End-to-End on the Catamount Trail

Now I can truly say I'm a Catamount Trail "end-to-ender". To keep up with my B&B reservations I had to skip over section 5 and the beginning of section 6 due to an injury, and the end of section 11 due to darkness. After reaching the Canadian border I circled back and completed those sections.

Section 11b, 3/10

Old Plymouth Road to Tin Shanty

The snow was very soft from 45 degree temp and partly sunny skies, I had clumping on my skis after coming down off of Burnt Mountain. The trek up and down Burn Mountain was very enjoyable, not too steep, and some nice views near the top.

I saw a quail along the way.

Section 5, 3/11

Grout Pond Road to Kendall Farm Road

It was another warm day, reaching 50 degrees, with soft snow.

I had a nice break for lunch at the Stratton Pond Shelter, one of the few places on the trail where you can stop and relax in an enclosed space. I enjoyed the Stratton Pond Trail portion, it's very remote and scenic, as well as the long downhill to Kendall farm road.

I ski'd a 20 mile figure 8 to complete section 5, the trail was broken allowing me to make good time. I parked at West Ridge road off of the Stratton Mountain Access road. I ski'd up the International Paper road (snowmobile trail) 4 miles to where section 5 begins, and ski'd back along the Catamount Trail. When I got back to Stratton it was just Noon, so I ski'd the rest of section 5 and returned on the IP road.

As I was exiting on the access trail I ran into Hubert Schriebl, originally from Austria, who's been hiking and skiing the Stratton area mountains for the last 51 years. Hubert was taking pictures of a bridge on the CT access trail that a youth corps had built and that he had supervised.

Section 6a, 3/12

Kendall Farm Road to Hwy 30

The temperature dropped overnight and the soft wet snow turned to ice making the steep descent to Hwy 30 a good test of my ice skiing skills. I was very happy to have my magic carpets (skins) with me for the descent as well as the return climb.

There was a dusting of snow the night before making it easy to see lots of fresh bobcat tracks.

Rutland Herald/Montpellier Times Argus Catamount Trail Article

Here's an article on thru skiing the Catamount Trail, several of us who did the trail this year were interviewed for the article:

http://lindafreemanfitness.com/2015/03/08/thru-skiing-catamount-trail/

Stay Thirsty My Friends

My wife and I ski'd up and down the border looking for the boundary stone and gave up deciding to take pictures by the plastic boundary sign. As I was stamping down a place to take the photo I hit the boundary stone which was buried in snow - a lucky end to the trip ;).

We did it!

I say "we" because while I did the skiing, a lot of people helped make my adventure successful.

Thanks to Amy Kelsey and the Catamount Trail Association, the Trail Chiefs, and all of the volunteers who set up and maintain the trails. You made my journey possible.

To all the innkeepers and others who provided rides to/from the trail: you enabled me to ski the entire trail inn to inn.

Finally, thanks to my family for allowing me to indulge myself. Without your enthusiastic support, I wouldn't have taken up this adventure. 

I'm so glad I decided to take this trip. The challenge, the wilderness skiing, seeing winter wildlife/tracks, traveling inn to inn, meeting so many interesting people, overcoming some adversity, and not knowing what trail conditions I would face on a given day (the need for contingency planning) all added to the enjoyment of the trip.

Forest Trek

Birch Grove

Possum tracks

I saw moose, jack rabbit, red fox, and possum tracks today - lots of activity around Jay.

Jay Pass to Jay Village

Skiing today was easy and fun. The trail was largely broken with 3" of powder on top, and downhill. A few long downhill runs and some narrow chutes.

I could have easily finished today, but I'm going to wait for my wife to join me tomorrow to make sure we get pictures.

JR, the owner of the Jay Village Inn, gave me a ride up to the pass and I ski'd back to the inn in a few hours. The Restaurant at the Inn was really hoping last night. The place was packed, live music, and a boisterous crowd - good fun.

Skinning Up

Here's Andrew. He post holed while putting on his skins for the final ascent.

Near Jay Pass

Another great day of skiing.

I was joined by my friend and former work colleague Andrew Thurber for the day. It was great to have a companion to ski with for a change. We were breaking trail all day, so nice to share the burden.

I stayed at "The Inn" in Montgomery last night Scott and Nick have redecorated the Inn and created a very warm comfortable setting. Lots of nice sitting areas.

Scott is a professional photographer who has had a book published. We had some fun taking pics in front of the inn.

Nick was in corporate finance at AMEX in Manhatten and recognized the name of a very good friend, Sue Phillips, who's worked there for years.

Nick very kindly helped us drop Andrew's car off at Jay Pass, where we would finish, and then shuttled us over to Hazen's Notch.

Jay Peak from Hazen's Notch

Tomorrow's quest

Sugar Maple Collection

Hazen's Notch

Despite breaking trail for 2 miles of meadows and logging roads, it was another pretty easy day of skiing. 

I was going to call for a pickup at Hazen's notch, but there was no cell service. The backup plan was for me to go to Hazen's Notch XC Center. Looking at my map it looked like I could ski there on a snowmobile trail, but there was no connection. I ended up skiing into Montgomery and walking to my B&B - another 5 miles of ski/walk. Fortunately, it was all downhill so not too taxing.

I saw more Moose Tracks between Mine Road and Hwy 58, and not long after another grouse.

I stayed at the Rendesvous B&B in Lowell last night. There aren't any restaurants nearby, so Rod gave me a lift to the village store to get something for dinner. Rod and Donna have owned the B&B since 2006, it's a restored 1890's farm house. Rod's had some great life experiences, been in the service, worked for GTE, raced cars professionally, and worked as an auto mechanic. He's currently restoring a triumph - a type of car he used to race. Lots of fun talking to both of them. I also made friends with their dog Lollipop, a collie.

Alpacas at Wylie Hill Rd and Hwy 14

Mount Mansfield from Craftsbury

Had a relatively easy ski into Lowell from Craftsbury. I really enjoyed the section from Bailey Hazen Road into Lowell - nice views and in the wilderness. I saw more moose tracks just after leaving Bailey Hazen Rd. I also saw a white jack rabbit jumping away from me - my earlier identification of the tracks was correct.

At Craftsbury it's community dining. I had dinner and a nice conversation with Suzanne and Luly from New Haven and Michael and Joan from Putney. Luly was a Fulbright Scholar and researches Medieval literature. Michael said Putney was one of the original XC ski centers in the USA where Olympians would train. Everyone had heard of the wonderful Putney General Store  - I'll have to check it out.

Ski into Craftsbury

Had an easy day of skiing - the trail was either broken or groomed from Eden Mtn Rd to Craftsbury Outdoor Center.

I got a ride to the trailhead from Krum Sergiev. Krum was on the Bulgarian Ski Orienteering team back in the communist era. His relay team finished 2nd in the 1986 World Championship. Competing internationally gave Krum a chance to see beyond the Bulgarian border, and we talked about his eye opening experience of seeing the West (Austria) for the first time - fascinating.

Nearly stabbed a grouse

In the photo you can see the grouse's feather pattern beside its hole. Right above it you can see my pole mark. When I placed my pole the grouse took flight and causing me to jump out of my boots. My pole mark is just 12" from where the grouse was.

I saw 2 more grouse later in the day, all between Wiley Brook and Eden Mtn Rd.

Moose Tracks

Saw lots of Moose & jack rabbit tracks between Wiley Brook and Eden Mtn Rd.

Wiley Brook

Bushwhacking

Lots of trees down 2 miles South of Wiley  Brook. The downed trees went on for about a mile.

I broke trail for 5 miles today. Because of all the downed trees snow mobiles haven't used this portion of their trail system.