Ascutney

Trip Report for the Ascutney & Quechee, VT Camping Weekend (June 16-18, 2000):

It was a wild and wacky weekend. We were a perfect dozen. With a few new to GONE people who are actually willing to do more things with the group after spending a weekend with us. We didn't scare them away. Amazing. Seriously though…

We arrived in shifts between 2:00 pm and 11:30 pm on Friday night. Everyone loved the lean-to's, especially me since I forgot my rain fly. Dave B.'s (also known as surprise Dave or FP) tent was a brief casualty of the rain and wind since it partially collapsed. We hiked Mt Ascutney on Saturday. It was incredibly hot and humid. Took a breather about 1 mile into the 4.2 to the top at a vista point, then continued on our way. About a mile from the top it started raining. About half the group turned back and the rest of us decided to keep going. Sandra, Dave B, Dianne and myself let out whoops of glee and then raced up the remainder of the trail to the observation tower. Dave P., Andy and Annabel got there before us. We took the road down for a roundtrip hike of about 8 miles. Jamie and Sharon took a different trail and they must have been hiking machines since they passed us going the opposite direction when we were only half way up to the summit. Bill and Geetha got a ride back to the campground from someone on the mountain road. We had a potluck dinner on Saturday night, tried to dry up (which is kind of difficult if you left your towel hanging outside before the hike) and everyone headed out on Sunday - some to home, other's to Quechee for the festival.

Highlights of the weekend:

	Sleet at the top of Mt. Ascutney; 3 season hike! Of course the weather changes were a big hit.
	The blinding glare of "surprise" Dave without his shirt - Warning: Be careful of redheads after a long winter and no sun!
	How about Sandra and others embarrassing stories: a "vision in brown" with a red thong; a FP in our midst - shouldn't that be Pyromaniac?; Lisa and the hemorrhoid guy
	A lovely field with fireflies and the full moon
	Bill's amazing skill at starting fires, maybe he should be the FP?
	Drunken showtunes with Lisa

Another great food idea from Geetha: corn-on-the-cob a la lime and salt

The enormous amount of food for the potluck supper all of which was delicious. We earned it!

	Dianne's new best friend: 25 cent showers
	A balloon-less balloon festival - Yes, Jamie, I do believe you're right and we should give up on trying to go to balloon festivals.
	The amazing maple-scented candles at the festival
	Scaring the tourists at Quechee Gorge - non-hikers don't take too kindly to people offering them advice about the best outlook. They looked like Dave and I were going to hurt them.

If you're ever looking for a place to camp in VT - check out Ascutney State Park. The rangers there are fabulous, friendly and very helpful. Click here to see Dave's pics.