Link to full photo album: https://photos.app.goo.gl/sxgu9JJ3QqxdS7FC9
I recently hiked the Glastenbury Loop (PDF link) in the Glastenbury Wilderness in VT's Green Mountain National Forest over 3 days. This is a trip that I've had on my "to do" list for years now, and I finally was able to make it happen last week.
My itinerary was as follows:
I did take the side trip out to Little Pond- definitely a worthwhile detour. The side trail is relatively easy (and doesn't lose a whole lot of elevation that then must be regained), and the pond was quiet and serene.
Similarly, despite not being on the loop itself, the added 0.6 miles round trip up to the summit of Glastenbury Mountain and back was worth the added effort. The fire tower on the summit affords stellar views of the surrounding area. Mt. Greylock was visible to the south, Stratton Mountain dominated the views to the north, and Mt. Equinox filled the horizong to the northwest.
The timing of my trip did put me right in the middle of the northbound (NOBO) bubble of AT thru-hikers- so the shelters sites were moderately busy both nights. For the most part, the shelters were quiet despite the large numbers of hikers camped at each one. There is a summit campsite on Glastenbury Mountain that had a more flamboyant group camped in it (thru-hikers looking for more of a "social" thru-hiking experience). The Melville Nauheim shelter did have some nice tenting options nearby (including a particularly nice established campsite just east of the shelter). The Goddard shelter however had fewer nice tenting options in the vicinity, although I was able to find a nice spot some distance uphill of the shelter.
The Goddard shelter apparently had recent issues with nuisance bear activity, and in fact was closed until about 5 days prior to my trip for that reason. Apparently a couple of VT game wardens ended up hiking in and euthanizing the bear that had been causing problems, at which point the shelter was re-opened. Based on entries in the shelter log book, it was an unfortunately necessary course of action- the bear had grown increasingly aggressive and had even taken to tearing the outhouse apart at one point.
It wasn't an issue on my trip, but I did read a couple of entries in the log book at the Melville Nauheim shelter that mentioned that Hell Hollow Brook, located about a mile or so north of that shelter, can be impossible to safely cross when the water is running high (i.e., during Spring snow melt). A few hikers making April trips into the area reported that they were unable to cross the stream.
The West Ridge portion of the loop was quiet and full of solitude- in contrast to the AT/LT, this trail clearly gets relatively little use (although it was generally well maintained). I was curious to see if there were any camping options along this trail, and I did find some- including open forest in which primitive camping could easily be done near beaver ponds, about a mile west of the Goddard shelter. There were also two campsites on Bald Mountain- a well established one about 100 feet north of the summit, and a less-well-established-but-still-nice site about a tenth of a mile downhill further to the north of that. Both of the Bald Mountain sites were dry sites, however, with no water sources nearby. It is mostly downhill from the Goddard shelter to Bald Mountain, however, so if one were willing to carry water across this distance, they could easily turn this into a 4 day/3 night trip to make it even easier overall.
Bald Mountain usually has some decent views from the trail junction, located just south of the summit, but the mountain was unfortunately socked in with cloud cover when I hiked through.
There is a seasonal spring not far off the summit of Bald Mountain called "Bear Wallow." I detoured to it briefly while descending back to Harbour Road, and found little more than a puddle of mud. And this was in spite of the heavy rains that had passed through earlier in the morning. It's definitely safe to say that this should not be relied on as a water source in any conditions.
Overall, definitely a nice trip for moderate effort. The AT/LT stretch can be busy, but the opportunities for solitude can be good on the west leg of the loop. And while it's not quite the Great Range or the Tongue Mountain Range, there's enough decent scenery along the way to make it a trip worth undertaking. For anyone looking to branch out of the Adirondacks, the Glastenbury Loop could be a good bet. :)
I recently hiked the Glastenbury Loop (PDF link) in the Glastenbury Wilderness in VT's Green Mountain National Forest over 3 days. This is a trip that I've had on my "to do" list for years now, and I finally was able to make it happen last week.
