Mount Equinox Hike

On Saturday, November 28th, we met up at the Red Gate Trailhead for the Burr and Burton Trail (Blue Trail).  I waited at the trailhead until 9:15AM and then I decided to drive around and see where the other 2 guys were.  I happened to find Bob over on Equinox Pond Road (he had forgotten the directions).  We headed back to the trailhead and got ready.  The other guy didn't show up, but I found out later that he had removed himself from the hike that morning.  At about 9:45AM we started out.  It was still a little overcast, particularly around the mountaintop, but there were signs of clearing.  The trail was initially just covered in leafs, but it quickly changed to light snow on the ground.  Bob was having a hard time with the footing and the difficulty of the trail, so after a little concern and proding we both decided it was probably best if he did not continue.  We parted here and I pressed on.  Continuing a little further and the trail was completely covered in snow...and it continued to get deeper as I gained elevation.  There was a single set of tracks on the trail until about two-thirds of the way up and then they just veered off into the woods (this was shortly after where the trail leaves the carriage road).  From here on the trail was totally unbroken.  Trudging through the snow was strenuous...by this point there was a good 6 to 10 inches on the ground.  Who knew that snowshoes might have been handy for this hike!  The trail was pretty easy to follow though and by this time the sun had emerged from the clouds.  It was beautiful and peaceful in the snow-covered woods and there were only limited obscured views from the trail itself.  By about noon, I finally reached the ridge.  From here I took the short trail to the right to take in the views from Lookout Rock.  Here there is a stone bench with an awesome view down on Manchester Village and across the valley towards Bromley and Stratton.  From here I backtracked to the trail junction and headed up to the summit of Equinox.  Along the way there's a short TV tower and an interesting memorial to two dogs, which had belonged to the members of the monestary.  One of them is marked by an elaborate headstone and other by a plaque.  A short distance further I began to see the a taller tower through the trees.  This is on the summit along with a rather run down building; once part of the monestary, it now appears to be used for the autoroad tourists.  From the “porch” of the building there is an amazing view to the west/northwest.  I walked around the summit, exploring the buildings and taking in the views before deciding to start back.  There were no signs that anyone had been up to the summit since it had snowed.  There was brisk wind on top, but it was not as brutal as I thought it would be.  I continued back to the trail junction and started my descent.  On the way back I picked a nice sunny clearing to have my lunch.  At about halfway down, I finally encountered others who were just starting up...and seemingly not very prepared for the trail conditions...sneakers and sweatshirts!  When I got back to the trailhead about 2PM there was now a nice view of Equinox from the parking lot.

Although it wasn't my intent to do this hike alone, it was an incredible day out...very reflective and peaceful.  The snow was just what I needed to get into the holiday spirit!  A special thanks to Bob for making the trip and trying even though this particular hike was not for him.

Join me for this 7 mile hike up to the summit of Mount Equinox using the Burr and Burton Trail (Blue Summit Trail).  Mount Equinox (3816') is one of the principal peaks of southern Vermont and offers wonderful views of the Taconics, the Green Mountains, Adirondacks and the valleys below.  There is a big rundown building at the top, which is some sort of monastery.  A short distance from the summit is Lookout Rock with a view directly down on Manchester Village.  The elevation gain is roughly 2850 feet.

Trailhead:  Take Seminary Avenue off of Main Street (VT Rt. 7A) in Manchester, VT.  This will bear to the left and turn into Prospect Street near the Burr & Burton Seminary.  Take the next right to turn onto West Union Street and proceed to the parking area towards the end.  This is where the Red Gate Trail starts.  Look for a grey Toyota Corolla.

What to Bring:  Typical fall hiking gear should be appropriate:  hiking pants, good sturdy hiking boots with thick socks and a windbreaker/fleece/layers (it is likely to be chilly on top, even if it's a warm day...be prepared for winter conditions at the summit).  Also bring along lunch, snacks and plenty of water.  Optionally, sunscreen and anything else that you may require for a day hike. 

Afterwards:  We should be completed with the hike by 4-5 PM.  If there is sufficient interest, we'll cap the day off with dinner/drinks in the area afterwards.