Vetter Mountain Trail

Post by **Sean** » Mon Jun 04, 2018 11:21 am

Last year the Vetter Mountain Trail was reopened by CORBA and MWBA, with help from the Hot Shots. Over 100 burned trees needed to be cleared, so a big thank you to the sawyers who worked on this giant task.

Cecelia and I had the pleasure of experiencing this route for the first time yesterday, after being denied the Blue Ridge when an accident blocked the road for several hours near Dawson Saddle. The trail begins out of Charlton Flat.

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After the Charlton entrance, turn sharp right and follow the park road westbound to a closed gate. The trailhead can be found on the south (left) side.

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There are "no parking" signs at the trailhead, but a couple small turnouts are available nearby.

The trail is only 1.4 miles one-way. We immediately noticed the work of the sawyer crews, who opened up a clear path the whole way to Vetter.

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The Silver Moccasin Trail splits off here.

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Someone installed a nice bench.

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Much of the path runs along a small drainage gully.

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For an area devastated by fire only nine years ago, the mountain had its share of life visible. New pine trees (probably planted) were growing along the trail. Some flowers. Some animals, including a deer who evaded my camera.

And this bird, which might be some kind of hawk.

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The trail crosses the road twice before leaving the gully and switchbacking up the north ridge of Vetter.

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At the temporary lookout station, friendly volunteers gave Cecelia a lesson in using an Osborne Fire-Finder.

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They also let her look through the binoculars.

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Whenever the American flag is flying, you know that the lookout volunteers are protecting the forest from wildfires.

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And whenever I'm trying to take a summit selfie, you know that Cecelia is acting goofy in the background.

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Tom Kenney · Post by **Tom Kenney** » Mon Jun 04, 2018 7:08 pm

A summit selfie is also known as a "Splattski" (at least on summitpost.org).

Post by **JeffH** » Mon Jun 04, 2018 7:46 pm

That's a pretty good day for a 'plan B' hike.

Post by **HikeUp** » Tue Jun 05, 2018 7:31 am

Pretty sure that's a Cooper's Hawk. @Mike P would know for sure.

Mike P · Post by **Mike P** » Tue Jun 05, 2018 8:05 am

Hi @HikeUp I'm going for a juvenile red-tailed hawk (1st year). It's hard to tell with the shadows but I think it's a dark morph.

Post by **HikeUp** » Tue Jun 05, 2018 8:09 am

Makes sense. I just went on size, ignoring possibility of a juvenile.

Mike P · Post by **Mike P** » Tue Jun 05, 2018 8:16 am

Terrific pictures, Sean!

Post by **Sean** » Tue Jun 05, 2018 2:23 pm

Thanks, guys. I need to get better at IDing birds. I might have a picture of it flying. I'll post in the Fauna section later tonight.

Post by **Sean** » Tue Jun 05, 2018 2:37 pm

Tom Kenney wrote:A summit selfie is also known as a "Splattski" (at least on summitpost.org).

Neat. I never heard of that before.

You know, I have other summits in the background. So I think my pic qualifies as a Splattski Masterpiece.