New England-area GTG #2: Winter Wonderland

Looking at weather for Shaftsbury, VT, if it weren't for next Sat. night, may not need the 0F capability. Hrmm…

yea, was looking at this with the housemate, this trip's turning into a bust as far as a proper winter hike. At least it'll be nice to hit the trail with y'all.

From:
link from Walter

“Upon descending to an old road, the 2-mile trek to the Goddard shelter begins. Departing the winderness, enter the day’s first extensive evergreen forest and plod up a series of stone steps. Before long, you arrive at the lean-to, just beyond its water supply. Located 0.3 mile from the summit and roughly halfway along the journey, the Goddard shelter is a perfect place to overnight. Keep in mind, this can be a popular destination, so be prepared to tent nearby. From here, the 0.3-mile jaunt to the summit is straightforward. At the top, seven staircases lead above the forest canopy up the recently renovated tower. While the structure’s height and see-through steps can be unnerving, the semmingly endless views enjoyed are well worth the nail-biting effort.”

Looking at the Map, I don’t see a water source just before the Goddard Shelter. Does anyone else see one on a map? If not, will be interesting finding water for camp the 2nd night….especially is there is no snow to melt. :o

from reading the text, it sounds like Goddard shelter has a water supply of some sort on the other side of the leanto. some googling leads me to believe there is a small water source there, with warnings that in dry seasons it may be dried up. considering it has snowed and rained recently I don't think that would be an issue. I can bring my 4L platypus water tank.

I'm going to try and remember to bring a deck or two of cards, and my folding frisbee to give us keep us entertained at camp, I get the feeling our travel times will be much quicker than previously thought what with the lack of snow and all =(

I think the water supply is before the shelter based off this:

"Before long, you arrive at the lean-to, just beyond its water supply."

It’s a small, piped spring about a hundred feet from the shelter. Since it’s up around 3600 feet, though, we can be sure that there will be some snow to melt. Maybe not the cleanest snow, but there will most certainly be enough for our purposes.

I would say go for the 0 degree bag, anyway, just in case. I know this is Backpacking LIGHT, but since it’s the first winter trip for a lot of folks, it’s best to err on the side of caution for now. Plus, like I said, Goddard is close to 3600 feet in elevation, so quite a bit higher than the town of Shaftsbury. Try the point forecast for Glastenbury.

Also, another word of warning, probably more than necessary… For driving into the trailhead, if you’re coming from Bennington VT, you’ll be turning left soon after a curve, and there’s a truck lane going up the hill. This is probably the safer direction to come from. If you’re coming from the east on route 9 (like me), the trailhead is a right-hand turn at the bottom of a long hill. Watch out for tailgaters behind you, and icy patches in the road– the forecast shows rain/snow on thursday and freezing on thursday night. You know how it is.

PS: anyone have a decent thermometer? I’d like to get an accurate impression of the lows while we’re out there, just to see how my sleeping bag works ;)

I don't think we will have to worry about no snow. There will definatly be snow at elevation. No clue what elevation that will be, I haven't been out yet this fall or are we calling it winter now? Anyways light snow tonight, and tomorrow. Then starting late wednesday early thursday the first real winter storm of the season (hopefully) is coming that will last through atleast Friday night. may not all be snow down low but at some elevation it will all be snow, mother nature and I had a talk this weekend and we are good. She loves me. Think snow and get your snowshoes ready positivity is key!

I’ll have my watch with me that I carry on my pack. It has a thermometer that I consider relatively accurate. It does not record highs/lows though, you’ll just have to sneak a peak every once in awhile. :p

That point forecast is cool. Can def see difference w/ the elevation. 0F bag it is… going to be cold Sat. night:

Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 15.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 4.

FWIW…I’ve been on a few hikes in the Catskills doing 3500 peaks and all of them thus far = lots of iced over sections (Microspikes will get the job done) and 1, none, or maybe 2in of snow at most in places. It would not be enough for me to melt or scrape together in a bowl. Granted the 3500 peaks are much more “scrambly” that this hike from what I gather, but similar elevation.

And there is the ski conditions from a resort 2mi from the trailhead according to Walter:
http://www.prospectmountain.com/ConditionsPage.html

This NOAA Page doesn’t show much precip either:
NOAA,/a>

updated the first post with the weather links.

