Gillespie Peak

Highest point in Windsor County

Gillespie Peak can be found along the Long Trail just east of Brandon, VT.  It's the highest point in Windsor County.  I've been half-heartedly working on the county high points of NY.  Since many have access issues, it's highly unlikely I will ever accomplish that goal.  Vermont, on the other hand, only has 14 counties (compared with NY's 62) with next to no access issues.

Today would be the first day the purpose of the hike would be to summit a county high point.  The previous 6 Vermont county high points were reached for other reasons.  It's silly, but it happened to be a great day to be out.

The trailhead is found at Brandon Gap along Route 73 between the towns of Rochester and Brandon.  From here it would be a 3 mile walk north along the Long Trail.  The first mile was fairly steep including some 1,000 feet of elevation.  There was a coating of about 2 inches of snow.  On my way back from Gillespie it began to snow at a good clip.

Long Trail

Late afternoon in the snow

I started this hike quite late so I had to finish it with my headlamp.  About a half mile from the summit I reached a beautiful view point looking west at the setting sun.  It made the ascent all worth it.  

Sun setting on the never ending farm land