Monday, May 27, 2013

E. Deerfield's Somerset Reservoir

Yesterday, on a day which felt more like March than late May, good friends Paul (aka Capt'n Dangerous) and his wife, Ellen, introduced this paddler to Somerset Reservoir in Vermont's Green Mountain National Forest.  The opening photo shows our boats lying on the beach near the reservoir's south end.  The 110' high earthen-fill dam (built in 1912) can be seen in the background.  The reservoir and dam are operated by TransCanada Hydro Northeast, Inc. and are part of their 8 dam Deerfield River Project which produces a combined 86 megawatts of electricity.  Somerset Dam is the furthest upriver on the Deerfield and is located on the river's east branch. 
The upper Deerfield River was once home to extensive logging operations served by the narrow-gauge Deerfield River Railroad.  Thanks to the website Hoosac Tunnel.net this link to an article on the logging operations in the area was found.  I used the map included in the article while paddling the reservoir.

Upon our arrival at Somerset, we encountered temperatures in the mid to upper thirties, cloudy skies, blustery winds out of the NW and intermittent rain (that occasionally felt like sleet).  After launching, we quickly paddled across to the reservoir's western side and regrouped in the lee of the wind...
 
 
Paul and Ellen joked about being dressed more typically for a winter's paddle. 
The view up-reservoir from this side wasn't too bad...
 
...and looking back towards Mt. Snow, the view would occasionally look a little promising...
 
 
A lone loon, a great blue heron, and an eagle were seen on the paddle up to Skidder Point.  The view north from Skidder Point was of a river of whitecaps crossing from NW to SE across the widest portion of the reservoir (one mile wide).   Therefore we abandoned plans to lunch on Streeter Island and elected to ride the waves over to Grindstone Cove where shelter from the wind was found.  Entering the cove from the east was Moon Brook which, like the reservoir's other tributaries, provided a rushing water soundtrack.
Before leaving the cove this wildflower caught my attention...
  ...and the eagle, once again, passed over us...
 
 
Because Somerset Reservoir is a little remote and requires driving 10 miles in on gravel/dirt roads from Vermont's Route 9, trash was on the light side...
 
 
There were 12 recyclable containers (6 redeemable) and 5 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish.  About half of this was found near the boat launch and picnic areas.  YTD = 2551.  This was my boat's maiden voyage and its first encounter with cargo of this nature.
 
 
To reach the Somerset Reservoir I had traveled a bunch of trails:  the Johnny Appleseed Trail, the Mohawk Trail, and lastly the Molly Stark Trail (VT. Rt. 9).  As I passed signs for Molly Stark Byway, Molly Stark Motel, and Molly Stark State Park, I wondered "who was this Molly Stark?" 
I later learned she was the wife of American Revolutionary War general John Stark who at the Battle of Bennington in 1777 inspired his men with the words: "There are your enemies, the Red Coats and the Tories.  They are ours, or this night Molly Stark sleeps a widow."
 
The sight of this first piece of trash...
 
...brought his words to mind and thankfully Mrs. Trashpaddler awoke this morning still a married woman.





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