Northern Essex C aunty Bluff Mountain, Island Pond

ff Mountain (elev. 2789 ft.) rises steepl ti Blud pond its ridge line extending northeas/e rom the Village of tan ' · d r1 Y over s · . 1s- iddle Mountam an the shores of U kn ix miles to th foot of M n own p d e he northwestern bo~ndary of the uniquely circular on . Fanning t . Bluff Mountam also overlooks the east h Nulhegan River basin, . c. . ern eadwat Cl de River basm, 1ormmg part of the watershed d' . ers of the St.y Lawrence an d Connec t·1cut R1ver' drainages. ivide betw een the

he hiking trail on Bluff Mountain dates back sev d T . era 1 ecades to historic route up to t he 1ower summit and Island Pond k an 100 recently the tra1· 1 was re-esta bl'1s hed after extensive . out. More '. S f 19 . . 1oggmg and the devastatmg Ice torm o 98 s1gmficantly damaged th t . e rai 1. Be- tween 1998 an d 2000 , N orth Woods Stewardship Cent K' d . . .fi . er mg om Corps cr_ews re bm 1 t s1gm 1eant sections ?f the trail, adjusting the route and addmg log and rock structures to improve drainage and red erosion. In 2001, . ho:wever, in!ensive logging and property dam~;: again prompted s1gmficant adjustments to the trail route, this time relocating a large portion of the lower trail and constructing a new trailhead and parking area in the Brighton Town Forest. In 2002, North Woods, working with the Town of Brighton, re-established the historic Lookout Trail, reopening the last remaining section of the original hiking trail.

Today, the Bluff Mountain Community Trail offers a 2.7-mile loop that passes through the open hardwoods of the Brighton Town Forest, follows rugged bedrock ridges, and climbs steeply up the open-faced outcroppings of the Lookout Trail.

COMMUNITY TRAIL- The blue-blazed Bluff Mountain Co~u- nity Trail begins at a small parking area (0.0 mi.) on the north side odf . . fr d wntown Island Pon • Mountam Street approximately ¾-m1 1e om O .. Begmnmg . . in a plantation' red pine forest, the trat·1 qm· ckly transitions · . · two seasona 1 into mixed hardwood forests where after crossmg h b k · ' · d 1· bs throug open roo s, 1t crosses cleared strip (0.2 m1.) an c tm . th trail con- hardwoods. After crossing an old logging trace (0.3 m1.),d e er (0 6 f igne com · inues to climb onward turning sharply left at a s k •d es Soon m· ) · ' · O f bedroc n g · 1. and climbing more steeply over a senes . kl d begins to t~e trail makes a sharp left turn (0.7 mi.), drops qmc Y::;s are avail- s1dehil1 through a young hardwood forest where loca 1vi 103 Northeast Kingdom Mountain Trail Guide

ond and the Nulhegan Basin nearby. After crossin able of I s1 an d P . h h g a •n stream the trail turns to t e nort , crosses over ro k small moun t at , k L . c - d passes by several roe outcrops. evehng briefly strewn ta 1us a n . f f . . on a minor bedrock ridge, the lower su~nut o B 1u f Mountam_ is visible to the right through the trees (0.9 mt.). From_ here, the trail quickly to reioin the now-abandoned old trail and, a short distanc descen d s .., . d h . . e further, reaches a stream crossing an t e 1ower Junction of the Look- out Trail (1.0 mi).

LOOKOUT TRAIL- The Bluff Mountain Lookout Trail is the last remaining section of the original hiking trail and offers a steep and challenging ascent to a rocky overlook with sweeping vistas over Island Pond, the Nulhegan Basin, and several local and distant peaks.

NOTE: The Lookout Trail is extremely steep in places and may not be suitable for some hikers. The trail requires hikers to scramble up open rock slabs with the aid of metal hand-hold devices and can be dangerous in adverse weather conditions. Hikers should use extra caution with children and pets. Due to the steep grade, many hikers may find it easier to climb up, rather than down, this section oftrail .

From the lower junction with the Bluff Mountain Trail (0/0 mi.), the yellow-blazed Lookout Trail immediately crosses a small stream and begins to climb at a moderate grade through the young forest. After crossing a skid road (0.1 mi.), the trail turns westward, crosses a low, wet area, and, turning northwest, soon rea~hes the base of a steep, wooded slope. From here, the trail hegms to cl~mb steeply over stone steps and short switchbacks before reachmg the base of a rock outcropping (0.3 mi.).

