DAY IN THE LIFE AT ASCUTNEY STATE PARK

June 28^th:   Left Burlington VT and headed over to Mt Ascutney State park where we will be spending the summer.  The drive over was fantastic.  Just love those mountains.  Ascutney is located in Windsor, Vermont near the New Hampshire border.

Windsor is an old Vermont town chartered on July 6, 1761.    It is considered the birthplace of Vermont where the state constitution was signed.  Windsor was the first capital until 1805 when Montpelier became the official capital.  The Connecticut River runs right along Windsor, VT. 

What I learned today:   Monadnock

Mount Ascutney is considered a monadnock, an isolated rock hill, knob, ridge, or small mountain that rises abruptly from a gently sloping or virtually level surrounding plain.  It rises over 3,000' from the Connecticut Valley and  shares geological history more closely related to the White Mountains of NH than the Green Mountains of Vermont.

Mount Ascutney State Park was one of the first Vermont State Parks built between 1935 and 1938 by the Civilian Conservation Corps.  The original stonework is all of Ascutney granite. 

 Mark and Lucy live here.  It's original stonework from CCC days.  Beautiful work.

The mountain trail is possibly America’s first organized mountain-hiking trail cut through the forests in 1825.  Apparently they never heard of “switchbacks” and the trails in the NE go straight up!

In 1909 James P. Taylor (not the singer) had the inspiration for the creation of Vermont’s Long Trail eventually spawning both Green Mountain Club and the idea for the Appalachian Trail.

Mt Ascutney SP campground is a small park of about 50 sites including leantos which are really cool.  It is somewhat under-utilized compared to some of the other Vermont State Parks but is a beautiful park.

Included in the park is a toll road which climbs to the top of Ascutney; 3.7 miles. It is a very steep mountain rising 3,144’ from 500’ at the base.  Is has an average grade of 12% with some as steep as 19%.  Foot races, bicycle races and car races are held on this road to the top of the mountain.

It is the premiere hang gliding site in New England.  The granite outcrops serve as launching points for hang gliders. Some hang gliders fly from Mt Ascutney to nearby states; one actually reached the coastline in New Hampshire.

Looking down on the Connecticut River Valey.

We drove up to the top with the Ranger to ensure no hikers were still out before closing the road at 8 o’clock.  The views from the  top were phenomenal.  We overlooked the Connecticut Valley with the Connecticut River running under an old covered bridge.

Coming back down a bobcat crossed in front of us.  The Ranger was particularly excited as bobcat sightings are extremely rare. 

NO POINSONOUS SNAKES IN VERMONT …… JUST PROCUPINES!

Also saw a porcupine along the side of the road.  This is something we need to be careful of when hiking with Billy.  Dogs who have hiked off leash get to chasing these critters and come out of the brush covered in porcupine quills.  That’s gotta hurt.  Fortunately Billy doesn’t hike off leash so we’ll control where he goes.

Settled in to our new home for the summer . 

Vermont is very green and I don’t mean just the mountains.  Recycling is big in this state with deposits paid on all glass products.  The campground has recycle bins as large as garbage bins for glass, cardboard, aluminum cans, plastic (other), plastic bottles.  There are Co-Ops everywhere and many farm markets where you can purchase fresh vegetables and healthy meat.  I am really looking forward to finding those markets.

June 29^th

This place is heaven for Billy.  We walked down to meet Mark and Lucy, the Rangers, and met Gus their dog.  Gus is a male Annie (my Grand-Dog).   At first when Gus came over to Billy, Billy felt threatened and did is usual mean bark like he was snapping.  However after about a minute of posturing they started playing.  

We let Billy off the leash and the two dogs ran and ran and played in the big yard down by the entrance.  While we talked with Mark to learn about the summer, the dogs played and played until their tongues hung out.  There is an open area down one of the trails we can take Billy to and let him run and catch the ball without a leash so he’s going to have a great summer.  The only thing he’s missing is water.  There is no lake or river here.

Mark and Lucy are great.  They are a young couple who love this area.  During the winter Mark teaches skiing at Okemo Mountain.  They mountain bike, hike, do all the wonderful things that are so bountiful in this area.  It would seem our jobs are whatever it is we want to do.  Nothing set, just pick a project!  Dave has a dam in mind.  I’m looking to hang out at the entrance.  Stay tuned.

Drove down to Claremont, NH to go grocery shopping.  The grocery store in Claremont is no more than 17 minutes from the campground.  The New Hampshire border is less than five minutes.  New Hampshire has neither an income tax nor a sales tax so we’ll probably be there shopping.  Need new tires for the Caddy and figure that’s a good place to get some.   Gas prices up here are around $3.35/gallon.  Best we’ve seen so far.  It’s that way both in Vermont and New Hampshire.

STAY TUNED!