About 70 people per year successfully complete the LT and become End to Enders. Interesting history topics are just a click away. Be sure to have all of your personal affairs in order, and inform people of when youd hope to return. Free use, Steve Baxter from Pexels. The story goes that Emily died a gruesome death at the bridge and now her spirit haunts those who traverse the bridge. Its as if the animals sense something and never enter. Many people also attest to ghosts and common hot spots of eerie sensations. But to do so does come at some risk. Native Americans called Glastenbury Mountain in Vermonts Green Mountains cursed, and used it strictly for burying their dead. In a five-year period, Paul Jepson, age 8, Frieda Langer, age 53, Middie Rivers, age 74, James Tedrod, age 68, and Paula Welden, age 18, vanished on or around Glastenbury Mountain. Glastenbury was mostly uninhabited by European settlers before the 1700s. Two murders in Glastenbury one in the settlement of Fayville in 1892, and the other in Glastenburys Bickford Hollow in 1897 was the start of Glastenburys long decline, and the beginning of its lasting reputation as a mysterious, remote and haunted place. One story indicates that the driver of a stagecoach and its passengers reported a sighting of the hairy beast in the early 1800s. According to legend, one of the main roads through the Green Mountain National Forest was washed out during a heavy storm. Related: Cycle New Zealand's Old Ghost Trail: The Ultimate Gold Miner's Trail (& Not For The Faint-Hearted). Another large-scale search ensued, but nobody in the party found anything. Can I visit any abandoned places in Vermont? In time, new details may be added to a story or new evidence may show something interesting. But after being open for just one season, flooding in 1898 washed out the railroad tracks beyond repair, and the resort was abandoned for good. Mostly lost at the turn of the century, Glastenbury Mountain, located just outside of Bennington, is no stranger to tales of legend and creepy stories. The caption reads, On trail up Glastenbury Mountain Photo 1917. This peace lasted about 50 years.Squandro, of course, had his pick of women and chose a beautiful girl named Awagimiska to be his wife. However, overlogging of the mountain by the 1880s decimated the trees and led to the towns decline. For two centuries, reports suggested that the woods are home to the Bennington Monster, something like Bigfoot. He had also gone missing on at least one other occasion. Gujarat also shares a small . If that was the case, why were his luggage and other effects on the bus? Could cougars have something to do with the disappearances in Bennington? He went down to the river and stood on its banks, and with his arms outstretched, he uttered a curse that the waters of the Saco would take the lives of three white people every year.The death of Squandos son also marked the end of peaceful relations between the settlers and the Sokokis. Some fringe theorists insist that aliens played a part in the disappearances and talk about UFO sightings or portals to another world. While this gave Glastenbury its initial chill (and we're not referring to Vermont's infamous winters), it would not be the last tragedy to befall the town. Not a single passenger had any idea what might have happened to him in the time between the last stop and the bus pulling up in Bennington. Some places will not be safe for entering, but you will still be able to get a glimpse of these places from the outside. Circulated photograph of Paula Jean Welden; clipping from missing persons flyers. Known for its remote towns and the picturesque Green Mountains, it's a haven for skiers and summer hikers - but what about the parts of Vermont that have long since been forgotten and abandoned? It's hard to believe that Glastenbury Mountain, a place known for its scenic trails and fire tower, has such a wild reputation among locals, but it does. * Old route of Long Trail due S from Goddard Shelter Address: Glastenbury Mountain, Glastenbury, VT 05262, USA The OIYS Visitor Center Glastenbury Mountain June 10, 2022 Luke What are the scariest haunted attractions in Vermont? Three decades later in 1937, the state disincorporated Glastenbury and nearby Somerset because of their extremely small populations. . Still more theories suggest a more practical explanation, such as the existence of a serial killer who stalked the Bennington area in the mid-20th century, asNY Daily Newssuggests. Zone of Silence: Anomalies in the Mexican Desert. Tad Baker, historian and archaeologist at the York Institute Museum in Saco (now the Saco Museum), claimed that early historical accounts describe an incident on the Saco that led to an American-Indian babys death, but there is no mention of the curse until about 1880. Whether there's any truth to the remains of this ghost town has yet to be seen. Sources: We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. After many travels during a B.A. According to local legend, several ghost stories have been known to wander through this resort town in the Green Mountains. Bennington Triangle lore insists that the most famous of all these events was Paula Weldens disappearance. In 1892, Henry McDowell bludgeoned his co-worker, John Crowley, to death. Whatever one believes, there's no denying that being in the thick of the Vermont wilderness, on the side of a mountain, especially for those who are unfamiliar with the land, is an intimidating experience. 