Helen W. Buckner Memorial Natural Area (Bald Mountain)
Our first visit to this Nature Conservancy property, its largest and most ecologically diverse property in Vermont, certainly ‘wowed’ us right from the 2-car parking space at Tim’s Trail with it’s high, sheer ridgeline. The property is almost 4,000 acres, most of it trail-less but the 5 miles of trails (plus another mile of connector trail on private property) provides a wonderful hiking experience. We will return to hike the second trail, the Helen Bruckner Trail, another time.
Along the fields along the first 1/2 mile of trail, there is a view of the cliffs on one side and a vista of mountains and wetlands on the other side. The cliffs of Bald Mountain jut abruptly and there are talus slopes. The trail splits just past the cliffs and connects again a mile on and continues to the top with a magnificent view of South Bay and Saddles Mountain in New York. On the way up, we took the inner, wooded trail and the cliff-side trail down. At the summit, we ventured farther by following the connector trail that generally follows the ridge but meanders into the woods in places at times. We encountered some natural areas along the connector trail that are different from those along Tim’s Trail, including a wonderful area dominated by chestnut oaks and a couple of still icy marsh ponds. After having hiked smooth and clearly identifiable snow covered trails for several months, we found the rocky trail challenging and faintly visible in places, but fortunately the trail is well marked so finding the trail again is easy. The old in the area along the cliff are old and exposed to high winds and the trees are smaller and fewer for it and there’s a lot of sedge underneath. Back away from the exposed cliffs, the trees are bigger, with some really large old specimens. Another area on the ridgeline part of Tim’s Trail has a section of large, old eastern red cedars. Most of the forest near the cliff is mixed with a lot of snags and downed trees typical of older forests.
I regularly strayed off the trail to see and photograph some spectacular views, interesting forest landscapes or a large specimen, something I wouldn’t do when the rattlesnakes are out of their dens from May to mid-October. Wearing high leather boots is an answer if you’ve got them.
Tim’s Trail is flat along the first ½ mile and includes options through the rocky area next to the cliff and the smoother terrain beyond the trees along the field.
Helen Bruckner Natural Area/Bald Mountain, March 22, 2021
Olympus M5II & Olympus 12-45 f4
Helen Bruckner Natural Area/Bald Mountain, March 22, 2021
Olympus M5II & Olympus 12-45 f4
Helen Bruckner Natural Area/Bald Mountain, March 22, 2021
Olympus M5II & Olympus 12-45 f4
The base of the cliff face.
Helen Bruckner Natural Area/Bald Mountain, March 22, 2021
Olympus M5II & Olympus 12-45 f4
Helen Bruckner Natural Area/Bald Mountain, March 22, 2021
Olympus M5II & Olympus 12-45 f4
The area away from the cliffs was cleared of stones for agricultural, including sheep grazing, no doubt given the difficulty of growing crops on this steep terrain. Astoundingly, this stone wall continues for a mile.
Helen Bruckner Natural Area/Bald Mountain, March 22, 2021
Olympus M5II & Olympus 12-45 f4
South Bay, Poultney River
Helen Bruckner Natural Area/Bald Mountain, March 22, 2021
Olympus M5II & Olympus 12-45 f4
Area of the forest dominated by chestnut oaks.
Helen Bruckner Natural Area/Bald Mountain, March 22, 2021
Olympus M5II & Olympus 12-45 f4
Close up of the bark of a chestnut oak.
Helen Bruckner Natural Area/Bald Mountain, March 22, 2021
Olympus M5II & Olympus 12-45 f4
Helen Bruckner Natural Area/Bald Mountain, March 22, 2021
Olympus M5II & Olympus 12-45 f4
Helen Bruckner Natural Area/Bald Mountain, March 22, 2021
Olympus M5II & Olympus 12-45 f4
I mentioned that the wind was high up here…high enough, it seems, to blow the bark off trees!
Helen Bruckner Natural Area/Bald Mountain, March 22, 2021
Olympus M5II & Olympus 12-45 f4
Still some snow & ice in shaded areas.
Helen Bruckner Natural Area/Bald Mountain, March 22, 2021
Olympus M5II & Olympus 12-45 f4
Helen Bruckner Natural Area/Bald Mountain, March 22, 2021
Olympus M5II & Olympus 12-45 f4
Poultny River
Helen Bruckner Natural Area/Bald Mountain, March 22, 2021
Olympus M5II & Olympus 12-45 f4
Helen Bruckner Natural Area/Bald Mountain, March 22, 2021
Olympus M5II & Olympus 12-45 f4
Helen Bruckner Natural Area/Bald Mountain, March 22, 2021
Olympus M5II & Olympus 12-45 f4
Helen Bruckner Natural Area/Bald Mountain, March 22, 2021
Olympus M5II & Olympus 12-45 f4
Helen Bruckner Natural Area/Bald Mountain, March 22, 2021
Olympus M5II & Olympus 12-45 f4
Massive tip up
Helen Bruckner Natural Area/Bald Mountain, March 22, 2021
Olympus M5II & Olympus 12-45 f4
Barbara heading down the path from the summit of Bald Mountain.
Helen Bruckner Natural Area/Bald Mountain, March 22, 2021
Olympus M5II & Olympus 12-45 f4