W:ith the aid of a number of iron ladder holds, the Lookout T~ail chmbs several rock slabs and quickly gains elevation, offenng !ocal views to the south, particularly at the lower lookout above he_seco nd series of hand holds. Above this small lookout, the !at~makes one last steep pitch before emerging near the base of e luff Mountain Lookout (0.4 mi.). This natural b d . reful runi e rock clearing, with the help of some ca p ng, offers a wide vista to the south with Island Pond beloW, 104 Northern Essex Caunty the Seneca range in the fore ground Mountain and the East Mountain rad a:d the slopes of B

the west, Job's Mountain and the Ba: Mase in the distanc ur;e0 evident and, below, the Clyde River fl ountain fire tow:; towards East Charleston and Lake Me mpowhrs emag out of Island Poarden corner to the 1e ft , t he southern ridge bounda og. Around the · Basin curves eastward towards West Mo un tain .ry theof thetw • Nulhegan North Note h an d N otc h Pond Mountains d 'h m peaks of Mountains beyond. 'an t e northem White

From the lookout (0.4 mi.), the trail continues h'll · hr h 1 up 1 and aft passing t oug a ow moose wallow it begins t . b' ~r . d b 1 . ' o c1 im agam into the mixe su -a pine spruce-fir and northern har dwoo d for- ests and. soon reaches the short spur trail to the lower mountam• summit marker on the left (0.5 mi.).

Total distance: approximately 0.5 mi., elevation gain: 760 feet

From the Lookout Trail junction (1.0 mi.), the Bluff Mountain Trail (blue-blazed still) continues on the right and begins to climb gradually north-northeast through a heavily logged basin before scrambling more steeply over a series of switchbacks and stairs up into more ma- ture hardwood forests. Reaching a small bedrock knob (1.3 mi.), the trail turns sharply left and descends briefly before turning sharply left again up a steep pitch. Climbing steeply and offering limited views eastward towards the Nulhegan Basin, the trail soon levels off and,6 after passing through a narrow ravine, descends into a wet h_ollow (1. mi.) where moose frequently travel. After crossing a· sen'd es ofwhere bog bridges, the trail again climbs this time onto the sunumt? ge,O fBl ff after passing a short spur on the right that offers. diStalltaches views a seconu d Mountain's 'true' summit to the northeast, it soon re 2380 short spur (1.7 mi.) to the lower summit (elev. ft.). T . . . ain: 1080 feel otal distance: approximately 1. 7 nu., elevation g Northern Essex County

Gore Mountain, Avery's Gore

in the unorganized town of Avery's Gore G M . Locate d h d ' ore ountam ft) sits on the nort ern e ge of the Nulhegan River B . nd . (3332 co~d highest peak in the Northeast Kingdom The asdmda is the se . . . · woo e sum- mt·t provides hm1ted views but, at. nearly 4-miles long , th e t ra1. 1 offers a very remote, backcountry expenence for those seeking solitude.

Gore Mount~in was one of severa~ fire lookout stations located in the Northeast Kmgdom. Togethe~ with Monadnock, West, and Burke Mountains, the Gore Mountain lookout serviced the Essex c t . . fi .c. • .C'. • • oun y region, relaymg ire sa1ety 1n1ormatton to a dispatcher in Maidstone via eighty-eight miles of telegraph line installed by the CCC.

The fire lookout station on Gore was only the third such lookout es- tablished in the state of Vermont- built in 1912 shortly after a lookout site was established on Camel's Hump (no tower) in 1911 and Burke 1 Mountain (built by Elmer Darling) in 1912. This action was prompted by several large fires in Vermont, including one that burned 1200-acres in Lewis, Ferdinand, Bloomfield, Brunswick and Brighton in 1903.2 The station included both a fire tower and warden's cabin on the summit. Reportedly, the tower, constructed in 1934 by the CCC to replace an older tower (date unknown), was sold in the 1970's and hauled off the mountain by a skidder. The cabin still stands.

The Gore Mountain Trail was re-established in 2000 by a North- Woods Stewardship Center Trail Crew after years of neglect and, de- spite some necessary changes, follows the historic fire warden's trail for much of its length.

