Visiting two of Rutland's finer places!

Trip Details

Date: July 25^th, 2015

Total Distance: 12.12 mi (via Trimble Outdoors Navigator Pro on iPhone 4S)

Total Time: 5 hours 20 minutes

Total Elevation: 3005 ft gained

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My wife is from the beautiful Rutland (a.k.a., RutVegas), VT area so whenever we go up there we are surrounded by the Green Mountains just like when I head up north into the White Mountains. Three of the New England 100 Highest are hanging out right there on the edge of the city. Killington Peak is the second highest peak in Vermont and then Pico Peak and Mendon Peak are members of the New England 100 Highest. All three are attached by a ridge, but with only one car Pico requires a long out and back so Boomer and I decided to do the Mendon and Killington loop. The twist is that Mendon is one of the peaks on the New England 100 Highest that is 100% trail less.

After much research it looked like an easy enough peak to bushwhack to the summit of Mendon Peak. An old logging road goes all the way to the ridge and then from there you follow herd paths to the summit. From the Bucklin Trailhead at Brewers Corner, take a left on Wheelerville Rd and then go past the gate on the road directly in front of you. This forest access road is used as a Catamount Cross-Country Ski Trail in the winter, logging activities, and leads to a couple of homes/camps. Continue along this road and stay left on the road when the Catamount Cross-Country Ski Trail turns right. The road then passes a red house/camp on the left. I would have taken a photo but the owner was actually outside chainsawing logs. At the time I was unsure if this was a private road or not (it is not) so as the owner had his head down actively chainsawing, Boomer and I moved fast up the road and quickly got behind the large log pile that blocked us from his view as we moved further down the road. The owner is actively logging in the area so the road is torn up quite a bit. Eventually the road either goes straight or turns left. Stay straight as the logging activity is going on to left.

The easy way to Mendon Peak starts at this gate.

The next fork will either take you to another house/camp if you take the right. You want to continue straight here through the little overgrown section on to the old logging road. Continue along the old logging road until you get to the next fork where both directions look overgrown. At this point I meant to take the left path, which leads you on the bypass trail and skips the first two water crossings. I thought the previous fork was this bypass trail so I took the right path, which continues down towards the first water crossing. This is the more difficult crossings as it is not clear where to cross and where the old logging road picks up again. After crossing, I climbed up the embankment and found the old logging road. We pushed through the mud (wishing we were on the bypass) and continued along towards the second crossing. There is a sign on the other side of the Eddy Brook here for those going in the opposite direction that helps indicate you are going the correct way.

Continue straight here into the trees and through the bit of overgrown grass. You do not want to take the right fork here.

First crossing. Picture is taken after we crossed.

Small waterfall at the second crossing.

Second crossing. This photo is taken after we crossed.

This sign is on a tree right after the second crossing.

After the second crossing you pass where the bypass trail rejoins the main trail and then start to gain some elevation. Eventually you come to the third crossing and then eventually make your way to the fourth crossing. This one is a bit tough to follow, but again a sign for those going in the opposite way helps to indicate you are going the correct way. On the other side of the crossing is a small cairn and then you have to make a steep climb with good footing up the logging road. At the top of the climb is the first of three cairns. The herd path starts at the third cairn, but you have to continue to climb up switchbacks until you get to the third cairn. The second cairn is after the first switchback. The third cairn is the smallest and is a bit tough to spot, but if you get to the ski stretcher than you have gone too far.

Here is where the bypass rejoins the main logging road.

Boomer at the third crossing.

This sign is just before the fourth crossing.

Fourth crossing. This is taken after we crossed.

Small cairn on the side of the logging road after you cross.

The first of three cairns. This one is at the start of the switchbacks.

Looking back towards the blowdowns we had to deal with on the climb up to the first cairn.

Looking at the blowndowns we had to deal with after passing the first cairn.

Second of three cairns. This one is after the first switchback.

Old logging equipment just before the third of three cairns.

The third of three cairns. The herd path starts just past this.

If you see and pass the ski stretcher you have gone too far.

It is clear where the herd path starts and some orange ribbons on trees help out. The orange ribbons are not reliable though so just do your best to stay on the herd path. It is pretty clear where it goes except for a small section about a 1/3 of the way in where a bunch of blowdowns have obscured it. If you find yourself no longer following a path just backtrack and look around a bit more. Eventually, you should see the new herd path that makes its way around the blowdown. After this section the herd path becomes crystal clear and is even easier to follow than legit trails in the White Mountains at times. We never had to push through thick spruce or make some sketchy ascents. The herd path followed the path of least resistance to the east summit and then over to the true summit of Mendon Peak.

The herd path is straight ahead.

During the final climb you may come across this marker someone made. It is starting to fade so you could easily miss it (I did on the way up). The herd path actually clearly goes around this and not over it as the marker would suggest.

We stopped and took photos from the east ledge first and then made it over to the canister and signed it. After some photos and snacks, Boomer and I jumped back on the herd path and made it quickly back to the third cairn in about 20 minutes. It is that easy to follow. At this point we stayed on the old logging road and passed the ski stretcher to start our trip over to Killington Peak. The old logging road comes to a T-intersection where you want to take the right and ascend up a bit. This gets you on the top of the headwall and then follows it around. Just stay on this until the road fades away and the herd path turns right. A steep ascent with good footing that is easy to follow then makes its way up to the Long Trail.

View from the east ledge. Looking back over the east summit of Mendon Peak and towards Killington Peak.

Close-up of the east summit of Mendon Peak.

Close-up of Killington Peak.

Looking south with Dorset Mountain in the background.

Close-up again with Dorset Mountain in the background on the left.

Looking southeast.

Looking at Little Killington and Shrewsbury Peak.

A close-up of Little Killington and Shrewsbury Peak with Mt. Ascutney coming into view in the background.

A close-up of Mt. Ascutney.

Sometimes Boomer thinks picture time is wrestle time.

Once on the Long Trail it is a quick trip to Copper Lodge and then a short steep scramble up to the summit of Killington Peak. We took some photos and enjoyed some snacks and then made our way down to the intersection of the Long Trail and the Bucklin Trail.

The herd path rejoins the Long Trail at this point. The dead brush is piled up to try and keep individuals on the trail and not wandering into the woods.

Looks cozy, but would keep you dry!

Looking north towards Pico Peak.

Looking north.

Looking southwest and back towards Mendon Peak.

Communication and lookout towers on the summit. Since Boomer was with me I did not get a chance to go up into the lookout tower.

Looking towards Killington Resort.

Rutland, VT

1873 or 1973?

The Bucklin Trail is steep but once all the elevation is gone it is just a nice flat path back to the trailhead. There is a nice waterfall along the way and a couple of bridges crossing parts of Brewers Brook. Boomer enjoyed cooling off at these sections.

Waterfall

Boomer enjoying the pool at the waterfall.

Boomer cooling off under the bridge.

That is about as close as Boomer got to the second bridge. He chose to ford the river instead.

Boomer fording the river.

No issues with porcupines on Mendon or Killington, thankfully as Boomer was off leash most of the day.

The trailhead sign that is not at the trailhead.

A map of the Catamount Cross-Country Ski Trails in the area.

The trailhead sign at the trailhead.

The trail map. This map indicates the road going by the home/camp is a forest access road.

For your information...

Overall, this was a great hike and the bushwhack is basically a straightforward trail that everyone should do. Mendon Peak has great views and is very peaceful.

As usual I would not fully trust my mileage reported. It was probably a mile or two shorter. The map is spot on though as when I would lose the herd path I could just follow back to where I started before getting lost and re-evaluate which way to go.