Solstice hike in Vermont, June 20

[John P]

Wait, isn't the solstice on the 21st? No, not in a leap year!

People from Boston, Connecticut and southern New Hampshire have decided to make a change this year, and have this year's hike in southeastern Vermont, rather than on the Appalachian Trail. It'll most likely be on the Catamount Trail, east of Somerset Reservoir. There may be options to do a one-way walk to Grout Pond, or to go there and back, or to go part-way and then turn around.

Please note that on account of the Covid-19 emergency, social distancing will be expected, and you should bring a mask, though you don't have to wear it all the time while on the trail.

Unfortunately I won't be able to attend this year, but I'll keep this thread updated with information as it gets distributed.

Here's a report on last year's walk:
http://freerangenaturism.com/forum/index.php?topic=1273.0

[John P]

Meeting information:

We'll meet between 9:30 and 10, with the hike starting promptly at 10, at the farthest parking lot on the southern end of Somerset Reservoir.

In past years, there have been campouts the night before the hike, but this year no such groups will be forming. Camping is legal in the National Forest, if anyone wants to do it independently.

From the center of Wilmington, travel about 5.3 miles west on Route 9 to the point where the road leaves the river and starts to climb. At this location, there's a side road on the north side (right) called Somerset Road, initially paved and then a good-quality dirt road, which you take northward to the start of the hike. There are some intersections along the way, but you turn right at all of them. When you get to the dam, pass along its lower edge and continue uphill to the boat launch, then go as far along the road as you can, to the last parking area. Google Maps says the distance from the turnoff at Route 9 is 9.6 miles. Geographic position 42.973, -72.942.

For further information, email Dan at bignoyz.dan at gmail.com .

[wclee13]

Is this still happening tomorrow? Who is attending?

[John P]

It's certainly happening, but there's no list of attendees. Those who show up, are the ones who will be there.

[John P]

This is really a Trip Report, but I'll add it to this thread instead. Report from a participant:


The hike was good.  We started out at 10 a.m. with 15 people.  Len, Dan K, Dan D you would know.  Do you know Rich Keyes, Mike B?  There were two new faces brought by Ben (or was it by Dan D?), and other new faces as well.

Five, including the 3 women,  turned around at the first cove, not sure why.  But then we picked up one guy whom we passed.  He had driven over from eastern NH for a hike.  Turned out he had participated in a Mt Tabor solstice hike in the past, but didn't know that we were moving it to Somerset this year.  He joined on and hiked with us sans clothing.

The weather held until we got to lunch rock.  Then a thunderstorm hit and the skies opened up.  We moved back under the trees.  I was the only one (out of 11 at this point) who had brought rain gear, so I stayed more-or-less dry and everyone else got soaked, but fortunately it was a warm day and a relatively warm rain.  We ate our lunches in the rain and turned back after 25 minutes or so. The rain lasted another 20-30 minutes, but then the sun came out and it was a glorious afternoon on the lake.  Dan D, Dan K and I jumped in the lake for a swim and found it quite comfortably warm.

The total hike was more than 10 miles, according to Rich's device.  Having not hiked since last fall, I was fairly exhausted, and so headed home without ceremony.  Dan, Len, Mike and Roy (yes, another Roy; uses the handle naturistsoaker) headed back down the trail looking for a spot to get in another swim.

Surely the warmest solstice hike in Vermont that I have yet experienced, with temperatures pushing 80.  Unfortunately, the bugs were annoying (mosquitoes and deer flies), so I felt like I had to keep moving at all times.  I have a few itchy bites today.

[freewalkerma]

John, I just incorporated Milt's report into my report posted here moments ago.    Sorry, I forgot that SMF lists everything "upside down" so I did not see your latest post including his report because I expected it to be at the top of the thread, not the bottom.    I'll have to get used to that here unless there is a toggle that I can use to change the display order.     Thanks for putting Milt's report up here.     I hope Kathy is doing well now.    I'll talk to you soon.

-Dan
   

[nuduke]

Dan, I get posts latest first at the top using a setting.
If you go to your account profile, then on the left bar click 'Look and Layout' there is a tick box called 'Show most recent posts at the top'.
Hope that helps
John