NOTE: The Gore Mountain Trail is a rug~ed'. backco~ntryth trai~t~ equent muddy conditions. While not true Wzlderness' ebnea Yds fr . d t fiar from near y roa • mile trail accesses . a wzld·1 an d remoweather e area condztzons . . may vary. Plan Please note: terrazn, traz an ( s and allow enough ahead and be prepared; take necessary precau zon time for the return hike. . [Vermont Route 114 in Nor- The trailhead is located on the east side; A roadside pull-off on the ton near the north end of Norton Pon . k area and is located ap-0 2 west side of the highway serves ;.aJ;:ii;:ioad and just under - th proximately 0.1 mile sou of L 107 r I{ingdom Mountain Trail Guide Northeast V t Lane A very limited amount of parking . miles north of De ~lhsead it~elf where the trail enters the Woodis ava1·1 abl e at the trai . g on the east, side. o f t h e road . s through a small opemn trailhead (0.0 mi), the trail makes a short ~limb next to an From the k d climbs gradually for the first mile along the old unnamed broo . an•nally used to access the firre tower and cabin. on the woods roa d , ongi p d th ·11 . Aft th initial ascent from Norton on , e tra1 evels and summit er e · b b ·d d crosses· several poorly drained areas using og n gde~ an st~pping d summit of Gore appears eastwar 1n the distance stones. The wo Ode · from the edge of a beaver meadow on the left (0.6 mt.).

From here the trail continues to parallel a series ~f beaver meadows d crosses two more small brooks before reaching the largest and :1ost recent of the series of abandoned beaver ponds (0.9 mi.). Skirt- ing the northern edge of the opening, the trail !11"1s eas~ard for some time, passing through an extended, poorly-drained section.

NOTE: This section oftrail is scheduled for maintenance in 2010-11.

After passing some abandoned machinery on the right, the trail bears left at a signed junction (1.2 mi.) and crests a small knoll. From the height of land, the trail descends gradually, winding until it reaches the edge of a wet area and immediately thereafter, a tributary of Sta- tion Brook ( 1.5 mi.). The trail follows the southern bank of the brook for a short distance and, after crossing, soon emerges on the edge of an expansive logged area (1.6 mi.). The trail passes through the logged area, winding among small hardwoods before turning north- eastward and climbing to the crest of a second knoll. Here the trail contin~es for a short distance through a young forest to the edge of a la~ge timber company road (2.0 mi.). The marked trail continues slightly to the right on the opposite side of the clearing.

After crossing the logging road, the trail climbs a short steep grade and. bends right whe re 1·1 soon reach es the Junction. . with. a lookout spur trail (2.1 mi.).

Ldookout Trail- The lookout trail leads 300 feet westward to the e ge'ddl of an old grave 1pit. · F rom this• cleanng. edge local views· of M1 e Mounta · d ' k Wild1"£ M in an the Hurricane area (in the Bill Slady 1 e anagement Area) are visible to the west.

lOR Northern Essex County

II1 the lookout junction .(2.1 mi.), the trail turns left and . Fro oderate grade through young hardwoods to a sec d contmues al a mi.). The trail continues opposite the road s:~~ c~oss- rz 4 a::: ing ly. then moderately, through open hardwoods al h chmbs steep , · H ong t e north idge of the mountain. ere, 1ocal views to the n rth - wes t r d O and west 011e r glimpses of Brousseau. f Q ban Round Mountains·, c oa1 1coo- k and astern Townships o ue ec; and the Bill Sladyk WMA 1 d . th e E h . an s m Norton and Holland. Soon t e trail reaches a short spur to a lookout.

Spur to Lookout- Leaving the main trail, the spur trail bears west through low shrub and tree growth heavily browsed b y moose, crossing. ove~ t h e_ n."d ge c~est and descending gently to an open wooded area with hm1ted views to the south. Visible in the foreground is Middle Mountain and the northern extent of Bluff Mountain with Bald Mountain in the distance.

Continuing on, the main trail climbs gradually through a pleasant open forest and, after passing an old skid road (3.0 mi.), turns left and begins a more persistent climb into the higher elevation spruce-fir forests of the summit. The trail begins to trend south and at one point climbs steeply over exposed granite bedrock before reaching the shoulder of the mountain. Continuing now into the summit forest and turning eastward, the trail winds its way through mature conifers and eventually emerges at the edge of the summit clearing (3.8 mi.).

At the summit, the fire warden's cabin stands on the edge of the clear- ing. Not far away an outhouse is located to the north down a short spur trail. Around the clearing, there is substantial evidence of the once-active lookout station, including the foundation base of the fire tower, various pieces of scrap metal, trash heaps, a collapsed wood- th shed and various debris. Across the clearing, a tempting moose pa leads eastward off the summit and into the forest. This route, occa- th sionally used by snowmobiles in the winter, soon fades into e sur- rounding woods. From th . B ·n are available e summit, limited views of the Nulhegan asi .d f the to the south, particularly from a 'clearing' on the south s1_ e 10 the mount · h t d an opemng am w ere wind and ice damage have crea e softwood fore st.

Total d' • ·0 · 1972 feet 1stance: approximately 3.8 mi., elevation gai · 1 ()Q