Posted: 6/18/2008 5:04:17 AM EDT
| Finally got the time / weather / appropriate clearance from the high command for a weekend trip into the Green Mountains of VT. Discovered this area last summer and went back in the fall for a 3 day campout with a buddy and had a super time. Flying solo this time around and I'll try to begin shedding some of gear that I take. This ia a national forest wilderness area and we saw few people there last summer/fall. I'm expecting more people this time around due to the summer weather but I hope its not too many...will try to post an AAR. Anyone from the SF Forum camp in GMNF ? So far I've just explored the area east of Manchester / west of Stratton Mountain. |
Can't wait to get back - also plan on bringing my trusty marlin 39A and doing some plinking - that would get me 5 to 10 anywhere in NJ 
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Good choice on 22s! Where do you camp? By the vehicle or do you backpack in and stay in a shelter or tent? |
I've become quite fond of lever actions and the 39A is my 3rd marlin and the busiest of the three. I've only camped there once - we parked at the trailhead and hiked only about 1/2 mile from the truck and tented out - in fact we left most of the food, cooler and stove in the truck and we would go back and eat at the trailhead. Boy did we eat - we cooked some pretty awesome meals the day before and then froze them up. this trip will be much more spartan - looks like corn flakes, tuna and chef - boy - R - dee! |
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I have not been there in ages. If you come up from the Arlington side I used to fish in that brook as a kid. Once in college I took a girl friend backpacking around that loop in the early summer. It was pretty nice. She even got into the brandy a little heavy and the next thing I knew she was standing on a rock out in the pond howling at the moon stark naked! Ya never know what kind of wildlife sightings ya might have! Now I dont get that far south too often and usually go north for my vacations and long weekends. |
What happens in Sorry, I had to add that. Bill |
 She was from NY to!
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Sounds like fun! We didn't see anything quite that wild but we did catch a moose with her offspring in a swamp near our camp, some snakes sunning themselves and the pond we were camped at was full of newts ( a lizard / salamander type creature ) I'll have to ask you for some future spots as you seem to know your way around some northeastern wilderness. Regarding your avatar, I actually own a BHH in stainless .44 mag - if I had a holster for it that piece would make the trip with me. Ruger makes one that I'll eventually buy... |
Ask away. As far as the BHH goes, what length barrel do you have? I like the Hunter brand leather holsters for them. |
| My wife and I hiked the Long Trail in VT about 6 years ago. If you plan on doing a lot of hiking pick up the Long Trail book and VT AT book at EMS,REI. They will come with good trail descriptions and maps. And like every one else has said bring plenty of bug juice and a head net. Once you get past were the AT and LT separate, theres nothing but you and the mountains,you won't see to many people.It is a really nice part of the country. Enjoy, let us know how the trip turns out. |
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OK - found some time to report back: FIRST OFF: Sorry - forgot the camera on the kitchen table... This trip was a quasi-car camping trip in the southern portion of Vermont's Green Mountain National Forest as the first night was near the car and the second night was 1/2 mile site from the car. I took Kelly Stand Road (KSR) into the forest and explored a few forest and logging roads off KSR. Made it out of work early Friday afternoon and took a 3 hour car ride north to VT and got to my first campsite by 8pm - this site was just off the main forest road. Set up my hammock and had a roaring fire (thanks to some coleman fuel assistance) by 9 and enjoyed some quiet time next to the roadside brook and campfire. The next morning packed up what little I had out and continued down KSR and took Forest Road 85 to the end for some old fashioned plinkin' action. In my home state of NJ this activity ranks right up there with rape murder and tax evasion so to me just setting up a few soda and soup cans and knocking them down with my marlin 22 was very cool. After that, I decided to explore the area around a pond that could be seen from KSR called Beebe Pond before going back to Branch Pond to set up camp for my second night. I took the trail down to Beebe Pond and when I get to the water edge I found a great little campsite already stocked with firewood! So, I decided to forgo Branch Pond and instead set up @ Beebe and spent the rest of my time there. I spent the rest of my trip fishing and hiking the area. Both Beebe and Branch Ponds have solid populations of Brook Trout and I got my money's worth out of the 2 - day VT fishing license as I had pan fried trout and mac & cheese for dinner Saturday night. The other unique experience was a couple of hours worth of watching the resident beaver swim across the pond, retrieve a branch and cross back to install it on his dam project. Not one soul ventured into this area and I had the pond to myself the whole day & night. I felt blessed to enjoy some solitude the likes of which I've never experienced. It was a very cool experience and I'm looking forward to doing it again someday. And YES the bugs were very thick esp. horse flies - I bathed in DEET but that was like applying essence of dog poop. The good part is that I got 0 bites but those flies made it thier life's purpose to harrass me. Thankfully once the sun went down so did the bugs. Annoying but not enough to make me leave. Some gear comments / review: Tent Hammock: After reading (former valued member) Rodent's review of the Clark and Hennessy Hammocks I bought Clark's North American model hammock and I've been very happy with it. This weekend was the fourth time I use it. On this trip I decided to slip in my Thermarest pad in below my sleeping bag and it made a significant difference in comfort and it kept the hammock "spread out" if you will and that made it easier to get in / out of the hammock. The hammock is not cheap ($300) but IMHO worth the coin. It sets up in no time, packs super small/light and is very comfortable. When my 7 y.o. son gets a little older, the eureka tent becomes a museum piece and he gets his own hammock. Coleman Dual Fuel lantern / single burner stove: After many years of owning and using propane lanterns and stoves I switched to liquid gas units with mixed results. I switched because I felt that the liquid fuel was easier/smaller/lighter to pack than lugging a half dozen 1 lb propoane bottles every time out. Well the stove works well but I can't help feeling like I'm going to poof myself when starting up the lantern. Refilling the units "in-the-field" is a bit dicey and when I filled the lantern, inadvertantly some gas spilled down the side of the tank. When I lit the mantels, darn near the whole lantern went up until the excess burned off. I think I need the practice operating both of these @ home before embracing them as treid and true like my big clunky propane units. Aside from the beaver and a few resident garter snakes there was no wildlife seen but I did see many tracks some of which looked like dog or coyote but I couldn't tell for sure. In closing I must say that most friends / family thought I was crazy going off solo but I must say that it was a good experience. Yes there is some risk as the area is big, sparsly populated/visited and cell coverage is poor at best. If you get hurt or in trouble it may be a while before you get help but if you employ some common sense, you are reasonably careful ( and pack some firepower  )it can be quite an experience. If you live in the northeast, I think that the Green Mountain NF is a great place to visit and enjoy. If anyone wants more info, I'd be glad to help. I wish that I had some pics to share but I'll make sure I pack the camera next time. Oh and who was doing mag dumps around 11pm this past saturday night out there  ???? Regards, Ed B |
Thanks for the info - I will definitely check it out |
Sorry for the late reply BHH: My 44 is the 7-1/2" SS Hunter model with the laminate grips and the rib on the top of the barrel. Ruger makes a holster for it but its about 80 bucks so I'll get it when I can...thanks for your local info. |
