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(09/20/17 11:47pm)
For my first installation of the Mountain Club’s Fortnightly Feature column, I thought it would be timely to introduce or, for many, re-introduce the recently constructed Burgin Lodge on Middlebury’s special Bread Loaf lands.
Now in its second year as a backcountry retreat for the college community, the Burgin Lodge was built in memoriam of Ian Burgin ’08 whose passion for the outdoors, the Mountain Club and love of the now-closed Worth Mountain Lodge was the inspiration and spirit that brought the idea of a new Middlebury wilderness cabin to fruition. I am forever grateful for the family, donors, planners, builders, Ian’s friends and the many others involved in making this project happen.
Situated in a beautiful maple-beech hardwood forest in the Bread Loaf Conservation Area, supported by rich amber beams of locally harvested old-growth hemlock and outfitted with a toasty wood stove and roomy bunks to comfortably sleep a dozen, this cabin always gives me goosebumps when I unlock its door and waft its idiosyncratic woodsy scent of white pine, maple, oak, and hemlock — all the species used in its construction. I find it truly unprecedented and unique for a college like Middlebury to have such a beautiful resource.
During the winter, the cabin is very convenient to access either on skis or snowshoes; traveling without skis or snowshoes is not allowed as it damages the groomed nordic trails. As we are now in the snowless, warmer months, walking to it through Bread Loaf’s conserved forests is a pleasure. The trailhead starts at the Bread Loaf Campus’ parking area, with specially marked Burgin Lodge guest parking spots.
The designated route, marked on a map received with the key, begins from the parking area, crosses the bridge on the northern end of the Fields and connects with the First Loop trail on the other side of Steam Mill Road. At the intersection on First Loop, guests make a right onto Frost which winds its way through a beautiful beech-maple forest on the outside edge of the Nordic trail network, reaching the cabin after about two miles. Be sure to bring a headlamp and be aware that navigating the trails for the first time, especially at night, can sometimes be difficult.
If you have interest in getting off campus for a night (or two or three . . .), you can reserve it by logging onto the Mountain Club’s reservation system, Ideal Logic (go/ideal). One reservation accommodates up to four people. The cabin sleeps a maximum of 12 people per night and thus could be shared among multiple groups.
For a very large group that has interest in reserving the entire cabin, three reservations among 12 people will have to be made. Each reservation costs $5 to help maintain the cabin. The cabin comes stocked with a hefty Coleman cooking stove and fuel. Other camping gear that anyone may need can be borrowed from the Gear Room in FIC on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
If you do not have access to a car and would like to go, there is an ACTR bus stop at Bread Loaf. Guests should expect to bring plenty of water when there is no snow to melt, as the site surrounding the lodge is very dry. It is primitive with neither electricity nor running water, and it has a privy in the back that functions as a toilet.
Spending a night at the lodge is a wonderful nature experience that I highly recommend any student take advantage of while they are here at the college!
Ian’s legacy lives on!
(05/04/17 1:31am)
For an accessible, quick and nearby adventure in celebration of Vermont’s warmer May weather, Chipman Hill is a special place. Just on the outskirts of the northern part of town, Chipman Hill may just be the most prominent geographic feature of Middlebury. Rising 360 feet above the town and holding the spire of a cell tower on top, many recognize this little mountain as they see it walking by Ross or lounging in the blue chairs on the eastern side of Davis Library.
Others may know Chipman for the way it blocks the view from the top of Mount Abraham, where nearly the entire Champlain Valley can be seen on a clear day except for Middlebury, which sits under Chipman’s shadow. The hill itself has some unique trails and recreation opportunities that make this defining feature of Middlebury even more interesting to observe and wonder about.
As it turns out, Chipman Hill has a unique history as a recreation area. Back in the 1940s and 50s the western side (or front side) that abuts Route 7 was home to Middlebury College’s ski area. That’s right, before we had the Snowbowl, we had Chipman Hill. It featured a meager 360 feet of vertical drop and included a ski jumping facility. Today, Chipman Hill boasts a network of trails, which are all connected to the TAM (Trail Around Middlebury) and are well suited for a variety of outdoor activities, all within walking distance of the college and town.
With a large strand of older growth white pines and a beautiful mix of hardwood forests, this little land trust preserve on the outskirts of town is perfect for a local nature walk and a meditative escape from campus life. If you are a runner, the steep hill climb offers an excellent and grueling training route. For mountain bikers, the network of trails — including little side jumps and obstacles on the backside — is an enticing destination for a quick, thrilling ride. With its steep pitch, even a short downhill ski in the winter is not out of the question.
Accessing Chipman Hill is simple from three different Middlebury streets. On the front side, an old, degrading road rises up to the top from a gate at the end of Hill Street before the intersection of Route 7. At the end of the steepest ascent on this trail is a clearing surrounded by towering white pines. And there is a conveniently placed picnic table and bench with excellent views of the town and the college.
The other access point is at the end of Springside Street, essentially forming a loop from Hill Street. This degrading road, now-turned-trail is likely the remnants of the old ski area. The third access point is via the TAM trail, which goes up the backside of Chipman Hill and can be, of course, accessed through the TAM.
The closest TAM trailhead is just off Washington Street, where there is a kiosk in an open field across from the intersection of Peterson Terrace Road. From there, the trail follows the mowed contours of a farmer’s field and into a hardwood forest on Chipman’s backside. This trail eventually intersects the old road at the top that connects to the trailheads on the Hill and Springside streets. Chipman Hill offers many options for a quick and nearby escape from campus. For further information, https://www.trailfinder.info has a good map with detailed mileage information about the trails.