The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-01-15


above route from Somerset Reser
yoir to Arlington road was attempt
ed. 1t is not made entirely clear
whether the route was by this trail
or logging road, but whichever II
was, II soon was lost in the slash OF
a lumber job operating west of the
reservoir. The party struck across
country for the Arlington road and
found il near the Kelly Stand. On
their way to West Wardsboro at
CIRCUITS Pond they passed the road
which had been lest The trail at
this point needs working out and
guide+posting. Twenty-Five miles of
trail ready made is u decided find,
particularly as it~at once places Ben
nington on the Long Trail.
Trail No. 2. Bennington to Heart
MELVILLE, II miles This trail is too
well known to call for any special
comment. 1t is valuable adjunct
to the loop idea, as it crosses sever
al trails.
Trail No. 3. Bennington to the
Massachusetts Line. The Heart well
vile trail is taken to the Elbow.
South from this point secondary
road leads TO Sucker Pond. These
secondary roads are the mountain
roads Of the back country, and they
are wider than trail, otherwise there
is very little difference. From Sue
ker Pond trail continues south to
the road to Pownal Center. Half a
mile west on this road a secondary
road leads TO the state line, and
continues by road to North Adams,
) miles distant. The entire distance
from Bennington is IS miles.
Here the entry to the Green Noun
tains is through a noble gateway
whose western guardian is The Dome
1854 feet. Seven miles across, an
unnamed peak of the Hoosac Range,
3O14 feet stands guard at the east.
Directly back Of the middle of the
gateway towers an unnamed peak.
SOS9 feet, the leader of an army
whose serried ranks extend to Can
ada. Glastonbury mountain, the
highest peak of the Bennington
region is Is miles directly north of
this gateway, and its elevation of
1854 feet so completely oyertops any
mountains between. that from its
summit, Greylock mountain, "a miles
away. must be seen directly through
tho gateway.
The unnamed peaks mentioned
and others at the east of the quad
rangle deserve names which will be
as distinctive as many of the fine
names which characterize the noun
tains OF Bennington County, The
Scallop, The Pattern. The Purchase
and The Oxbowo are some names in
the Taconic Range 70 which the pre-
fix of the definite article gives indl-
viduality. From its position at the
gateway, and the suggestion of an
army behind it. the middle peak
might be called The Sentinel. This
peak, the Hoosac Range peak, and
one other, all in Stamford, are all
over 5000 feet in height and UNI
named. The highest mountain out
of the Glastonbury range 1880 feet, is
also unnamed. 1t lies directly south
of Glastonbury mountain and Trail
No. / passes between them. This
matter of the Gateway seemed
worth lingering over, but there are
miles of trail to cover. so we must
once more hit the trail.
There remains three trails desir
able as Main Trails, but these, TO
make them effective, all need some
additional trail built. In the order
If the least new trail to be cut we
lave.
Trail No. 4. Heartwellville to
Stratton mountain via Billings Pond
md Somerset. This trail strikes
North along the zero Pond Brook |
rom the Bennington Trail No. ?.
IL miles west of Heartwellvlne. |
following to the headwaters OF the
'rook, ii then arrives at Billings
'ond, and continues down the Rake |
iranch until it comes TO an abrupt |
top over the boundary in Searsburs |
ear the Somerset line. 8 miles. |
rom this point the cutting of 1.a
lilies of trail TO the north west will |
trike trail at Castle Brook which |
lads to Trail No. l, 1-9 miles. at
ONT just before 1t enters Somerset
n its way TO Stratton mountain.
tradition has II that road was
nee surveyed between Dover and
and partly opened. This
all which starts for nowhere and
.ops abruptly before it gets there.
lay be a part OF this abandoned
'ad
Trail No. 5. Heartwellville to the
massachusetts, Line and North Ad.
ms. The trail to Bennington is fol
wed to a point 3 miles west. then a
all TO Stamford Pond is taken.
hich continues south to the road to
amford. . miles from the village.
miles. From this point. without
~ trail building. the trip may be
west on the Pownal Cen.
r road. 3 1-2 miles. to where Trail
D. 3 is encountered on its way TO
massachusetts,.