I'll be in late, I'm gunna try and see if I can get out early from work, but as it stands I'll probably be leaving Boston around 6pm.

my housemate got a kitchen scale, I'm finally officially weight all my stuff!...

She's a VT native and grew up hiking. In fact, her mom is on the Green Mountain Club Board. Also, I'll put money down that she's in better shape than any of the rest of us (combined?). So yea, we won't have to worry about her keeping up.

That said, we'll probably take my Nemo Losi 3p, in case there is anyone that wants to join us and the dog in the tent.

I'm still thinking of picking up the 4qt Al pot from REI...

As shown here:
http://www.prospectmountain.com/ConditionsPage.html

For those that have been on the trail should we bring Microspikes or is it really that gradual a trail that no traction devices are needed?

bring everything in the car?

I don't have crampons or microspikes, but I do have a pair of yaktrax I'll be bringing.

Good question. I have been pondering the same thing and I think I am going to decide what to bring Friday morning, after I see what happens with the storm they are predicting for next thursday-saturday. It doesn't seem like alot of precipitation is going to fall in that time line but the forecast is not sure how the precipitation will fall... Kinda annoyingly tricky. I am not going to bring my crampons because it won't be 100% ice making crampons more annoying than anything. Microspikes might be a great solution, but I don't own a pair. If I take anything it might be nothing at all and walk around nasty sections on the trail. I am even debating throwing my summer footwear in the car and wearing gaiters. Too soon for me to decide. Hope that helps muddy the snow...

Looking at weather for Shaftsbury, VT, if it weren't for next Sat. night, may not need the 0F capability. Hrmm...

yea, was looking at this with the housemate, this trip's turning into a bust as far as a proper winter hike. At least it'll be nice to hit the trail with y'all.

From:
link from Walter

"Upon descending to an old road, the 2-mile trek to the Goddard shelter begins. Departing the winderness, enter the day's first extensive evergreen forest and plod up a series of stone steps. Before long, you arrive at the lean-to, just beyond its water supply. Located 0.3 mile from the summit and roughly halfway along the journey, the Goddard shelter is a perfect place to overnight. Keep in mind, this can be a popular destination, so be prepared to tent nearby. From here, the 0.3-mile jaunt to the summit is straightforward. At the top, seven staircases lead above the forest canopy up the recently renovated tower. While the structure's height and see-through steps can be unnerving, the semmingly endless views enjoyed are well worth the nail-biting effort."

Looking at the Map, I don't see a water source just before the Goddard Shelter. Does anyone else see one on a map? If not, will be interesting finding water for camp the 2nd night....especially is there is no snow to melt. :o

Edited by bster13 on 01/08/2012 21:58:11 MST.

from reading the text, it sounds like Goddard shelter has a water supply of some sort on the other side of the leanto. some googling leads me to believe there is a small water source there, with warnings that in dry seasons it may be dried up. considering it has snowed and rained recently I don't think that would be an issue. I can bring my 4L platypus water tank.

I'm going to try and remember to bring a deck or two of cards, and my folding frisbee to give us keep us entertained at camp, I get the feeling our travel times will be much quicker than previously thought what with the lack of snow and all =(

I think the water supply is before the shelter based off this:

"Before long, you arrive at the lean-to, just beyond its water supply."

It's a small, piped spring about a hundred feet from the shelter. Since it's up around 3600 feet, though, we can be sure that there will be some snow to melt. Maybe not the cleanest snow, but there will most certainly be enough for our purposes.

I would say go for the 0 degree bag, anyway, just in case. I know this is Backpacking LIGHT, but since it's the first winter trip for a lot of folks, it's best to err on the side of caution for now. Plus, like I said, Goddard is close to 3600 feet in elevation, so quite a bit higher than the town of Shaftsbury. Try the point forecast for Glastenbury.

