Chester-Blandford Gets Ski Trails Courtesy of the CCC

[Phil]

“In 1933 CCC Camp S-64 (Company 113) was established. Major projects of this camp included forestry, road construction, and development of administrative and recreational facilities.

Winter sports, notably skiing, were becoming popular in the 1930s and Chester was one of several state forests where ski trails were built by the CCC. Facilities at Chester included intermediate and novice trails with practice field, shelter and ski lodge.”

This trail is still showing on the DCR map for the state forest:

Ed P., a contributor to this newsgroup, has brought the trail up in discussion. Some back and forth ensued. Anyone been on it on skis recently?

[Phil]

This was the conversation re: the trail, back about 2 y.a.: https://groups.google.com/g/hoosac-range-skiing/c/TkD4bbfbyAg/m/8FHJIkv-CAAJ

[Phil]

The description below of the trails in Chester S.F. comes from the Skiing the East book that Phil Brown mentioned recently. The “CCC Ski Trail” shown on the current S.F. map matches the length of Trail B in the description. Using Plot-a-Route to measure the trail shows that it is 3,078' long, and has a vertical drop of 446'. The point for intersecting the bottom of the trail on Sanderson Brook Rd. also matches at 1.27 mi. up from Rt. 20.

Where is Trail A now? It probably has been allowed to grow in. Since the vertical drop of both trails was the same, they probably had the same starting point at the top, but since A was shorter and steeper than B, it took a more direct line to their common finishing point.

Sadly, Skiing the East only has maps for the more heavily traveled areas; the lion's share being the those in NY state with 14 shown. NH & VT are tied with 3 each, and Maine has one. Massachusetts was ignored on the list of maps. That list is on page 9 of the guide, here, if you're interested in seeing it.

[Evan Osler]

On Wednesday, February 16, 2022 at 8:47:36 AM UTC-5 Phil wrote:

The description below of the trails in Chester S.F. comes from the Skiing the East book that Phil Brown mentioned recently. The “CCC Ski Trail” shown on the current S.F. map matches the length of Trail B in the description. Using Plot-a-Route to measure the trail shows that it is 3,078' long, and has a vertical drop of 446'. The point for intersecting the bottom of the trail on Sanderson Brook Rd. also matches at 1.27 mi. up from Rt. 20.

Total idle speculation but perhaps one trail is the "current" one and the other is what is now the logging road / snowmo trail that wraps around at a lower angle?

[Phil]

I wondered about a trail that shows up on Plot-a-Route but not the SF map that starts on the other side of the road from the CCC ski trail. I was thinking that might be Trail A since they would share the same intersection point with Sanderson Brook Rd. but, while the distance isn't too far different at 2,455' vs. 2,700' the vertical drop isn't close at only 174'. 

[Phil]

Another bit of info gleaned from a DCR trails description brochure: " Signature Hike CCC Ski Trail & Observation Hill Loop Trailhead: Sanderson Brook Falls parking lot off US Route 20. Lat/Long: 42.25606, - 72.94680 Distance: 4.0 mi (Difficulty: Difficult) Brief Description: This route highlights features of Chester-Blandford State Forest, including some of the recreational elements built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). Starting at the parking lot kiosk head (south) up Sanderson Brook Road. At 0.8 miles a short side trail to your right, allows you to visit to the falls, if you like. Back on the road, continue past the waterfall and uphill to a gate. This was once the hub of a modest short-lived ski area built by the CCC in 1937, and no longer in use. The site of the former warming hut is found on a nearby rise. Passing the gate, turn left onto the CCC Ski Trail and begin to climb. Imagine yourself having to hike up and ski down this steep route!"

[Phil]

Here are a couple of pictures taken today. The warming hut must have been very nice, judging from the size of the chimney it had.

[Robert M]

Has anyone hiked up the DEC marked  trail to see if it was skiable?  The old aerial photograph from 1952  shows two trails on the hillside there. It looks like Trail A was closest to the brook and Trail B was closer to the logging road but ended close to each other at the cabin site.. It looks like from comparing the aerial to the DEC map that the DEC trail from the top starts at the oid Trail B entry point, then cuts over to Trail A where it descends to the cabin site.   Both Trails as shown in the 50s look like fun twisty old  New England style trails. A bit similar to the Dutchman and Ridge Trails at Otis before they were improved.  

[Phil]

I didn't have time to hike it that day last year but intend to sometime this winter when, hopefully, there will be enough snow to ski it if possible. Thanks for sharing the aerial photo. It confirms my theory about the differences between the A & B trails there, basically starting and finishing at the same place with the more challenging one taking a more direct line down the fall line.

[Phil]

The major difference I notice from what I thought and what exists now is, as you pointed out, the current DCR trail is really a hybrid route.

[Evan Osler]

" Imagine yourself having to hike up and ski down this steep route!"

In fairness I suppose steepness is in the eye of the beholder, as well as said beholder's choice of ski gear, but there is nothing on that short trail that I would say resembles steep. Its definitely neat and historic and remote-feeling and fun as part of a low angle tour within the forest. And on a thin snowpack (which these days is also sadly an above-normal snowpack) there is enough sharkiness to make things a little bit interesting.

[Phil]

Well said!