Tag Archives: Vermont

Mount Mansfield, Vermont

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Mt. Mansfield is a National Park and is on the Vermont Fragile Areas Registry. It has one of the rare arctic-alpine plant communities. For this reason, it is imperative to stay on the trail, as many of these plants are difficult to distinguish from more common vegetation on the mountain. The rangers can be a resource for learning more about this rare and special area.

The features of this mountain, when viewed from the east, resemble a profile of a man’s head. The distinctive features are the Forehead, Nose, Upper Lip, Lower Lip, Chin and the Adam’s Apple. Many of the guides will reference these features in the description of the trails.

MT Mansfield (4,393 feet) When viewed from the east, the mountain has a profile of a human face, with a forehead, nose, lips, chin and adam’s apple.

There are multiple and varied approaches to the mountain. Depending on your desire and time restrictions, you can find a way to the top that will satisfy your needs. This popular and difficult mountain has a toll road, a gondola, 9 approach trails that link to 15 trails along the summit and those link to 31 trails that branch throughout the Mansfield region and beyond. It is easy to find the hike you want with this many possibilities.

If you approach from Smuggler’s Notch, you will ascend the steepest section of the Long trail. At this point, the trail ascends 3000 vertical feet over 2.3 miles to the top of Mt. Mansfield. This approach, on a clear day, can open up an amazing 360 degree view that can include the Adirondacks of New York, Mt. Washington in New Hampshire, and Lake Champlain in Vermont as well as the Granite Range and many other natural attractions.

The mountain is open year round, and depending on your approach there will be a nominal fee, i.e. the toll road, the gondola and Underhill Campgrounds.

Many resource guides advise that hikers allow one day to ascend to Taft Lodge and finish your ascent to the summit the second day. It is recommended that you leave your heavy backpack at the lodge, as it can be dangerous to carry this weight up the rest of the mountain due to the steep and rocky trails. It is recommended that you take a daypack with food, water and you dress in layers in for the changing weather you can experience.

If you have time in the day left after reaching Taft Lodge, you can take a daypack and explore the Adam’s Apple, the Chin or the Lake of Clouds.

Vermont Ski Vacations

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The state’s most renowned alpine ski areas are Stowe, Killington, Mad River Glen and Mount Snow. Among these, Stowe offers traditional New England charm and the biggest vertical drop in the area. The largest in New England, Killington has seven mountain peaks, 200 trails, five terrain parks, 33 lifts, and a vertical drop of 3,050 feet. Mad River Glen, renowned for its classically cut New England trails, is recognized as the best ski terrain in New England. A romantic getaway, Southern Vermont near the Mount Snow ski resort offers five mountain faces, extensive tree areas and top rated parks and pipes.

Vermont’s cross-country skiing has a tradition of 100 years. Its Green Mountains make an ideal setting for most of the cross-country ski centers. Its cross country ski areas feature wide groomed trails that meander through woods, across fields and along fantastic ice encrusted streams. Of the more than 40 cross-country tourist centers, the Catamount Trail system is very famous. It has been designed to connect eleven of Vermont’s finest cross-country ski centers as it winds its way north from the Massachusetts border to the Canadian border.

Other famous destinations for Vermont ski vacations are Ascutney Mountain Resort, Bolton Valley Resort, Bromley, Maple Valley, Middlebury College, Okemo Mountain Resort, Smugglers Notch, Stratton, Sugarbush and Suicide Six.

Vermont ski resorts offer a wide variety of ski vacation packages, stay packages and ski discounts. This area has all the facilities for fine lodging, dining and shopping to please any traveler. High-performance equipment and related accessories are available for rent. In addition to skiing, Vermont offers various recreational activities and conducts winter carnivals.

Ski Vacations provides detailed information on Ski Vacations, Canada Ski Vacations, Colorado Ski Vacations, Ski Vacation Packages and more. Ski Vacations is affiliated with Luxury Vacation Homes.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eddie_Tobey

Fall Foliage Scenic Drive – Central Vermont Area

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By Cliff Calderwood

This fall foliage scenic drive in Central Vermont offers some of the best views in the Green Mountain National Forest.

This scenic drive is a loop tour of about 150 miles. It follows mostly Route 12 south from Montpelier to Woodstock, before heading north on Route 100 and 100B back to Montpelier. There’s a whole bunch of surprises on the way, but it’s no surprise you’ll experience some magnificent fall foliage views all along this scenic drive.

The tour is best done over the course of a weekend or several days, although it’s possible to do the drive in one day and forgo many of the attractions and rambles suggested.

Let’s get going…

Start from Montpelier, a small city on the northern fringe of central Vermont. Montpelier can be easily reached from Interstate 89. Montpelier is 182 miles from Boston and 198 miles from Hartford.

Take Route 12 out of Montpelier and head south to Northfield Falls. Northfield Falls has four covered bridges and the famous Falls General Store. Vermont has some of the finest examples of covered bridges anywhere in New England, but two of them in Northfield Falls can be seen at once, as you look through one to other. This is unique in New England and definitely worth taking the camera out to capture.

Continue on Route 12 making your way to Bethel.

Bethel is one of those Vermont towns that’s a natural part of the scenery. Could this be why it’s home to the White River National Fish Hatchery? The hatchery focuses on restoring Atlantic Salmon to the Connecticut River. It’s open 8:00am – 3:00pm daily.

