Now I'm back to catch that last twentieth of a mile that I missed. Here's the trail notes for those who are interested in coming along.
From the large parking area on USFS Road 10, follow the road east to the smaller parking area where the trail heads south from the road. All mileages are taken from the smaller parking area where the trail leaves the road.
In .1 miles, cross the boundary of the Big Branch wildrness area. The trail descends gradually to the Big Branch River and follows it upstream to Big Branch shelter at 1.1 miles. (30 min)
Big Branch Shelter is a frame lean-to, with floor space for 8, built by the USFS in 1963. Big Branch River supplies water. The outhouse is up the hill behind the shelter.
From Big Branch Shelter, proceed east, following the river upstream to a suspension bridge at 1.2 miles. Cross the river and follow the Long Trail to the northern junction with the Old Job trail.
Take the Old Job trail from the junction (left trail). There is normally a sign in place, but signs do disappear, so don't count on it. The trail continues to parallel the Big Branch River to a small clearing, passing first an old jeep road on the right and then a large sawdust pile before reaching Lake Brook, a tributary of Big Branch River. Crossing Lake Brook on a suspension bridge, the trail reaches an extensive clearing where the village of Griffith once stood (2.4 mi). Here stands Old Job Shelter, a log structure with space for 8, built by the CCC in 1935. Water is provided by Lake Brook. Big Branch shelter to Old Job Shelter, 1.3 miles, 50 min.
From Old Job Shelter, follow the Old Job trail south, paralleling Lake Brook and finally climbing the road embankment to USFS Road 30 at 3.3 miles.
From the end of USFS Road 30, the Old Job Trail bears south (left) onto a separately gated woods road. From the gate the Old Job Trail ascends gradually, paralleling the east side of Lake Brook, crossing two tributary brooks on snowmobile bridges (3.9 mi. and 5.4 mi.) before finally crossing Lake Brook on a large bridge (5.7 mi.). Following a woods road around Long Hole, it joines the Long Trail (6.7 mi.) at the north end of Griffith Lake. Following the Long Trail south (left trail), the trail follows the shoreline of Griffith Lake for .2 miles on bog bridges before reaching the Griffith Lake Tenting Area (6.9 mi.).
Camping at Griffith Lake is restricted to the tenting platforms to reduce erosion of the lakeshore. During the summer hiking season (usually Memorial Day to Labor Day), a GMC caretaker is on duty to maintain the trails and campsites and assist hikers. A nominal fee ($5 per person) is charged at the tenting site during this time.
Note: the planned hike is to continue on to Peru Peak Shelter; however, tenting out at Griffith Lake would be a completely acceptable way to spend the night.
From Griffith Tenting Area, the Long Trail parallels the lake shore south before heading east into the woods. After crossing three bridged streams, the trail arrives at Peru Peak Shelter (7.4 mi.)
Peru Peak Shelter is on the edge of the Peru Peak Wilderness. This log structure, with space for 10, was built in 1935 by the CCC and rebuilt by the Youth Conservation Corps and USFS in 1979. Water is found at a nearby brook. Old Job Shelter to Peru Peak Shelter, 5.0 mi., 2.5 hr.
That's it for Day 1; Day 2 follows the Long Trail back to the road.
All mileages are taken from Peru Peak Shelter.
Proceeding west from Peru Peak Shelter, the Long Trail crosses three
bridged streams before arriving at the shore of Griffith Lake, and
shortly thereafter Griffith Lake Tenting Area (.5 mi.).
Paralleling the shore of the lake 200 ft. to the west along a nearly continuous boardwalk, the LT proceeds to its southern junction with the Old Job Trail (.7 mi.). From the trail junction, the LT continues straight ahead, leaving the northern end of Griffith Lake. It enters Big Branch Wilderness and then reaches it's junction with the Lake Trail (.8 mi.), which descends 3.3 mi. west to a public road 0.5 mi. off US 7.
The Long Trail follows the ridge northward, descending to cross an old woods road (1.6 mi.). After crossing another woods road, the LT begins its ascent of Baker Peak. Upon reach its junction with Baker Peak Trail (2.6 mi.), the LT bears right and the two trails coincide for the final scramble up the exposed ledges to the summit of Baker Peak (2.7 mi.). Should adverse weather conditions make the ascent over open rocks treacherous, there is a parallel bypass route to the east. Baker Peak offers expansive views of the valley below. Danby is in the foreground with the north-flowing Otter Creek. Directly across the valley is Dorset Peak with it's famous marble quarry. Emerald Lake and Mt. Equinox are to the south, and the fire tower on Stratton Mtn. can be seen just behind the ridge of Peru Peak. Pico and Killington Peaks are the to north, and the Adirondacks can be seen, on a clear day, to the northwest.
Leaving the summit of Baker Peak, the LT enters the woods and bears northerly, keeping east of a ridge. After crossing over a height of land (3.2 mi.), the trail begins a moderate, then gentle, descent on the west side of the ridge. Reaching a wide, grassy woods road (4.5 mi.), the LT turns right and, after following the road for 250 ft., turns left into the woods. Continuing north on an old woods road, the trail soon reaches a spur trail (4.7 mi.) leading left 100 ft. to Lost Pond Shelter.
This shelter, a frame lean-to with room for 8, has a unique background. The gift of Louis Stare, Jr., then of Bass River, MA., it was constructed at Stare's home on Cape Code in 1965. After being dismantled into 13 sections, it was trucked 250 mi. to USFS Road 10 and hauled to its present site by volunteers using a tractor and wagon. The lumber, exposed to the salty sea breezes of the Cape, once made the shelter especially popular with the local porcupine populationg. The water supply is a stream in the ravine below the shelter. Peru Peak Shelter to Lost Pond Shelter, 4.7 mi., 2.5 hr.
For those who have heard it, this is where my bear story took place. Want to read it? Look here.
The LT continues north along the woods road from Lost Pond Shelter. Descending steadily, the trail reaches Big Branch and it's north junction with the Old Job Trail (6.2 mi.). Turning left to follow Big Branch, crosses the Big Branch over a suspension bridge (6.3 mi.). Continuing alongside Big Branch, the Long Trail follows an old road, passes the stone foundation of a mill, and reaches Big Branch Shelter. (See above for description.) Lost Pond Shelter to Big Branch Shelter, 1.7 mi., 1 hr.
The Long Trail continues downstream for a short distance, then turns right and ascends gradually, crossing the norhtern boundary of the Big Branch Wilderness (7.4 mi.), finally reaching USFS Road 10 (7.5 mi.) and a small parking area. The trail bears left along the road, descending to Big Black Branch (7.7 mi.). The large parking area where the cars were left is just west of the bridge over Big Black Branch River.