'What's going on?'". While some might think it is a coincidence, others have attributed more sinister causes to be the result of these unsolved cases. Vermonter reports as many an estimated 40 people have vanished in the Bennington Triangle. Not surprisingly, some commenters on blog posts say that there are sinkholes strewn about the mountains, which may explain the legend. And the last seven words of the paragraph read: we dont recommend you make the trip. This haunted hike may scare you stiff, or it could show you mountain views for miles upon miles at one of the most breathtaking spots in Vermont. Even those very familiar with the area could suddenly suffer from disorientation. Share your stories with us by leaving a comment below. Three Decembers later to the day James E. Tetford vanished somewhere on the sinister slopes. Travel 5 miles to a parking lot entrance on the left, which brings you to the crossing point of the Long and Appalachian Trails. Happy haunted adventures! Love Vermont? With the angry spirits that dwelled in the forest, the tribes stayed away. Also consider that during droughts the water supply at Goddard has been known to dry up. It appeared that Tedford had gotten up out of his place and disembarked without anyone else noticing. Unfortunately since 2003 the lookout is closed. On the first day in December 1946, the 18-year-old decided to head out for a short hike. The LT continues north to the Canadian border and the AT turns east toward Maine. It was mid-afternoon on a bright and clear Columbus Day. Be aware that this peak is somewhat remote. It's a big Universe full of wonders. The town was active for less than one decade before it was eventually incorporated by the state in 1937. Length 23.0 miElevation gain 4,534 ftRoute type Out & back. Although her disappearance was weird, the discovery of her body was even more puzzling. Paul Jepson, 8, uncharacteristically jumped into the familys truck with his mother for a trip to the town dump near the mountain. Theres also a story about a cursed boulder that swallows hikers into a bottomless pit, and a tale about a monster who lives in the woods. His family had put him on a bus for the return trip to the Old Soldiers Home in Bennington. There were disappearances throughout the 1940s and 1950s, almost immediately after the town was disincorporated. Did the river really claim the lives of three white people each year? Books by Pratt, Les currently resides in London and is a freelance writer with a long standing passion for the unexplained and paranormal. The northeast side of Glastenbury Mountain drains into Deer Lick Brook, thence into the Glastenbury River, the Deerfield River, the Connecticut River, and into Long Island Sound in Connecticut. Since then, the Vermont vanishings have become immortalized in the folklore of Benningtons history. Some visitors to the region have also reported experiencing unusual confusion or dizziness. A local resident gave her a ride as far as to his home in Woodford Hollow. From Wilmington travel west 8.8 miles past the VT 8 junction. The Green Mountain National Forest occupies roughly half of Bennington County, Vermont, with the Glastenbury Mountains in the middle. * Hike ATV trail from Macintyre shown on USFS version of USGS map Disappearances of people like Middie Rivers, a lifelong area resident and experienced hunting and fishing guide, who led a group of hunters into the wilds of Glastenbury Mountain in early-November, 1945. Middie Rivers was a 74-year-old mountain guide in the area. Vermont's ghost town of Glastenbury has a long, chilling history and some hikers claim you can still feel it to this day. It's stated in Joseph A. Citro's 1996 book, Passing Strange: True Tales of New England Hauntings and Horrors, that Native Americans refused to set foot on Glastenbury Mountain unless they were burying their dead. