Jamaica, VT - The End

Tuesday June 15, 2010

One of the main reasons we came back to Vermont for this time period was so that I could hide in the woods for my birthday. This would be my 40th so I definitely wanted to be nowhere near home. It was perfect. Uneventful. Just me, Mrs and Vermont.

We had a visitor in the lean to overnight. Mrs awoke to the sound of 'something' in the trash. We had loosely planned to put the garbage bag in the 4 Runner for the night because of the packaging that contained the chicken we had for supper. We forgot, and sure enough 'something' had arrived to check it out.

I cautiously opened the door of the camper and pointed the flashlight towards the bag which was hanging inside the lean to. Seeing no bear, I got out and took a closer look. I found the trash bag still hanging, but shredded and some of the contents littering the top of the cooler and floor of the lean to. There were several raccoon tracks on the floor as well. Mrs got up to help me place the destroyed bag inside a new one and this time we stored it inside the car.

Back to bed.


Our plan for the day was to go to Townshend State Park and hike up Bald Mountain, a year to the day since we last hiked it.

We arrived at Townshend just after 11:00 am; mostly sunny about 68 degrees. We parked and noticed some workers taking cuttings of the hemlock trees to the right of the main access road near the ranger station. It was obvious to me as I got closer what they were sampling. The Hemlock Wood Adelgid has been found in the area and we saw some in the trees here. The scientist was very interested in telling us about the work they were doing. Apparently there is going to be a release of a fungus that is in the experimental stages to see if they can get control of the adelgid. The adelgid is a tiny insect that is native to Japan and perhaps China and has infested much of the eastern US. They feed on the base of the needles damaging cells that transport or store nutrients. More info can be found here at a handy informational site from Duke University.

On to the hike.

The trail begins in the campground between two sites in the lower section of campsites. and crosses a bridge over a stream coming down from the mountain.




Some sights on the trail and at the top.


Rock hemlock.

Relaxing in the sun on Bald Mountain.

We had a bite to eat and enjoyed a rest on the rocks warmed by the sun, then decided to head back.

Just behind the ranger's station is this structure. According to the information provided by the park, this building originally served as the wash house for the Civilian Conservation Corps and was rebuilt and converted to storage, and later into the current nature center.

This odd looking structure is located behind the nature center and is the original concrete and brick furnace used to heat water for the wash building.

Interior shot of the nature center. Great historical items from the Civilian Conservation Corps and natural history topics.

An excellent day.

On the way back, we stopped in Jamaica so Mrs could get a couple more things from Hot Glass Works. I waited in the car and people watched. At D&K's I watched a number of people, mostly 50 and older, showing up for soft-serve ice cream. The scene was similar to what you would expect at a coffee shop in the morning. The usual characters at their normal times coming in for coffee and chatting a bit.

This was later in the afternoon and was clearly a normal routine that I enjoyed watching.

This gentleman went into the store and came out with a cone and a cup. He went to his car and let his dog out from the back seat and sat at a picnic table next to the building enjoying their treats. It was one of the sweetest things I have seen in a while.

Back at camp, we showered and then walked around the campground enjoying the last bit of time we had there and taking some pictures.

West River from the bridge to the state park.


The bridge just prior to the park entrance.

The Ranger Station at Jamaica. Hope to be back there soon.