DAY 31 - BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL VERMONT

LABOR OF LOVE .... CLEARING THE MOUNTAIN

WEATHERSFIELD TRAIL

JULY 30, 2012

Invigorated by our summit climb, we headed over to the Weathersfield Trail to do some climbing.  We weren’t planning on an ascent to the summit, but hoped to get to the falls.  (Don't you just love the word "ascent"!  It sounds so accomplished!)

To start, the trail was good, it climbed but was easy to follow and didn’t have any immediate rock/slab/scrambles.  Got to a brook with water dripping off the rocks, as opposed to flowing.  Guess we didn’t get enough rain to get a full-up running brook.  Fortunately Billy was able to find some puddles to get drinks out of so we was rearing to go.  I did notice we were at the top of what would have been a waterfall if there was any water.

We continued onward and upward coming to rocks/slabs and roots.  Passed a couple coming down with a remote control jeep.  Apparently this jeep made it to Crystal Cascade and back down.  Interesting. 

We climbed up to the gorge which is Crystal Cascade about 1.2 miles from the parking lot.  Crystal Cascade is an 84’ sheer cliff.  Continuing onward and upward, you have to climb up the side of the cliff using footholds between the rocks (hoping you don’t twist around and get your foot caught) and then get to the ladder which helps you get up to the top.

TRAIL ALONGSIDE THE GORGE CLIMBS UP TO THE TOP OF THE WALL!

At this point we were at 1520’ up the mountain.    We grabbed a boulder and sat down to have our lunch of cheese and apple.  Clouds were starting to come in and we weren’t sure if it was going to start raining.  We didn’t realize how close we were to the bigger falls and decided we would head back down at this point.  Coming back down through the rock crevices is exciting.  There is just enough footing for the toe of a hiking boot in some places.   

VIEW FOR LUNCH

We arrived back in the parking lot a few hours later, having done our 2 mile hike of the day.  Back to do laundry and other mundane things!   We plan on going back up further along the trail. On our next hikes, I'm leaving the camera behind to free up my hands to grab, cling, grip the rocks!

Subsequently we talked to several hikers who had gone to Cascade Falls and there really isn’t any falls there either.  Just not enough rain in these mountains!

DOES A BAR SHIT IN THE WOODS???

While hiking down from the summit, I almost stepped on a claw print in the mud around the rocks.  It was too big for a dog with claw marks deep into the mud and a round pad for a foot so figured it wasn’t someone hiking with toe shoes on unless they had long claw toes and a short foot!  I mentioned it to Dave as I scrambled down the rock.  He wasn’t inclined to climb up there to verify my claim!

When I described it to Ed,  one of the Rangers, he confirmed what we thought…. it was a bear track since bears had been spotted in the area.  

I used the word "bar" in deference to my WNC folks .... we were coming back from a hike up the mountain when we were stopped by trucks parked on the road and dogs running back and forth.  I asked the guy what they were doing and he said, "Huntin' bar", I asked him to repeat, "Huntin bar".  I thought - are they hunting a boar?  "NO, a 'bar'  " and he waved his arms.  Oh............bear!!!!  OK, got it!  We're outta here!

TWO DAYS LATER……

Billy went for his mid-morning walk down the road and then down the path that leads to the recreation field.  This is his favorite walk because he can be off the leash and run like crazy.   And, run like crazy he does.  For a tall, lanky dog, when he runs he scoots right down on his legs and takes off as though we were herding 100 sheep.  You can’t even see his legs when he’s in a full-out run.  It is really fun to watch him run because he goes down just above the ground and flies. 

He can swivel on his front paws.  At first looks like he’s running pigeon-toed but then realize he can swivel on his front paws in all directions.  It must be the Border collie in him.

Anyway …. Billy met up with Lucy and Gus on the trail and was happily running around them.  Lucy and Gus were heading off for a hike so I hooked Billy up to lead him down the other foot path to the field. 

