The Belvidere Fireplace 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 might be known as mountains in their very own proper. Most individuals don’t see them once they climb the hearth tower from the south, however they’re arduous 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 climbing off the overwhelmed path, engaged on the Inexperienced Mountain Membership’s Lengthy Path side-to-side path checklist, which traces all of the aspect trails (blue-blazed trails) that result in the Lengthy Path from the east and west. It’s a fabulous approach 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 completely 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 dying. 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 dust 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 residing in states the place individuals really feel entitled however aren’t keen to roll up their shirt sleeves to pitch in, it’s a breath of contemporary air.
With my Delorme Street 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 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 after I arrive on the trailheads, even after quite a few n-point activates dust roads, circling nearer and nearer till I attain my last 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 dust highway. Fortunately, I’ve a Subaru with a 9″ clearance that may deal with such roads with a 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 moderately than following the aspect trails.
The Inexperienced Mountain Membership maintains the aspect trails, though the state of upkeep on the aspect trails varies drastically. Some are well-brushed and well-used, and others are eroded and uncared for. Climate is definitely an element since unhealthy flooding has hit Vermont in recent times. However the Inexperienced Mountain Membership is a comparatively small membership with an growing old membership base, making it arduous to maintain all the paths underneath their purview in tip-top form. They do an amazing job with their sources, however I do know it’s a continuing wrestle to maintain up with the annual upkeep of what they’ve, not to mention sort out new initiatives. Nonetheless, they discover a manner.
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 straightforward to comply with with blue blazes. It meets the Lengthy Path at Tilliston Camp, a closed shelter with a door and picket entrance home windows that may be swung open and down for contemporary air and lightweight, offered you’ve insect safety. In contrast to the open lean-to’s discovered on the Appalachian Path, these Lengthy Path Camps are fairly nice to sleep in with bunk beds and often a desk to eat.
After inspecting the camp, I turned south on the Lengthy Path for a couple of miles of pointless ups and downs, some mud, and a closely vegetated path. The Lengthy Path is sparsely blazed in white however nonetheless simple to comply with, though the blazes are sometimes positioned after ambiguous choice factors moderately than earlier than them, which is a bit annoying. In 2008, after I hiked the Lengthy Path end-to-end, I realized to show round to seek out the blazes on bushes moderately 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 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 climbing up it for 360-degree views. It was a transparent day with little forest hearth smoke, and I may take the sights. Nevertheless it was fairly chilly on prime with a stiff breeze, so I got here down with out lingering, content material to take a seat on the foot of the tower and revel in my lunch whereas taking within the views.
Fortified, I hiked down the summit spur in the hunt for 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 exploit the GMC’s Avenza map on my cellphone after I hike the LT or attempt to discover the trailheads, and it’s not detailed sufficient to pinpoint many places. Though it’s much better than utilizing Gaia GPS on the Lengthy Path and its aspect trails, which is laughably unhealthy.
The Forester’s Path was in rougher and wetter form than the Frank Submit Path, nevertheless it’s nonetheless not unhealthy. It’s steeper on the prime however shortly moderates. Mountaineering this loop counter-clockwise remains to be the perfect 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 approach to my subsequent trailhead and extra Lengthy Path aspect trails in Vermont’s North Nation.
Route Plan: Belvidere Fireplace Tower Loop (day – 8.4 miles)
- Trailhead Parking: Tilliston Rd
- Frank Submit Path 2.2
- Lengthy Path South 2.8
- Belvidere Fireplace Tower Spur 0.4
- Forresters Path 2.1
- Frank Submit Path 0.8
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