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! DAgostino, Thomas, (2013) A Guide to Haunted New England, Charleston, SC, Haunted America, A Division of the History Press. Where do you go?Good question. This case occurred in 1945. Just beyond route 4 at Sherburne Pass the trails diverge. Unlike the other disappearances, however, Langer was the only missing person whose remains were discovered. Awagimiska broke free and dove in after her baby. In October of the following year, an eight-year old boy named Paul Jephson tragically became the fourth person to disappear in the Bennington Triangle. When he returned from the war, she was gone. Ten months later, the mountain claimed a child. Perfect for a hike on Glastenbury Mountain in Vermont. However, when she returned to the vehicle, he was gone. The year was 1675, and while other Indian nations were embroiled in King Phillips War with white settlers, the Sokokis continued to live peacefully and trade with their European neighbors.That all changed in the summer of 1675. The weather, cougars, a wild man, or a hairy monster are the main theories behind the Bennington Triangle. And, for . There are mountaineers and professional hikers who insist that the root of the Bennington Triangle folklore is nothing more sinister than the weather. Exactly three years to the day after Welden's disappearance, a man named James Tedford vanished, seemingly into thin air, while onboard a bus travelling down Route 7, directly through the Bennington Triangle. The Long Trail is totally contained within Vermont while the mighty Appalachian Trail spans 14 states from Georgia to Maine.The US has a well organized and active long distance community and both these paths see lots of use by backpackers hiking the whole trail in one season. Known as the 'oasis in the desert', this only hill station in Rajasthan is the most popular and the best hill station near Ahmedabad. The entire region was searched extensively. Historic Mysteries is an Amazon Associate and earns from qualifying purchases. ", Glastenbury Mountain is known for erratic and sometimes dangerous winds and weather patterns which likely contributed to the Abenaki legends. Get more stories delivered right to your email. After a long, thorough search of the area, the only thing anyone found of Rivers was a spent rifle cartridge of the same type he used. By 1898, Glastenbury was essentially gutted by a massive flood, which heavily damaged the town's largest resort and completely destroyed the railroad tracks. Thanks.Thanks intrepidhiker for the following.Highly Recommended pre-hike eating: The Blue Benn Diner for breakfast heading north on Route 7 in Bennington; The Top Notch Diner just as you're entering Bennington on Route 9; Dot's Diner in Wilmington on Route 7 and 100.Also, Jensen's on Route 7 heading north on Bennington for dinner. The trails stop part way up the mountain, suggesting that no one ever goes up any farther. In 2014, the now-unincorporated town of Glastenbury, Vermont, had a total of eight residents. But whatever happened, the world is now very familiar with Bennington, and the people who travel into the Glastenbury woods swear to its profound eeriness. (4), Images Maybe the Glastenbury curse was something more sinister. An English vessel lay at anchor near the mouth of the Saco and three sailors from the ship rowed up the river. Soon the FBI, along with New York and Connecticut State Police, joined Vermont authorities in the hunt. Obscure Vermont But just west of Glastenbury Mountain, at the intersection of Chapel and East Roads, the team of dogs provided by New Hampshire State Police lost the boys scent. Watch on. Local authorities launched a series of searches. In 1761, New Hampshires governor chartered the town, and by 1791 six families lived in the tiny community. The first recorded disappearance was that of Middie Rivers. On November 12, 1945, Rivers was leading a party of hunters in the area called Hell Hollow, in the southwest woods of Glastenbury. In addition to explaining the Abenaki legends about people being swallowed by a rock, sinkholes could explain some of the disappearances that have occurred on the mountain. It's not all that surprising that there are a few ghost towns throughout Vermont that have long histories, some more seemingly wicked than others. However, authorities did not find any trace of any of the victims, with the exception of Frieda Langer. The Abenaki believed their god, Tabaldak, lived at the peak of Glastenbury mountain. . Despite the fact that a town no longer existed in Glastenbury, the strange phenomena surrounding the area continued well into the 20th century. These days, the Glastenbury Wilderness is the second largest in Vermont, a montage of hardwood forests of spruce, fir, birch, and mountain ash capped by 3,748-foot Glastenbury Mountain. Mrs. Jepson searched frantically, but couldnt spot his bright red jacket. Tedford was traveling by public bus and was just one of 14 passengers that were on board when the bus left St. Albans. