This morning, I drove over to Sacred Heart so I could help my brother Knights (John, Bert) and Father Charles cook and set up for the Oktoberfest (stayed from 0930 to 1145). Looking for some exercise on the pleasant Fall day, I drove west on US-4, through West Lebanon, and got on US-5 in Vermont. Continued north to Norwich and then followed VT-10 to the Turnpike - took that road in search of the parking for Gile Mountain. I’ve been hearing a lot of good things about the place over the last year and decided it was time to hike it! With cell signal spotty to the northwest of town, I used directions I'd found on the internet. They were accurate but I really wasn’t sure I was in the right place until I reached the PACKED parking area. It was past noon so some people had already climbed and were on their way back down to their cars - luckily, I snagged a rare parking spot. Temps were in the high 40s but there wasn’t a cloud in the sky - awesome hiking weather! The walk through the pretty Fall foliage wasn’t very difficult and I got to the summit in just over half an hour. I saw lots of Dartmouth parents and their students coming downhill - this must be the answer to the Family Weekend question “what can we do outdoors that isn’t too hard?” At the top (1873 feet), I climbed a fire tower and was treated to a spectacular, 360-degree vista with views of over 50 miles! I could identify landmarks for close to 150 miles of Appalachian Trail, prominent peaks in Greens and Whites but very little signs of civilization - and those were only farmhouses here and there. The top of the tower wasn’t very big so I was glad I arrived during a lull in the crowds. Checked out a little of the connected Ridge Trail (different access point) and a little “shelter” (it had a fire pit) before heading back down the mountain. LOTS more people were arriving as I descended so I was glad that I was soon able to wrap up my visit (after around three miles of walking). I can see why the place is so popular - I don’t think you can beat the views of the Upper Valley without a lot more effort (e.g., Ascutney or AT ridge lines). Headed home after finishing my nice walk/climb. Later (1600), I went to Mass at Sacred Heart and then had another great experience working with our Knights of Columbus Council (we hosted Oktoberfest)! The meal included sausages, perogies, mashed potatoes, roast chicken stew (Geflügelragout), garden salad, potato salad and cake. We offered a to-go option but most people opted for eating-in - we served them cafeteria style! While no one actually danced, there was a lot of great socializing amongst the attendees, accompanied by authentic “oompah” music. The turnout was good and we got some extra help with cleanup - everyone was good spirits after a nice evening of food and fellowship. Glad to be a part of such a welcoming and “fun” crowd and can’t wait until our next chance to socialize! I stayed a bit later to help clean up afterwards (done at 1915). What a great day!