As soon as I walked down the path I smelled an awful odor … very strong.  Billy found it immediately off in the woods.  There were two piles of poop …. one large paddy that was  smushed down, the other was a fairly fresh pile with flies buzzing around.  It was too large to assume a dog did this and  I immediately thought of bear and not too very long ago.

Came back up to the site and Ed and I took off in the golf cart to examine the droppings.  Ed confirmed it looked like a “bear shit in the woods”.   Guess  he’s hanging around for the summer.

That settled ….. we headed off toward Plymouth VT.  It was a beautiful day with crystal clear skies and vistas that could go forever.  We wanted to see Coolidge’s homestead at Plymouth Notch and enjoy the views.

Coming through Ludlow Dave missed the turn to Plymouth….which was a good thing.  Okemo was right in front of us.. so we headed for Okemo Ski Resort and drove to the top of the mountain.

MT HOLLY OVERLOOK

DAVE WAITING FOR THE RIDE DOWN!!!!

OKEMO and I go way back.  In high school I took up skiing with a passion.  At that time, when I wasn't renting equipment at the slope,  I was using my mother’s ski equipment which, even then, was rather old. 

I belonged to the ski club at school in Windsor, CT and we went almost every weekend somewhere in Vermont skiing.  Okemo was one of the last slopes we hit before the season ended and we were having a blast racing down these runs.

At the end of the day, we took the chairlift to the top and Steven Brainerd challenged me to race him down the mountain as our “last run” of the day.  Didn’t know it would be the last run of the season! 

Heading down this slope, we were full speed ahead …. Skis together and pointed down!  Half-way down I caught ice on the mogul and flew through the air.  When I landed, my skis were a tangle and had not released from the boot. 

Ski Patrol arrived, carefully removing my skis and scooted me over to the sled.  A wild ski came barreling down the mountain … detached from its owner….traveling about 100 mph and heading right for me. 

The Ski Patrol jumped over me to keep the ski from hitting me and it nailed him in the thigh.  So…. now there were two of us up the mountain.   


The Patrol skied me down the mountain in the sled and then sent another sled up for the other Patrol guy.  He was worse off than me …. his bone was shattered.  I ended up with a badly strained ankle which left my ankle weak for the many, many years.  Always skied with an ace bandage around the ankle from that point forward.

The good news ….. I got a new pair of Head skis, and  boots for Christmas the following year!!!  Don’t know how the other guy made out.

Met a couple from Palm Coast FL.  They are staying in their son’s ski condo for the month to get out of the summer Florida heat.

IF ANYONE CAN TELL ME WHAT THESE MOUNTAINS ARE ... I'D LOVE TO KNOW WHAT I'M LOOKING AT!!!!!!

The views up here are fantastic.  Can see all the way across to Ascutney.

I AM GOING TO GET A REAL TREE THIS CHRISTMAS!  AND IT WILL PROBABLY LOOK JUST LIKE THIS ONE BY THE TIME IT MAKES ITS WAY TO FLORIDA!

  I AM INSPIRED!!!!

From Okemo we headed to Plymouth Notch stopping at the Sugar House.  They have the BEST maple creamee I’ve ever had and I’m trying to become a export on maple creamees.  They also had some delicious Maple Sugar Candy!  

As we pried ourselves away from the Sugar House, we passed this beautiful lake nestled in the hills.

CALVIN COOLIDGE STATE HISTORIC SITE

Plymouth Notch, Vermont

Our first stop was the Plymouth Cheese Factory but they were not making cheese that day.  Did sample all their cheeses and it as a hard choice but purchased the sharp cheddar aged the longest.

This Cheese Factory was opened by John Coolidge in 1890 making Plymouth Cheese an American heritage cheese.   This factory is one of the oldest cheese operations in the US.  Calvin’s son John Coolidge ran the cheese factory until 1998 when he sold it to the State of Vermont as part of the Heritage Site.

Plymouth Notch was Calvin’s boyhood home.  His family settled here in the late 1700’s.  Calvin was here from 1876 to 1887 when he went to Black River Academy.   

