The Belvidere Hearth Tower is a particular landmark on the northern half of Vermont’s Lengthy Path, with commanding views of the Inexperienced Mountains to the north and south, together with Jay Peak and Camels Hump. An inactive asbestos strip mine lies on the southwest base of the mountain with towering piles of tailings which may very well be referred to as mountains in their very own proper. Most individuals don’t see them after they climb the hearth tower from the south, however they’re exhausting to overlook in the event you strategy Belvidere Mountain from the west on the aspect trails resulting in the Lengthy Path.
This summer season, I’ve been mountain climbing off the overwhelmed path, engaged on the Inexperienced Mountain Membership’s Lengthy Path side-to-side path record, which traces all of the aspect trails (blue-blazed trails) that result in the Lengthy Path from the east and west. It’s a wonderful method to go to all of the small cities that run from south to north on the west and east sides of the Lengthy Path to get to know the state and its totally different areas. I’m considering a transfer from New Hampshire to Vermont so I will be nearer to trails I haven’t hiked or backpacked earlier than since I’ve hiked the White Mountain Path system in New Hampshire and Western Maine to loss of life. Having accomplished two White Mountain Information Redlines and the 4000 footer Grid, I’m hankering to discover new terrain in Vermont within the close by Adirondacks.
Exploring Vermont this fashion has been thrilling, rekindling the enjoyment I really feel when driving down unmarked grime roads in the course of nowhere to hike on new trails to new locations. Vermont has additionally grown on me with its distinctive mixture of down-home earthiness and sociopolitical sophistication. The state’s mantra is Freedom and Unity, emphasizing camaraderie, coexistence, and joint motion even when individuals disagree. Residents are extraordinarily lively on the native stage, collaborating on the town and state authorities and concerned in a variety of group actions to information and personal outcomes. After dwelling in states the place individuals really feel entitled however aren’t prepared to roll up their shirt sleeves to pitch in, it’s a breath of contemporary air.
With my Delorme Highway Atlas open on the seat subsequent to me and two GPS apps on my cellphone, I discovered the Tilliston Rd trailhead to for the Frank Submit and Forrester Trails on the east aspect of the Lengthy Path. My plan was to hike a loop, following the Frank Submit Path to Tilliston Camp on the Lengthy Path, then mountain climbing south on the Lengthy path to the Belvidere Tower Spur and climbing as much as it for lunch, then looping again to the trailhead through the Forrester’s Path.
Discovering these trailheads is a grand journey in and of itself because the roads resulting in them are seldom signed or paved. Cell service is spotty in rural Vermont, with Google Maps going offline at inopportune moments en route. So it’s with a sure satisfaction once I arrive on the trailheads, even after quite a few n-point activates grime roads, circling nearer and nearer till I attain my closing vacation spot. I benefit from the hunt.
The shared Tilliston Rd trailhead for the Frank Submit and Forester’s Path was a nondescript lot on the finish of a badly eroded grime street. Fortunately, I’ve a Subaru with a 9″ clearance that may deal with such roads with a little bit care. Whereas I’m typically involved about parking my automobile at distant trailheads, this time, I wasn’t that involved since this lot was very obscure. Most individuals who climb Belvidere hike up the Lengthy Path from the south fairly than following the aspect trails.
The Inexperienced Mountain Membership maintains the aspect trails, though the state of upkeep on the aspect trails varies tremendously. Some are well-brushed and well-used, and others are eroded and uncared for. Climate is definitely an element since dangerous flooding has hit Vermont in recent times. However the Inexperienced Mountain Membership is a comparatively small membership with an growing older membership base, making it exhausting to maintain all the paths below their purview in tip-top form. They do an amazing job with their assets, however I do know it’s a continuing battle to maintain up with the annual upkeep of what they’ve, not to mention deal with new initiatives. Nonetheless, they discover a approach.
The Frank Submit Path is a well-shaded and fern-bordered path that climbs as much as the Lengthy Path from the east. It was well-brushed and simple to observe with blue blazes. It meets the Lengthy Path at Tilliston Camp, a closed shelter with a door and wood entrance home windows that may be swung open and down for contemporary air and light-weight, supplied you may have insect safety. Not like the open lean-to’s discovered on the Appalachian Path, these Lengthy Path Camps are fairly nice to sleep in with bunk beds and normally a desk to eat.
After inspecting the camp, I turned south on the Lengthy Path for just a few miles of pointless ups and downs, some mud, and a closely vegetated path. The Lengthy Path is sparsely blazed in white however nonetheless straightforward to observe, though the blazes are sometimes positioned after ambiguous determination factors fairly than earlier than them, which is a little bit annoying. In 2008, once I hiked the Lengthy Path end-to-end, I discovered to show round to seek out the blazes on timber fairly than relying on discovering ones in entrance of me to make sure I used to be nonetheless following the path. I employed that very same tactic on this hike to nice impact.
After mountain climbing south on the Lengthy Path for practically 3 miles, I got here to the hearth tower spur and climbed it to the highest of the mountain earlier than gingerly mountain climbing up it for 360-degree views. It was a transparent day with little forest fireplace smoke, and I may take the sights. Nevertheless it was fairly chilly on high with a stiff breeze, so I got here down with out lingering, content material to sit down on the foot of the tower and luxuriate in my lunch whereas taking within the views.
Fortified, I hiked down the summit spur in quest of the Forester’s Path to take me again to the trailhead. First I hiked south in search of the junction, then north, solely to seek out the signal about calf-height only a few paces north of the Firetower spur. This was regardless of my maps and GPS apps as a result of their decision was to low to simply discern whether or not the path was on the north or south of the spur. I take advantage of the GMC’s Avenza map on my cellphone once I hike the LT or attempt to discover the trailheads, and it’s not detailed sufficient to pinpoint many areas. Though it’s much better than utilizing Gaia GPS on the Lengthy Path and its aspect trails, which is laughably dangerous.
The Forester’s Path was in rougher and wetter form than the Frank Submit Path, however it’s nonetheless not dangerous. It’s steeper on the high however shortly moderates. Mountain climbing this loop counter-clockwise remains to be one of the best route to go in the event you’d prefer to retrace my steps.
This was the primary of three side-to-side journeys on that day, and I used to be quickly on my method to my subsequent trailhead and extra Lengthy Path aspect trails in Vermont’s North Nation.
Route Plan: Belvidere Hearth Tower Loop (day – 8.4 miles)
- Trailhead Parking: Tilliston Rd
- Frank Submit Path 2.2
- Lengthy Path South 2.8
- Belvidere Hearth Tower Spur 0.4
- Forresters Path 2.1
- Frank Submit Path 0.8
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