Also, another word of warning, probably more than necessary... For driving into the trailhead, if you're coming from Bennington VT, you'll be turning left soon after a curve, and there's a truck lane going up the hill. This is probably the safer direction to come from. If you're coming from the east on route 9 (like me), the trailhead is a right-hand turn at the bottom of a long hill. Watch out for tailgaters behind you, and icy patches in the road-- the forecast shows rain/snow on thursday and freezing on thursday night. You know how it is.

PS: anyone have a decent thermometer? I'd like to get an accurate impression of the lows while we're out there, just to see how my sleeping bag works ;)

Edited by ryan.c.linn on 01/09/2012 06:39:04 MST.

I don't think we will have to worry about no snow. There will definatly be snow at elevation. No clue what elevation that will be, I haven't been out yet this fall or are we calling it winter now? Anyways light snow tonight, and tomorrow. Then starting late wednesday early thursday the first real winter storm of the season (hopefully) is coming that will last through atleast Friday night. may not all be snow down low but at some elevation it will all be snow, mother nature and I had a talk this weekend and we are good. She loves me. Think snow and get your snowshoes ready positivity is key!

I'll have my watch with me that I carry on my pack. It has a thermometer that I consider relatively accurate. It does not record highs/lows though, you'll just have to sneak a peak every once in awhile. :p

That point forecast is cool. Can def see difference w/ the elevation. 0F bag it is... going to be cold Sat. night:

Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 15.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 4.


FWIW...I've been on a few hikes in the Catskills doing 3500 peaks and all of them thus far = lots of iced over sections (Microspikes will get the job done) and 1, none, or maybe 2in of snow at most in places. It would not be enough for me to melt or scrape together in a bowl. Granted the 3500 peaks are much more "scrambly" that this hike from what I gather, but similar elevation.

And there is the ski conditions from a resort 2mi from the trailhead according to Walter:
http://www.prospectmountain.com/ConditionsPage.html

This NOAA Page doesn't show much precip either:
NOAA,/a>

updated the first post with the weather links.

I use noaa for generally what might be able to happen. I have found that they are consistently wrong, typically over dramatic. I know none of the weather sites ever get it 100% right but if you say the weather channel is about 75% right, I would put noaa at about half that. The snow depth thing is a cool tool but it only seems to work for a broad estimate, ie how are the entire southern green mountains doing on snow. It doesn't and can't (on the east coast anyway), due to the required work and data storage, take into accound elevation, wind, aspect... believe it or not one of the places I go the most to see how much new snow has fallen is look at ski resorts. They tell you how much they got in the best spot on the mountain so it is a bit optomistic but it does work to tell you if it is snowing light, medium, or heavy, and if you see nothing on their site it is raining ;)

Mt. Snow and Statton Mountain are in close proximity.

weathermen and baseball players...

The weather forcasts keep lower the expected temps for thursday by a few degrees a few times a day. They are now saying it should be a winter mix on thursday when just yesterday it was expected to be mostly rain... Keep doing the snow dance, and turn your heat down at the house, the temps are going to be cold saturday night. It looks like the storm will clear out and we will be sleeping under open skys at 3500' it will be pretty dang cold!

housemate's b/f (also, childhood friend of another housemate...) if joining us, though still trying to source a pair of snowshoes for him just in case...

what's the likely hood that either site's water source will not be frozen? or more directly, would it be worth me bringing the playtypus 4L water tank?

If we have Bryce's water bucket we will be fine.

Looking forward to this trip. Just picked up the Jameson so I know its going to be a good. My cousin's BF may be joining us - they both have all their own gear, but I can coordinate with them to ensure they will be set. I also have a 4L water tank that I can throw in just to be safe (since just my car looks like it will be 5 of us including Bryce -- which we may end up carpooling into 2 cars if the BF shows up.).

Haven't bought Microspikes yet.....any thoughts as to if I should even bother, or just walk around icy sections ? I'm a bit hazy on the trail for this portion we'll be hiking (even though I did just do it...) so don't really know. I will be throwing the snowshoes in the car either way.

Bryce - sounds like 11am meeting in Canton to carpool is a go for my group. Let me know if that still works for you. The assumption is that we'd be at the trail around 1:30pm or so.