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 10 h 14 min to complete. You will need to spend the night at Glastenbury Mountain, unless you have the energy to hike out 14.4 miles to Route 9 in Woodford. People who have never been found. Listen to the podcast for more stories of people who vanished into thin air. However, she never showed up. The addition of a trolley resort, casino, and renovated hotel was intended to put Glastenbury on the map. A series of low stone mounds lie nearby. Some stories say he would, at times, travel down from the wilderness and expose himself to the women in Bennington and Glastenbury towns. Only one body was ever found, but no cause of death was determined. The same treadway is also a small part of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. Frieda Langer was the last person to disappear in the Bennington Triangle, on October 28, 1950, while hiking with her cousin Herbert Elsner around the Somerset Reservoir. All that anyone knows for sure, is that there are ancient indigenous burial grounds, mysterious disappearances, UFO sightings, a cursed forest, and paranormal activity. As reported by Historic Mysteries, the sudden changes could cause hikers to "suddenly suffer from disorientation" and "could account for some of the disappearances.". Hikers and explorers arent quite sure what to make of these. You may never be heard from again, especially if youre wearing red.Glastenbury Mountain is located in Bennington County, Vermont, and is part of the Green Mountain National Forest. In the southern part of the state the two trails coincide. After the 74-year-old became separated from the group, an eight-day search was launched, but, save a single rifle cartridge, no evidence was ever turned up to indicate where Rivers might have gone, per Legends of America. This is a wooded peak with gentle slopes tucked away in the Green Mountains of Vermont and has a fire-tower-turned-lookout on the summit. However, bobcats and lynx, which are prominent in the region, are not aggressive. Squandro was very proud of his son and pleased with the life he had made. There was no evidence to indicate a cause of death, and no way to explain why she wasn't previously discovered, or how she might have ended up back at the reservoir after the initial search had taken place, according to History by Day. They believed that the whole mountain was cursed land because the "four winds" met there in an eternal struggle. It encompasses the entire Kathiawar Peninsula (Saurashtra) as well as the surrounding area on the mainland. Mount Girnar is a major igneous plutonic complex which intruded into the basalts towards the close of the Deccan Trap period. The passengers did not see the creature, but they saw its glowing eyes and heard it roar before it disappeared back into the forest. As a result, a stagecoach full of passengers was forced to stop along the road. Tracker dogs aided in the search effort to no avail. The old Goddard Shelter. During a five-year span, people disappeared in the area regularly. But there may be another reason to be careful: a curse.The legend begins in the late 1600s when the Sokoki tribe were living near the mouth of the Saco River. The Long & Appalachian Trails are long distance backcountry hiking trails. As reported by Vermonter, the mysterious occurrences have always been a fundamental part of the region's culture and folklore. Again, an extensive search was conducted, this including more than 1,000 people. Emilys bridge is supposedly haunted by Emilys ghost and is one of the most talked about haunted places in Vermont. After the first season, a flood in 1898 washed away all the railroad lines and bridges. At least four people have disappeared in this lush, green forest while hiking within a five-year period. Legends, myths and tales of hauntings in and around New England. What Caused The Patomskiy Crater in Siberia? Legends of America Though they combed through the vast wilderness for eight days, they found no evidence of what may have happened to him. It's a ghost town in Vermont you've possibly never even heard of despite it being right in your backyard. Children refers to the set of objects that logically fall under a given object. CC2.0 Malcolm. All Rights Reserved. Legends of America reports Paul Jepson may have been abducted by a passing motorist, as tracking dogs lost his scent on a roadway. (8), Additions & Corrections You can drink in the musky smell of the fallen leaves and hear them rustle and crunch beneath your feet as you walk through them. Then there are those who assure us it wasnt anything supernatural. royswkr - Apr 15, 2006 2:13 pm - Hasn't voted shorter ways to fire tower. The Bizarre Disappearance of Keith Reinhard in Silver Plume, Colorado. What are the scariest haunted attractions in Vermont? As reported by Legends of America, the stagecoach driver was inspecting the road when he found some unusual footprints in the mud, which were far too large to be human. Their sachem was a young, strong leader named Squando, who was well respected by his people. Vermont's Bennington Triangle, which includes a large portion of the Green Mountain National Forest and the Glastenbury Mountains, has been the epicenter of unusual activities and sightings, as well as a number of unusual disappearances, for centuries. Here is a great video by Christopher Gilly as he climbs the 57-foot tower and films the 360-degree views from the top. His mother worked as a caretaker for the local dump. Who doesn't love a bit of adrenaline? The summit of the mountain has