The Mountains Call To Me

The Monroe Trail is reached from Waterbury on the East side of Camels Hump. I was not expecting views today and wasn't even sure if I could make it to the summit. Round trip it would be 7 miles and my ankle is still recovering from being broken in September. A gray snowy day with nothing but silence in the woods. I didn't make it to the top, but had a great hike. Finally, after hiking the snowy road for a ways I reach the trailhead. The first 2.5 to 3 miles of this hike is a modest steady climb. The junction with the Dean Trail is at 1.7 miles and it is always a good place to take a break. Up until this point I was wearing micro-spikes but from here the snow gets deeper and I could see where someone was post-holing (a no-no in hiker's etiquette ). The trail actually skirts to the left of these rocks and eventually works its way through them. It's still at least a mile to the summit.   It's a strange feeling to know that you are the only human for miles aro...

The hike starts at Elmore State Park; from the back left side of the parking lot head towards the park, turn left after reaching a building. There will be a small sign that says trails with an arrow. The trail follows a road for a while then eventually leaves the road. It's a popular trail to a view point where once stood an old fire warden's cabin. From here you can see the fire tower. The trail to the tower is steep and treacherous. It is always icy in winter and micro-spikes or crampons should be used. On the way down I took the path less traveled (surprise!). The Ridge Trail is one mile longer but a safer way to descend the mountain. This trail is a 3.7 mile loop hike with 1,222 feet of elevation gain, but in winter you can add at least another couple miles and more elevation, because the road is not plowed to the trailhead. This is a view of the road. It's a multi-use trail. Please snowshoe to the side and don't posthole! A nice gradual climb winded throu...