Burrows Trail, Camel's Hump, VT

I've climbed Camel's Hump at least once during every visit to Vermont. It's on my 'must do' list that includes a visit to Johnson Woolen Mill, the Outdoor Gear Exchange, and attempting to sample as many micro brews as possible.

Today's plan was to run up to the summit of Camel's Hump and back via the Burrows Trail. The skies were breaking over the farm and I was hopeful that there would be some good views from the top. There were several cars in the parking lot when I arrived. People were fiddling with their equipment and digging in their packs. I was eager to have some solitude so I grabbed my bag and booked it up the trail ahead of the crowds.  

It didn't take long  for me to realize my plan was totally unrealistic. I haven't run seriously since my last race in September. I also haven't run up a mountain since the Death Race in August. Yes, Camel's Hump is a small mountain but it's twice the elevation of my home town and New Englanders don't bother with switchbacks. Finally, I haven't run up a snowy mountain ever. I slowed to a speedy hike and enjoyed the beautiful winter scenery.

I started to feel the elevation around the time the hardwoods changed to softwoods. Steeper sections of the trail had me gasping for air. I was surprised at how much I was having to work, and more than a little disappointed, too. Where did all the hard work from this past summer go?

I was out of the trees in a little over an hour.

Unfortunately, I was never out of the clouds. The howling wind has encased the krumholtz in ice.

Summit pose. I'm trying to keep my contact lenses from being blown off my eyeballs. Yes, it was as cold as it looks.

The trip down was quick and uneventful, taking only 30 minutes. Total round-trip time was 1:42. Until next time Camel's Hump...

to the woods

My wife grew up on a dairy farm not too far from Burlington, Vermont. Every few years we visit her family and stay with her mother who still lives in the family farmhouse. I always enjoy my time in Vermont. It's one of the prettiest states I've ever been to. There's also plenty to do within an easy drive of wherever you are.

The weather has been unsettled since we arrived - snow then rain followed by more snow. It keeps things interesting. This morning we woke to 20cm of fresh in the yard. It was beautiful. I had to get off my pie-scarfing, beer-swilling butt and go for a run.

I grabbed the dog and headed for the trails in the woods adjacent to the farm. Getting there involved running a very short piece of road.

Still, it was far enough to remind me of what I didn't like about running in Vermont. Narrow roads, blind corners, and no shoulders. Drivers, if you're pulling over to be nice please pull all the way into the far lane. Straddling lanes just sprays me with snud.

In contrast to the road-stress, the woods were silent. Other than a blue jay and a barred owl, the only signs of life were a few deer and coyote tracks. It was bliss.

I only had a vague sense of where I was at any given time. I came across my own tracks on a couple of occasions, which took me by surprise. There are a lot of trails in those woods and I haven't spent nearly enough time figuring out what goes where, particularly in the winter. Still, you'd have to be way out of your element to get truly lost in there so we just kept running.

We eventually reached my intended destination, a lookout my brother-in-law refers to as Indian point.You can see the Winooski River in the foreground and the shoulder of Camel's Hump blending with the skyline. We hung out in the stillness for as long as the dog could bear it, which wasn't very long, before heading back into the woods and back to the farm. I missed you Vermont.