an observation tower maintained by GMC, who also maintains the shelter three-tenths of a mile south of the summit. Glastenbury Mountain is a mountain located in Bennington County, Vermont, in the Green Mountain National Forest. Later in the afternoon she asked directions from Ernest Whitman, an employee of The Bennington Banner Newspaper. The vast wilderness is host to many legends, among them tales of a "man-eating" rock and several Bigfoot sightings. While some believe this was evidence of an automobile kidnapping, and others suspect the parents of foul play, Jephson's father believes the cause of his son's disappearance was something more mysterious. There are no birds singing, no squirrels chattering or crows cawing. While some ruins from the original town can be seen on various hikes today, there's not much left from the original town. While some believe there's a type of interdimensional gateway that explains the disappearance of so many people, others err on the side of sinkholes and hidden wells, perhaps leftover from the town that existed prior. Local residents have reported strange, unearthly sounds, and strange glowing discs on and above the mountain. Southwestern Vermont is known for its bucolic setting, but one 93 sq km area of thick woods was also the scene for one of America's great enduring mysteries. However, since the summit is completely forested, and there are no other rocks on the mountaintop, theres no rational explanation for how or why the rocks are there. The Long Trail/Appalachian Trail crosses the entire area from north to south by an old fire tower on the top of Glastenbury Mountain . 2,000 - 3,000 backpackers per year attempt to thruhike the entire AT in 4-8 months. Middie Rivers was a vastly experienced outdoorsman, and few people knew the backwoods better than he did. The northwest side of Glastenbury drains into the Fayville Branch of Warm Brook, thence into Batten Kill and the Hudson River. At the triangle's center sits Glastenbury Mountain, which some claim carries a centuries-old curse. In 1945, strange disappearances began taking place on Glastenbury mountain. The town of Glastenbury was a booming mining and lumber town. Weldens outfit included a lightweight red jacket that was not ideal for an extended walk. The dumbfounded driver could offer no explanation. The towns of Glastenbury and Somerset were both thriving logging towns, providing lumber and trees to make coal. However, he escaped. As reported by Obscure Vermont, Glastenbury Mountain is one of 12 mountains in the range, with a maximum altitude of 3,747 feet.. Revelator Network reports the region surrounding Glastenbury Mountain was home to the Abenaki tribe, which was part of the . To this day, a majority of details regarding the six major disappearances in the Bennington Triangle are still undetermined. The Maine Sunday Telegram headline happily proclaimed Saco River Outlives Curse of Indian Chief. Squandro eventually made his peace with the whites, but he never rescinded his curse, and the Saco has claimed more than its fair share of lives. Near the bottom of the descent from Glastenbury, the trail passes a junction to the Kid Gore Shelter. Today, the town of Glastenbury is home to only eight residents and is an unincorporated part of Bennington County (which has a paranormal reputation, in itself). In reality, actually how bad is Glatenbury? Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 11 h 21 min to complete. But one thing most people seem to agree on is that before these disappearances began, Native American tribes held the belief that a curse overshadowed the surrounding woods. But be forewarned that for some the hike has taken much, much longer. Other places, however, you will be able to enter and explore inside. Donning a fiery-red jacket, the bright and spunky five-foot-five blond left the college. However, as reported by Happy Vermont, the town thrived in the mid to late 1800s. Mysterious disappearances arent the only strange things that have kept people steering clear of this area, dogs and horses are easily spooked, not to mention the ghost town remnants that have been left behind. Toward the end of the decade, an attempt was made to turn Glastenbury into a tourist destination. Not far from Bennington County lies a mountain known as the Glastenbury Mountain. The white blazed LT/AT is just to the east.Branch Street Extension TH: From Bennington go 1 mile north on VT 7 from the VT7/9 intersection. The town never recovered from this catastrophe and Glastenbury and Somerset became ghost towns. In an interview with Happy Vermont, historian and author Tyler Resch said he is skeptical about the stories of paranormal activity in the Bennington Triangle. This trail begins in Bennington and takes you over Bald Mountain (AKA: East Mountain) and on to Glastenbury Mountain. Then, in the late 1940s and early 1950s, mysterious disappearances began being reported in the area. Cool Interesting Stuff wrote that Tedfords wife had