On the Trail From the Village to the Town Forest

 Please come along as Wayne and I walk from Silver Lane up to the Vernon Town Forest in February on the 142 East / West VAST trail. Though we wore snowshoes, we could have walked the well groomed trail in light hikers. I highly recommend trekking poles however.  - Norma Manning

Resources: Trail Breakers Snowmobile Club 

We picked up the trail on Silver Lane, but if you require parking, it can be started at the Vernon Rec. on Pond Rd. 

A wetland connects to Newton Brook with a gentleman's farm on the opposite side 

Cross Newton Brook and follow the trail to the right

The slight upward grade to Huckle Hill road is a relatively easy stretch of trail to hike. 

I have seen several erratics while hiking in Vernon, the largest being on the Rec Trails, but this one is a good size too

Evidence of a large buck traveling through. The track is deep like a heavy animal, the toes curve together with the dew track behind evident. 

an old nest of twigs just above the snowline

The bridges on this trail are in very good condition and I was grateful for not having to hop over brooks

Crossing Huckle Hill at Stonebridge 

The second part of the trail quickly gets steeper

The last open area before we reach our destination

Pileated Woodpecker holes

Shagbark Hickory with grapevine 

Sapsucker holes in an Eastern Hemlock tree

We saw numerous burls but this one is my favorite.

Hiking along the top of a ravine

Not sure what this is or why it was at the bottom of the ravine near the brook

This old tree rotted away revealing a secret it had been keeping inside

A rock wall is yet another clue to what was once here

Wayne takes a breather while taking in the sights

A check of our GPS location reveals that we are in Jamaica, VT????

It's all uphill from here!

Still going up!

Snow capped mountain in the distance

There is always another hill!

The field of Sweet Fern just outside of the Town Forest!

The Town Forest at last!

Alas there is always someone there first, this time it appears to have been a Gray Fox