crossing the falls switchbacks lead up to where the trail cross a stream that exits threw a flume like gorge. Granit and wooden steps carry you 40 feet up out of the cleft to open ledges with the first good views.
After passing many good look out the trail drops sharply to Cascade falls at 1.2 miles. There are dangerous eroded paths that descend to view the falls if you so wish.
The trail turns right, north east, staying east of the brook. You’ll catch a glimpse of West peak and transmission towers before descending to cross “Half-way Brooks”. The last long steady climb up eases and levels off before coming to a junction with Gus’s Lookout side trail. To find the box you want to go to Gus’s Lookout.
The Clues:
Find your way to Gus’s Lookout. You will want to approach the lookout like you have just come up Weathersfield trail. As you walk up the trail from the trail split from Weatherfield trail toward the Lookout stop before you get to the exposed rock of the viewing area. There should be a small evergreen with a white paint marker on it on your right. Stand beside the tree and look directly left threw the trees to the rocks. Walk to the rocks and explore the cracks in the rocks. Make sure you don’t stray from the direct left you saw from the tree, there is no need to climb the rocks.
Hope you enjoyed your hike,
Re-Hide The Box Well !! :)
Mount Ascutney, (elevation, 3144ft). Though not the highest peak in Windsor County, Vermont (that honor falling to Gillespie Peak to the west), Mount Ascutney is the state's only monadnock, or lone mountain. Particularly noteworthy about the mountain is its granite outcrops, one of which, at its peak, serves as a launching point for hang-gliders. The mountain is very steep, and its trails, traverse a Vermont state forest.
T he mountain's base straddles several villages- Ascutney, Brownsville, Windsor, and West Windsor - and it is located only several miles off of exit 8 on Interstate-91. The Mountain itself is visible from seventy miles away atop Mount Washington.
Warnings:
We Went on April 9 and climb the last part was difficult do to the trail being all ice.
We got there around 9am by the time we left around 3pm the parking lot was overflowing with cars.
Bring at least water and good foot wear, it’s a real hike.
Directions:
Trailhead is 3.3 miles from Rte. 91, and they're right on the money. Turn right on Cascade Falls Rd., and go .3 miles, bearing left at a fork. You'll see a turn off just before the road ends.
The Hike:
Weathersfield Trail
This hike is more challenging then it may first appear. It is 2.9 miles to the peak with 2,100 feet of elevation gain.
The trail starts at the wooden steps of the parking lot. At .4 miles the trail crosses Little Cascade falls. After crossing the falls switchbacks lead up to where the trail cross a stream that exits threw a flume like gorge. Granit and wooden steps carry you 40 feet up out of the cleft to open ledges with the first good views.
After passing many good look out the trail drops sharply to Cascade falls at 1.2 miles. There are dangerous eroded paths that descend to view the falls if you so wish.
The trail turns right, north east, staying east of the brook. You’ll catch a glimpse of West peak and transmission towers before descending to cross “Half-way Brooks”. The last long steady climb up eases and levels off before coming to a junction with Gus’s Lookout side trail. To find the box you want to go to Gus’s Lookout.
The Clues:
Find your way to Gus’s Lookout. You will want to approach the lookout like you have just come up Weathersfield trail. As you walk up the trail from the trail split from Weatherfield trail toward the Lookout stop before you get to the exposed rock of the viewing area. There should be a small evergreen with a white paint marker on it on your right. Stand beside the tree and look directly left threw the trees to the rocks. Walk to the rocks and explore the cracks in the rocks. Make sure you don’t stray from the direct left you saw from the tree, there is no need to climb the rocks.
Hope you enjoyed your hike,
Re-Hide The Box Well !! :)