The Belvidere Fireplace Tower is a particular landmark on the northern half of Vermont’s Lengthy Path, with commanding views of the Inexperienced Mountains to the north and south, together with Jay Peak and Camels Hump. An inactive asbestos strip mine lies on the southwest base of the mountain with towering piles of tailings which may very well be referred to as mountains in their very own proper. Most individuals don’t see them after they climb the hearth tower from the south, however they’re laborious to overlook if you happen to method Belvidere Mountain from the west on the facet trails resulting in the Lengthy Path.
This summer time, I’ve been climbing off the overwhelmed path, engaged on the Inexperienced Mountain Membership’s Lengthy Path side-to-side path checklist, which traces all of the facet trails (blue-blazed trails) that result in the Lengthy Path from the east and west. It’s a wonderful method to go to all of the small cities that run from south to north on the west and east sides of the Lengthy Path to get to know the state and its totally different areas. I’m considering a transfer from New Hampshire to Vermont so I might be nearer to trails I haven’t hiked or backpacked earlier than since I’ve hiked the White Mountain Path system in New Hampshire and Western Maine to dying. Having accomplished two White Mountain Information Redlines and the 4000 footer Grid, I’m hankering to discover new terrain in Vermont within the close by Adirondacks.
Exploring Vermont this fashion has been thrilling, rekindling the enjoyment I really feel when driving down unmarked dust roads in the course of nowhere to hike on new trails to new locations. Vermont has additionally grown on me with its distinctive mixture of down-home earthiness and sociopolitical sophistication. The state’s mantra is Freedom and Unity, emphasizing camaraderie, coexistence, and joint motion even when individuals disagree. Residents are extraordinarily energetic on the native stage, taking part on the town and state authorities and concerned in a variety of group actions to information and personal outcomes. After residing in states the place individuals really feel entitled however aren’t keen to roll up their shirt sleeves to pitch in, it’s a breath of recent air.
With my Delorme Street Atlas open on the seat subsequent to me and two GPS apps on my cellphone, I discovered the Tilliston Rd trailhead to for the Frank Publish and Forrester Trails on the east facet of the Lengthy Path. My plan was to hike a loop, following the Frank Publish Path to Tilliston Camp on the Lengthy Path, then climbing south on the Lengthy path to the Belvidere Tower Spur and climbing as much as it for lunch, then looping again to the trailhead by way of the Forrester’s Path.
Discovering these trailheads is a grand journey in and of itself because the roads resulting in them are seldom signed or paved. Cell service is spotty in rural Vermont, with Google Maps going offline at inopportune moments en route. So it’s with a sure satisfaction once I arrive on the trailheads, even after quite a few n-point activates dust roads, circling nearer and nearer till I attain my remaining vacation spot. I benefit from the hunt.
The shared Tilliston Rd trailhead for the Frank Publish and Forester’s Path was a nondescript lot on the finish of a badly eroded dust street. Fortunately, I’ve a Subaru with a 9″ clearance that may deal with such roads with a little bit care. Whereas I’m typically involved about parking my automotive at distant trailheads, this time, I wasn’t that involved since this lot was very obscure. Most individuals who climb Belvidere hike up the Lengthy Path from the south fairly than following the facet trails.
The Inexperienced Mountain Membership maintains the facet trails, though the state of upkeep on the facet trails varies significantly. Some are well-brushed and well-used, and others are eroded and uncared for. Climate is actually an element since unhealthy flooding has hit Vermont lately. However the Inexperienced Mountain Membership is a comparatively small membership with an getting old membership base, making it laborious to maintain all the paths underneath their purview in tip-top form. They do an amazing job with their sources, however I do know it’s a relentless battle to maintain up with the annual upkeep of what they’ve, not to mention sort out new tasks. Nonetheless, they discover a manner.
The Frank Publish Path is a well-shaded and fern-bordered path that climbs as much as the Lengthy Path from the east. It was well-brushed and straightforward to comply with with blue blazes. It meets the Lengthy Path at Tilliston Camp, a closed shelter with a door and wood entrance home windows that may be swung open and down for recent air and lightweight, offered you may have insect safety. In contrast to the open lean-to’s discovered on the Appalachian Path, these Lengthy Path Camps are fairly nice to sleep in with bunk beds and normally a desk to eat.
After inspecting the camp, I turned south on the Lengthy Path for just a few miles of pointless ups and downs, some mud, and a closely vegetated path. The Lengthy Path is sparsely blazed in white however nonetheless straightforward to comply with, though the blazes are sometimes positioned after ambiguous choice factors fairly than earlier than them, which is a little bit annoying. In 2008, once I hiked the Lengthy Path end-to-end, I realized to show round to search out the blazes on bushes fairly than relying on discovering ones in entrance of me to make sure I used to be nonetheless following the path. I employed that very same tactic on this hike to nice impact.
After climbing south on the Lengthy Path for almost 3 miles, I got here to the hearth tower spur and climbed it to the highest of the mountain earlier than gingerly climbing up it for 360-degree views. It was a transparent day with little forest hearth smoke, and I may take the sights. However it was fairly chilly on high with a stiff breeze, so I got here down with out lingering, content material to take a seat on the foot of the tower and revel in my lunch whereas taking within the views.
Fortified, I hiked down the summit spur looking for the Forester’s Path to take me again to the trailhead. First I hiked south searching for the junction, then north, solely to search out the signal about calf-height only a few paces north of the Firetower spur. This was regardless of my maps and GPS apps as a result of their decision was to low to simply discern whether or not the path was on the north or south of the spur. I exploit the GMC’s Avenza map on my cellphone once I hike the LT or attempt to discover the trailheads, and it’s not detailed sufficient to pinpoint many areas. Though it’s much better than utilizing Gaia GPS on the Lengthy Path and its facet trails, which is laughably unhealthy.
The Forester’s Path was in rougher and wetter form than the Frank Publish Path, but it surely’s nonetheless not unhealthy. It’s steeper on the high however shortly moderates. Climbing this loop counter-clockwise remains to be the most effective path to go if you happen to’d prefer to retrace my steps.
This was the primary of three side-to-side journeys on that day, and I used to be quickly on my method to my subsequent trailhead and extra Lengthy Path facet trails in Vermont’s North Nation.
Route Plan: Belvidere Fireplace Tower Loop (day – 8.4 miles)
- Trailhead Parking: Tilliston Rd
- Frank Publish Path 2.2
- Lengthy Path South 2.8
- Belvidere Fireplace Tower Spur 0.4
- Forresters Path 2.1
- Frank Publish Path 0.8
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