From Bethel you’ll continue your last piece of the southern route to Woodstock.

The Woodstock area offers a number of attractions, including Billings Farm and Museum, and Quechee Gorge. Woodstock itself is one of those picture-perfect Vermont villages that’s fun just to stroll around checking out the boutiques and restaurants.

The Billings Farm and Museum was established in 1871, and today it’s a working farm, and a museum depicting farm life in the late 1800s.

Quechee Gorge is Vermont’s little Grand Canyon. Not quite as big a hole in the ground as in Arizona, but at a mile long and plenty of hiking and walking trails on offer, it’s a chance to stretch the legs and admire the splendid scenery. Be sure to walk to the picnic area overlooking the falls.

The next 20 miles of the scenic drive takes you cross country on Route 4 to Killington. Killington is a world famous ski area that covers six mountains. And at over 4,200’ offers spectacular views from the summit. There’s very few better places to appreciate the fall foliage than at the top of Killington Peak. If it’s running take the K1-Gondola from base. You can ride the Gondola daily from September 24 – October 10th.

Killington is about the half-way point in this tour, and with the beautiful town of Rutland close-by plenty of lodging if you decide to linger overnight. Just be sure to make reservations during the peak fall foliage season.

The next section of the tour follows Route 100 as it borders the Green Mountain National Forest. You’ll pass through the towns of Pittsfield, Hancock, Granville, and Waitsfield as you cover perhaps the most scenic views and diverse terrain you’ll see on this drive.

Just North of Hancock and close to Route100 on Route 125 is Texas Falls. The trail to the falls is an easy hike and offers marvelous views anytime of the year, but especially during fall foliage season when the colors dazzle.

The larger of the two waterfalls is Moss Glen Falls just north of Granville a few miles up from Hancock. The drive from Hancock towards the falls is a two-lane winding road that passes through a seven mile stretch of untouched wilderness, and worth taking slow and easy.

The final leg of this central Vermont scenic drive from Granville to Middlesex and back to Montpelier continues to provide startling scenery and great photo opportunities. Route 100B connects with Route 100 just south of Moretown village, and you’ll take 100B north to Middlesex and then join Interstate 89 for the quick hop back into Montpelier.

Vermonters quip the state really has five seasons – spring, summer, fall, winter, and the famous mud season. But my personal favorite in Vermont is the fall. Take this tour and you’ll understand why.

Look for other articles in this series of fall foliage scenic drives. Or if you can’t wait you can pick up the complete scenic drive free report containing these and other New England scenic drives, along with detailed route coverage and attractions, at his New England vacation site.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cliff_Calderwood

Vermont Days, June 9 & 10

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From www.vtfishandwildlife.com:

Here’s a reminder to mark Saturday and Sunday, June 9 and 10, on your calendar as ‘Vermont Days’ for 2007. This is the weekend to celebrate the arrival of summer and enjoy a free sample of Vermont’s excellent fishing, state parks and historic and cultural resources. All Vermont State Park day areas, state-owned historic sites, and the Vermont Historical Society Museum will be open at no charge.

“June 9 is Vermont’s ‘Free Fishing Day’ — the one day in the year when residents and nonresidents may go fishing without having to purchase a fishing license” said Wayne Laroche, Commissioner of the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department. “It’s a great opportunity to take the family fishing and create memories to last a lifetime.”

“Fishing Festivals’ will be held between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on the 9h at the Ed Weed Fish Culture Station in Grand Isle and the Bennington Fish Culture Station in Bennington. Designed especially for youngsters, these events offer instruction on basic fishing techniques, but they also are a unique opportunity for kids to catch trout in a pond on the property.

Vermont’s 284 lakes and over 7,000 miles of clear streams offer the greatest variety of high quality fresh water fishing in the Northeast. Contact the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, 103 South Main Street, Waterbury, VT 05671-0501 (Tel. 802-241-3700) for a copy of their Fishing Guide Map to find out more about Vermont’s great fishing opportunities and to plan your fishing trip. You can also email them (fwinformation@state.vt.us) or discover more information from their website (www.vtfishandwildlife.com).

Vermont Days is a great chance to gather with family and friends and discover a new part of Vermont, or reconnect with a favorite place you haven’t visited in a while. This year more activities and special events have been added, including live music, Vermont dairy products, and artist demonstrations and performances — all at selected state parks and state-owned historic sites. Locations and events are open and free for everyone – both residents and nonresidents. Check for details on this weekend and for information on Vermont’s fishing, state parks, and historic sites at www.vermontdays.vermont.gov.

Vermont Days is a free statewide event celebrating Vermont’s natural resources, history, and talent brought to you by the Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation, Fish & Wildlife Department, Division of Historic Preservation, Department of Tourism & Marketing, Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets, VT Arts Council, VT Information Centers, and many supportive state employees and volunteers.

Becoming an Outdoor Family

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For the 10th year, outdoor educational experiences for the whole family are being offered by the University of Vermont Extension and the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources’ Departments of Fish & Wildlife, and Forests, Parks & Recreation. One June 1-3, 2007, skilled instructors will be teaching a basic understanding of environmental conservation, safety and fun in the outdoors to the general public.

Check out the Becoming and Outdoor Family Weekend website for more information and how to register.