Quechee Gorge/Camel's Hump (pt.1)

Off to Vermont on another Moxie adventure. Vermont, home of the Green Mountains and Maple Syrup. We love Vermont.

Our first stop was Quechee Gorge in Quechee, Vt. Melt off has begun and the river was up and boiling. We walked down the side of the gorge to the dam at the bottom. The weather has given us an early spring without alot of tourists. Pretty much had the place to ourselves.

Slept in the van at the base of the ski slope they call Suicide Six. In the morning we drove up and over a couple of very steep mountain passes, headed for Camel's Hump, we could see off in the distance. One of the most recognised mountain sillouettes in New England and tied with Mt. Ellen to be the third highest mountain in Vt. at 4018 feet. Vermont's "Long Trail" goes up and over the summit as well.

Found the trail head at the end of another steep muddy mountain road. Up the Burrows trail we headed. Did I say UP! AND HOW! Snow was wishy-washy, mashed potato snow, slippery for Mom and Dad......DEEP & WET to a little dog like me. But I'm tough! I actually beat Mom to the top. Dad got a video of Me & Mom summiting.

I'm looking forward to a few extra hikes this spring with all this nice weather. This weekend alone was a gift. (play videos even if they appear black)

Quechee Gorge/Camel's Hump (pt.2)

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!!!

Early Spring in New England (pt. 1)

The new guidebook for the Northern Forrest Canoe Trail is out . First publication. I got it for Dad for his birthday. Now we can really begin our plans for a 2011 thru canoe of the entire trail. But for now.........Mother Nature has blesses New England with an incredible early spring. Guide book aside for now while we got out for some spring adventuring. We did several trips this week, so I'll touch base on each in my writing and then sit back, grab a cup of coffee and enjoy some of our pictures and videos (play videos even if they appear black)

Our week started with a trip north. All the snow is gone at lower elevations...quite early this year. We drove up the Kanc in the White mountains, parked and slept in the van beside snowbanks twice as tall as the van.....OH WE FOUND SNOW!. From the top of the Kanc, at the Sugar Hill overlook we began our spring. Down, down we washed with the first of the spring run off back down to lower lands. Driving around till we found a perfect breakfast spot. Bedell state park.....not a soul...PERFECT. Great breakfast and a walk through some huge corn fields.

The afternoon found us hiking up, up, up to the the top of a logging cutting. Beautiful sunny day, we basked for awhile then followed a babbling spring brook back down to the van.

Sunday we drove up to Portlandhead lighthouse and climbed the rock outcropping that is "Portlandhead". Stunning blue sky and ocean.

Yesterday we got in two short, steep brisk hikes up two different summits. Blue Job mountain has a fire tower and communication towers on it. (The trail up was covered...I mean COVERED with snow fleas. Everyfoot track was peppered with black specks. If you looked real close you can see them all moving. I'm just glad they don't like little dogs!) We've hiked Blue Job before. This time we bushwhacked up the front of the mountain....trails are for sissys....ha ha ! Easy with the visual of the tower....just head up up UP. Snack on top, met some very nice folks up there too.

Drove around after that until Dad spotted a sign that said "foot traffic welcome" Our curiosity got the best of us. A STEEP up, WELL REWARDED!!!! Fabulous rocky top with spectacular views Back to the towers on Blue job Mountain and to the valley below. GREAT find. Now enjoy our photos and videos and stayed tuned each week, I think "Team Moxie" is in for a very adventurous spring!! (play videos even if they appear black)

Early Spring in New England (pt.2)

(Play videos even if they appear black)