vanished without a trace from his home a few years prior to his own disappearance. Herbert waited near the stream for her to return. As the ages and sexes of the missing were widely varied, it is even less likely that they were victims of a serial killer. Until as recently as 1947, some Maine folks in the Saco-Biddeford area would hesitate to go near the waters of the Saco until they were certain that three people had drowned there that season. As seemingly soon as it began, the town of Glastenbury was once again absorbed into the 27,000 acres of mountain woodland on which it sat.. Gujarat, state of India, located on the country's western coast, on the Arabian Sea. The Saco River is known for its strong undertow, surprisingly deep gorges and rough rapids in some areas. In fact, in Glastenbury, the legendary stories seem to far outnumber the areas population. Glastenbury Wilderness Photos (392) Directions Print/PDF map Length 19.1 miElevation gain 4,520 ftRoute type Out & back Head out on this 19.1-mile out-and-back trail near Woodford, Vermont. According to Obscure Vermont, the woods are so dense and thick on Glastenbury Mountain that some locals still get easily turned around and disoriented. The first major blow of King Philips War was struck in Saco.But what of the curse? It's easy enough to say that visitors to Vermont's now-ghost town of Glastenbury have been warned, several times over. Others claim it was something or someone else. She was a sophomore student at Bennington University. If you are looking for more scary and abandoned places, take a look at 17 scary and, Yes, you can. Instead, he blames the tremendous expanse of uninhabited and inhospitable land. Following his arrest,Heather Sutfinreports he was sent to a mental health facility, which he escaped and was never seen again. The Yowie: More Than Just Australias Bigfoot? At least four people in five years have been reported to be hiking on the mountain, and were never seen again. For several weeks, the woods became a source of intense scrutiny. Bennington Triangle. Over time, Glastenbury Mountain became popular for hunting, camping and hiking, that is, until people began to disappear. One way to get this rush is to visit some of Vermont's ghost-haunted and eerie attractions. The new one is very similar, Routes Once there, Mrs. Jepson left the truck just for a moment. Why the Native Americans ascribed a curse to Glastenbury Mountain is anyones guess. What You Need To Know About The Mysterious Bennington Triangle Disappearances. Unless you're a marathon trail runner, that kind of distance requires a very early morning and speedy travel or a more leisurely overnight in the nearby log shelter. The southeast side of Glastenbury Mtn. He was also a powerful shaman, gifted in sorcery and magic. The bus only made one stop, where Tetfords presence was noted. Depending on the area and attraction, you can visit abandoned places in Vermont. The trails to the summit are well marked and easy to follow. The Jephson family worked as caretakers for a nearby dump, and on October 12, 1950, young Paul had accompanied his mother to work. The distance for this hike is about 13.2 miles. The leaves turn from green to golden yellow, bright orange, and vibrant red. The Bennington Triangle, which centers on Glastenbury Mountain and includes the city of Bennington and the ghost towns of Glastenbury and Somerset, is known for five disappearances that took place from 1945 to 1950. Print/PDF map. In 1897, John Harbour was shot to death by an unknown person despite being in possession of a loaded gun. From UFO disappearances to a paranormal-active forest, Glastenbury has had no shortage of legends to its name. Public domain. They soon had a son named Menewee, (or Mikoudou, depending on the source.) They figured Rivers would reunite with them in time. She wasnt planning to take much time, so she gave Paul strict instructions not to leave the truck. Five in number, they stand two to four feet high and nearly eight feet in diameter. Some versions of Native American lore indicate that Glastenbury Mountain is home to a "malevolent stone" that swallows whole those unlucky enough to run across it. 2009-2021 Historic Mysteries. Glastenbury Mountain has also been the site of many reported UFO sightings and unexplained lights through the years. Such an explanation could account for some of the disappearances, but not all. The Maelstrom I am not familiar with the area so please post suggestions here and I will incorporate them into the main text. Years and years and years longer. However, a significant number of the disappearances occurred between 1945 and 1950. Glastenbury mountain, according to Joseph A. Citro, in his book Passing Strange Tales of New England Hauntings and Horrors, is an inaccessible region, remote, full of dark places, jutting outcrops, vast marshlands and quiet pools. A couple that was out for a stroll on Long Trail last saw the teenager approximately 100 yards ahead of them on the path.