My itinerary was as follows:
- Day 1: Hike the Appalachian Trail/Long Trail from the Route 9 trailhead to the Melville Nauheim Shelter. Tent camp near the shelter for Night #1.
- Day 2: Hike the AT/LT from the Melville Nauheim Shelter to the Goddard shelter. Summit Glastenbury Mountain after setting up camp, and return to the shelter for Night #2.
- Day 3: Hike the West Ridge Trail from the Goddard Shelter to Bald Mountain, and then the Bear Wallow Trail to Harbor Road, and then Harbor Road/Route 9 back to the AT/LT trailhead.
I did take the side trip out to Little Pond- definitely a worthwhile detour. The side trail is relatively easy (and doesn't lose a whole lot of elevation that then must be regained), and the pond was quiet and serene.
Similarly, despite not being on the loop itself, the added 0.6 miles round trip up to the summit of Glastenbury Mountain and back was worth the added effort. The fire tower on the summit affords stellar views of the surrounding area. Mt. Greylock was visible to the south, Stratton Mountain dominated the views to the north, and Mt. Equinox filled the horizong to the northwest.
The timing of my trip did put me right in the middle of the northbound (NOBO) bubble of AT thru-hikers- so the shelters sites were moderately busy both nights. For the most part, the shelters were quiet despite the large numbers of hikers camped at each one. There is a summit campsite on Glastenbury Mountain that had a more flamboyant group camped in it (thru-hikers looking for more of a "social" thru-hiking experience). The Melville Nauheim shelter did have some nice tenting options nearby (including a particularly nice established campsite just east of the shelter). The Goddard shelter however had fewer nice tenting options in the vicinity, although I was able to find a nice spot some distance uphill of the shelter.
The Goddard shelter apparently had recent issues with nuisance bear activity, and in fact was closed until about 5 days prior to my trip for that reason. Apparently a couple of VT game wardens ended up hiking in and euthanizing the bear that had been causing problems, at which point the shelter was re-opened. Based on entries in the shelter log book, it was an unfortunately necessary course of action- the bear had grown increasingly aggressive and had even taken to tearing the outhouse apart at one point.
It wasn't an issue on my trip, but I did read a couple of entries in the log book at the Melville Nauheim shelter that mentioned that Hell Hollow Brook, located about a mile or so north of that shelter, can be impossible to safely cross when the water is running high (i.e., during Spring snow melt). A few hikers making April trips into the area reported that they were unable to cross the stream.
The West Ridge portion of the loop was quiet and full of solitude- in contrast to the AT/LT, this trail clearly gets relatively little use (although it was generally well maintained). I was curious to see if there were any camping options along this trail, and I did find some- including open forest in which primitive camping could easily be done near beaver ponds, about a mile west of the Goddard shelter. There were also two campsites on Bald Mountain- a well established one about 100 feet north of the summit, and a less-well-established-but-still-nice site about a tenth of a mile downhill further to the north of that. Both of the Bald Mountain sites were dry sites, however, with no water sources nearby. It is mostly downhill from the Goddard shelter to Bald Mountain, however, so if one were willing to carry water across this distance, they could easily turn this into a 4 day/3 night trip to make it even easier overall.
Bald Mountain usually has some decent views from the trail junction, located just south of the summit, but the mountain was unfortunately socked in with cloud cover when I hiked through.
There is a seasonal spring not far off the summit of Bald Mountain called "Bear Wallow." I detoured to it briefly while descending back to Harbour Road, and found little more than a puddle of mud. And this was in spite of the heavy rains that had passed through earlier in the morning. It's definitely safe to say that this should not be relied on as a water source in any conditions.
Overall, definitely a nice trip for moderate effort. The AT/LT stretch can be busy, but the opportunities for solitude can be good on the west leg of the loop. And while it's not quite the Great Range or the Tongue Mountain Range, there's enough decent scenery along the way to make it a trip worth undertaking. For anyone looking to branch out of the Adirondacks, the Glastenbury Loop could be a good bet. :)
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