I use noaa for generally what might be able to happen. I have found that they are consistently wrong, typically over dramatic. I know none of the weather sites ever get it 100% right but if you say the weather channel is about 75% right, I would put noaa at about half that. The snow depth thing is a cool tool but it only seems to work for a broad estimate, ie how are the entire southern green mountains doing on snow. It doesn't and can't (on the east coast anyway), due to the required work and data storage, take into accound elevation, wind, aspect… believe it or not one of the places I go the most to see how much new snow has fallen is look at ski resorts. They tell you how much they got in the best spot on the mountain so it is a bit optomistic but it does work to tell you if it is snowing light, medium, or heavy, and if you see nothing on their site it is raining ;)

Mt. Snow and Statton Mountain are in close proximity.

weathermen and baseball players…

The weather forcasts keep lower the expected temps for thursday by a few degrees a few times a day. They are now saying it should be a winter mix on thursday when just yesterday it was expected to be mostly rain… Keep doing the snow dance, and turn your heat down at the house, the temps are going to be cold saturday night. It looks like the storm will clear out and we will be sleeping under open skys at 3500' it will be pretty dang cold!

housemate's b/f (also, childhood friend of another housemate…) if joining us, though still trying to source a pair of snowshoes for him just in case…

what's the likely hood that either site's water source will not be frozen? or more directly, would it be worth me bringing the playtypus 4L water tank?

If we have Bryce's water bucket we will be fine.

Looking forward to this trip. Just picked up the Jameson so I know its going to be a good. My cousin's BF may be joining us – they both have all their own gear, but I can coordinate with them to ensure they will be set. I also have a 4L water tank that I can throw in just to be safe (since just my car looks like it will be 5 of us including Bryce — which we may end up carpooling into 2 cars if the BF shows up.).

Haven't bought Microspikes yet…..any thoughts as to if I should even bother, or just walk around icy sections ? I'm a bit hazy on the trail for this portion we'll be hiking (even though I did just do it…) so don't really know. I will be throwing the snowshoes in the car either way.

Bryce – sounds like 11am meeting in Canton to carpool is a go for my group. Let me know if that still works for you. The assumption is that we'd be at the trail around 1:30pm or so.

oh yea, we probably won't get there till at least 10pm, so save some room for our tent =) we'll also have a couple bottles of wine, but we can save them for night 2.

This is out of control… how many people do we have now? And, more importantly, how many stoves?

Looking forward to some chilly weather. This is going to be great.

Just got a call from my cousin. She pulled a hamstring riding a horse for 6 hours yesterday, and thus she and her boyfriend have backed out. Looks like it will be my brother, myself, and Bryce carpooling up. Bring on the snow !!

I have been nursing my knee and it is feeling better. I was able to work out pain free a few days ago, doing weighted squats and the like.

I still need to be careful twisting it. I went for a walk on Sunday at the beach, went to skip a stone into the ocean my knee reminded me it does not like that kind of torque just yet.

Anyway I am confident I will be able to handle the hike on it, and I am glad I recovered enough to go.

I am going to bring my canister stove with me. And do my best to keep it warm. If that fails there is always fire.

Ryan,

Google Maps has me driving right through Keene. Want to Car Pool? I was planning to get to the trailhead around noon as well.

Heck yeah, I can dig that. You've got my email address, right? I just need to make a stop in Brattleboro on the way…

Speaking of stoves and such, if we have fewer stoves it might make sense to do some group cooking if anybody's into that. Thoughts?

Point forecast from NOAA (yeah, I know…) says high of 5 on Glastenbury Sunday. I bet that sunrise is going to knock our socks off (if the cold doesn't already).

I will be bringing my newly acquired 4qt pot which should allow for faster cooking.

I'm also thinking of bringing my remote canister stove, I want to try some of the tricks I've read about.

I did purchase a 2lb block of aged Cabot cheddar from Costco…

That said, we probably won't be eating dinner Fri night on the mountain since we won't be getting in till late, or we may pack in sandwiches or something.

Ryan, I am right there with you. I am thinking wake up in time to run up to the summit tower and watch the sun rise and then come back down make breakfast, pack up and do the march down the mountain.

I think snowshoes are going to be where its at. All forcasts are pointing to the 100% snow line should be at or a little below 2000'. It also looks like everywhere is only going to be a bit of ice or mixed precip and mostely snow. I will be surprised if there is less than 8-12" of new snow in our high camp. -5 saturday night says NOAA without wind chill, and most others are in that range as well.

Steve the extra stove is a good idea.

PS I have some vodka coming along for the hike which will taste great with the new snow and a bit of ice crust!!!

Clint,

Sorry, I think my mouse (certainly not I :) ) jacked up your location on the memeber map. I think you're in the ocean now.

-Jesse

That's cool I just fixed it, looks like you put James Stewart in the Ocean as well.

Was this done in jest, jester? haha.