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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks The Pinnacle, Paul's Ledges (Westminster), VT
Trails
Trails: Jamie Latham Trail, Hemlock Trail, Undercliff Trail, Old County Road
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Saturday, September 17, 2022
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: I drove in from the south via Old Athens Rd. The last 0.7 mi. of this road is unmaintained and pretty rough. I managed to do it in a regular car, but I strongly recommend high-clearance for an easier time. I pulled off the road at a fork 0.1 before the formal trailhead and parking; high-clearance could make it all the way in. The unmaintained portion of Old Athens Rd. is pretty interesting, with several dilapidated camps and lots of abandoned stuff. If you don't want to drive this section, there is room at the end of the maintained road for a few vehicles. This would add 1.4 mi. round-trip to the hike. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes:  
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: While lightly-traveled, all of these trails were in good shape. Excellent signage at junctions and blazing is good. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Seems to be a popular place for dogs. Everyone I met today had one with them. 
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: This was another adventure I plucked out of the GMC Day Hikes guide. The walk up to The Pinnacle is easy and gradual. At the top is a 180-degree view with Stratton Mtn. as the centerpiece. The stone cabin here is also available for overnight stays by reservation. I chilled at the summit for a bit as a few other people arrived, then headed back down.

Back at the formal trailhead, I hopped on Hemlock Trail and headed north to Paul's Ledges, another nice viewpoint, though not as expansive as The Pinnacle. There was a volunteer here who appeared to be pulling out invasive plants. I made a loop, continuing on Hemlock Trail, then cut back via Undercliff Trail, a bypass route that avoids climbing over Paul's Ledges. This took me down to Old County Rd., which I walked back to the car.

This was a super hike and looking at the map for Windmill Ridge, where these trails are located, I think a traverse of the entire ridge is in order. I'll definitely back to explore more of this area.  
Name
Name: KenM 
E-Mail
E-Mail: kmacgray@gmail.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2022-09-17 
Link
Link: https://www.windmillhillpinnacle.org/pages/trails/windmill_ridge.html 
Bookmark and Share Disclaimer: Reports are not verified - conditions may vary. Use at own risk. Always be prepared when hiking. Observe all signs. Trail conditions reports are not substitutes for weather reports or common sense.

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