This is the Union Christain Church built in 1840 attended by the Coolidge family.  It was dedicated as a Congregational Church in 1842. 

WILDER HORSE BARN  built in 1875 it a “bank barn” built into the side or bank of a slope.  This made it easier to enter on both sides.  Hay was stored overhead and the dairy herd was on the main floor. 

WILDER HOUSE was originally a tavern built around 1830  and served as a stagecoach stop.  Later it was the home of President Coolidge’s mother.  During the 1930’s it was used as a dormitory for the CCC workers who were busy developing this wonderful Vermont State Park system.

TOP OF THE NOTCH CABINS provided tourists and the President’s staff with accommodations.  Midge Aldrich operated the cabins, tea room and gift shop.  

 Can you see the Secret Service of today in these little cottages!  These were shipped “flat” from Boston to Plymouth and assembled on the spot in 1927. 

THE GENERAL STORE was owned by the Coolidge’s and Calvin was born in the living quarters to the back.   Apparently Col Coolidge did not update anything in the homes so the furnishings we saw were original to old Cal’s being here.

GENERAL STORE

FLORENCE CILLEY GENERAL STORE built during the 1850’s and owned by Col Coolidge but rented by Florence Cilley during the timeframe of Calvin Coolidge’s presidency.  It was the store and post office.   Florence Cilly, as postmaster, got a little from the sale of stamps, but when Coolidge became VP then President, visitors to Plymouth Notch increased and her take was as much as $1500.  She, undoubtedly, was pleased!

I LOVE THIS GAS TANK!!!!

THE BED CALVIN COOLIDGE WAS BORN IN.

COOLIDGE HOMESTEAD   was the home Cal grew up in and he was vacationing here when President Harding died.  Col John Coolidge, Calvin’s father, was a notary and administered the presidential oath of office to his son at 2:47AM on August 3, 1923.

COL COOLIDGE MADE THIS CARRIAGE.  SADDLE WAS USED BY CALVIN COOLIDGE WHEN A BOY.

TABLE AND BIBLE WHERE COOLIDGE TOOK THE OATH OF OFFICE.  

IMAGINE HOW PROUD HIS FATHER MUST HAVE BEEN!

In true, true Vermont style..... when a visitor asked Col Coolidge "How did you know you could administer the presidential oath to your own son?"  He replied, "I didn't know that I couldn't!"  

Off in the distance you can see two farmhouses which are still owned by the Coolidge descendents.  When Coolidge retired from politics he built an addition to the Homstead in 1931 and in 1956 it was moved to the hills behind the Homestead.  It was this year that John Coolidge, the remaining son, gave the house to the State of Vermont.  Since then he bought up more property as it became available in the village and donated it to Vermont creating this heritage site.

One of the Coolidge homes  is leased out and the other is used by the family when they want to visit the area.

People actually get to live here and it’ beautiful. 

The stick on the fire hydrant to be located in the snow!

During Calvin Coolidge's presidential term, Vermont suffered from a terrible flood.  Probably not so very different from the one they suffered last August from TS Irene. I am not usually touched by speeches by politicians, but this one went straight to my heart!    


Aside from "first saw the light of day and received by bride", these are my feelings, too.  I wish I had been eloquent enough to have written it first!

Address by President Calvin Coolidge, September 21, 1928

Vermont is a state I love.    I could not look upon the peaks of Ascutney, Killington, Mansfield and Equinox without being moved in a way that no other scene could move me.

It was here that I first saw the light of day; here I received my bride, here my dead lie pillowed on the loving breast of our eternal hills

I love Vermont because of her hills and valleys.  Her scenery and invigorating climate.  But most of all because of her indominable people.  

They are a race of pioneers who have almost beggard themsleves to serve others.  If the spirit of liberty should vanish in other parts of the union and support of our instituions should languish, it could all be replenished from the generous store held by the people of this  brave little State of  Vermont.  

I LOVE VERMONT!