Mt. Pisgah

With the days growing longer and the warming temperatures, finding activities to do outdoors in the Northeast Kingdom is not that hard to do.  Living close to mountains, hiking is a popular exercise.  Even though you are ready to get on the trails to the summit, doesn't mean the mountain is ready for you.

Mt. Pisgah and Mt. Hor in Westmore, Vermont, are two mountains that become filled with hiking traffic.  But spring hiking can cause major damage to not only the trails but to the vegetation near the trails.

Mt. Hor

Luke O'Brien from the Northwood Stewardship Center expressed that waiting for the mud season to dry up and staying off the trails that can get to high elevations is the best thing for the natural trails in the Willoughby State Forest.  O'Brien stated, "We try to promote alternative activities such as road walking, bicycling, paddling, or sticking to lower elevation trails."

The official date for hiking to begin is Memorial Day.  Waiting for the end of May allows trails to dry up and harden.