'Mount Ascutney', (elevation, 3144ft). Though not the highest peak in
Windsor County,
Vermont (that honor falling to
Gillespie Peak to the west), Mount Ascutney is the state's only
monadnock, or lone
mountain. Particularly noteworthy about the mountain is its granite outcrops, one of which, at its peak, serves as a launching point for
hang-gliders. The mountain is very steep, and its trails traverse a Vermont state forest.
The mountain's base straddles several villages —
Ascutney,
Brownsville,
Windsor, and
West Windsor — and it is located only several miles off of exit 8 on
Interstate 91. The mountain itself is visible from the top of
Mount Washington, seventy miles away.
Location and Description
Mt. Ascutney is located in the south-eastern section of
Windsor County, in the
Connecticut River Valley. The village of
Ascutney, in the town of
Weathersfield, is to the south. To the north lie the towns of
Windsor,
West Windsor, and
Brownsville. To the east lies the
Connecticut River and
the City of Claremont, NH. To the immediate west stands another, smaller mountain, fittingly named
Little Ascutney Mountain.
Viewing the Mountain
Vermont Route 131 follows the south face of the mountain, and provides some good views of Ascutney.
Similarly,
Vermont Routes 44 and
44-A follow the north face, and provide a number of views of that side of the mountain. The north-south route of Interstate 91 runs just east of the mountain and provides extensive views of both the north and south faces.
New Hampshire Routes 12 and
12-A provide good views of the east face. Viewing of the west face is difficult, due to the presence, immediately to the west, of
Little Ascutney Mountain.
At longer distance, the mountain is visible from many locations quite a few miles away, particularly hilltops and other mountains. Ascutney can be viewed from select locations on the
Dartmouth College campus, among them the upper floors of Rauner Library and the Steele Chemistry Building.
Geology
Believed to have formed from an underground upwelling of
magma a few hundred million years ago, Mount Ascutney is composed primarily of
granite and
basalt.
Hang Gliding
Mount Ascutney is the premiere hang gliding site in New England, notable for its excellent soaring and cross country potential. It is not unusual for hang gliders to fly from Mt. Ascutney to the New Hampshire or Massachusetts coastline, a flight of over 90 miles. The record cross country flight from Mt. Ascutney is held by Curt Warren who flew 131.6 miles into Connecticut.
Bronson Farm
Actor
Charles Bronson owned a farm near the mountain, and his remains were buried at the foot of the mountain after his 2003 death.
Wildlife
Wild Turkeys,deer, porcupines, and a wide variety of birds are commonly seen on Mt. Ascutney. The mountain is a favorite area for viewing migrating birds, which use the Connecticut River as a navigation pathway. More rarely seen wildlife includes moose, black bears, bobcats and fishers.
Hiking and Hiking Trails
The mountain features four principal hiking trails, three of which are named for the town from which that trail originates:
★
The Weathersfield Trail — The one trail on the south face of the mountain, the base of this trail is located in a parking lot at the end of Cascade Falls Rd, off of Vermont Route 131 in
Weathersfield. Highlights of this trail include Cascade Falls, the largest
waterfall on the mountain, and the mountain's one launch platform for
hang gliders.
★
The Windsor Trail — This trail originates from a small parking area off Vermont Route 44-A just east of the junction with Vermont Route 44. About 1/3 of the way up, the trail comes to a small
waterfall, approximately 2/3 of the way up the trail comes to a small log
lean-to shelter. Near the top, it merges with the Brownsville Trail.
★
The Brownsville Trail — This trail begins at a parking area along Vermont Route 44, a little over a mile west of junction with Vermont Route 44-A. The lower end of the trail follows an abandoned
logging road for some distance — the road terminating at the location of an old
granite quarry. The trail offers many good viewing opportunities to the north and west.
★
The Futures Trail — This train begins in the campground at Mt. Ascutney State Park on Route 44A, one mile west of the junction with Vermont Route 5 in Ascutney. This is the longest trail on Mt. Ascutney — 4.6 miles, covering a wide variety of forest and geography before it connects to the Windsor Trail near summit. Highlights of this trail include Bare Rock Vista (1.0 mile) and the Steam Donkey — a steam powered machine used for cable logging in the early 1900s (3.5 miles). This trail can also be accessed at two points along the State Park Mountain Road for a shorter hike to summit.
At the top, a relatively level trail follows the
ridge-line and crosses the
summit. The top of the mountain is well below the
tree line and is therefore covered in forest, however a number of rocky cliffs allow good viewing, and there is an
observation tower, as well. There are also two large
communications towers.
The summit can also be reached via a short trail from the parking lot at the end of the only road up the mountain, the Mt. Ascutney State Park Mountain Road.
Skiing and the Mount Ascutney Resort
Mt. Ascutney is home to the
Ascutney Mountain Resort, a
ski resort, located on mountain's north-west face, in the village of
Brownsville. Opening after the end of
World War II,
skiing facilities originally consisted of just one
rope tow. The resort now boasts several
chairlifts, including one high-speed detachable quad as well as a hotel, condominiums and a large base lodge. The resort's trails accommodate the entire family, but expert and intermediate
skiers will find themselves most at home at the resort, whose trails average from medium grade to steep, and are often icy from the mountain's often harsh winds. The ski resort's primary competitors are
Killington,
Okemo,
Mt. Sunapee, and
Stratton.
The Mount Ascutney State Park (Campground) and the Road to the Mountaintop
The Mount Ascutney State Park, a
campground run by the state of
Vermont provides non-primitive
RV or
tent camping during the summer months. The park entrance is located along Vermont Route 44-A. The road into the park, which is also the one road up the mountain, begins climbing almost immediately. The park's campsites are scattered along this road for some distance. The road continues to climb, rising over 2000 feet in less than 4 miles, eventually arriving at a parking lot about a 1/2 mile walk from the summit. The park is listed in the
National Register of Historic Places.
Recreational Opportunities
Among the recreational opportunities the mountain offers are:
★
Camping — Camping is available at the Mount Ascutney State Park, or primitive camping at the log leanto shelter along the Windsor Trail.
★
Hang Gliding — Hanggliders can be launched from a hanggliding platform near the summit along the Weathersfield Trail.
★
Hiking — The mountain offers three trails up the mountain as well as trails at the top.
★
Skiing — The Ascutney Mountain Resort offers skiing opportunities throughout the winter months.
See also
★
List of mountains in Vermont
★
New England Fifty Finest
External links
★
Link to Ascutney Mountain Resort
★
Link to Area Chamber of Commerce
★
Hiker's Guide to the Mountain
★
★
PeakBagger.com: Mount Ascutney
★
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