Mt. Wantastiquet NH has a fine view of Brattleboro VT.  Most people climb it from the west, Connecticut River, side, but that is a a steep, boring jeep trail.  There is a much better meandering trail from the east, and it has many scenic attractions. 
     I, Dickens, an enthusiastic hiking dog, and my good friend Bruce, arrived at the Madame Sherri's parking lot at 10:30 AM.  The morning was still quite chilly, although by 1 PM it would warm up to about 62 degrees.  It was in the 30's early this morning, making me glad I have a good thick layer of fur.
     Madame Sherri's park contains the ruins of a mansion built in the Roaring Twenties by a NYC costume designer who entertained many showgirls and producers of her day. But the park is much more than just this; it is a very extensive area to explore.   We took the trail up to Indian Lake, a scenic pond which has beaver lodges on it.  From here the trail goes up steeply heading west. 
     Amid the boulders we saw a cute garter snake out enjoying the sun. 
     Once we got to the top of the hill overlooking Indian Lake, the trail began to level off and we hiked along a long plateau which eventually ends at Mt Wantastiquet.  I stopped and explored a cairn not far off the trail.  We saw a couple of birds we think were juncos. 
     In time we came up to Mine Ledges, which is a boulder-filled cleft in the plateau with views out along the Connecticut River towards the south of Brattleboro and Vernon.  There is also a nice view here of the ubiquitous Mt Monadnock.  There are cliffs down to a depression, and on the other side there is the continuation of the plateau where one can come to the summit of Mt Wantastiquet which overlooks Brattleboro and the hills to the west.  
     We stopped here and had lunch, enjoying the sunshine, the fall colors, and the various viewpoints.  I had a delightful turkey sandwich, and some of Bruce's ham and cheese sandwich.  I also had a refreshing dish of water. 
     We didn't get to go all the way to Wantastiquet, because Bruce had to get to his office to do some work in the afternoon.  So we started back.  Along the way, we met two groups of hikers.  The first group asked if I were an Airedale.  Bruce explained that I am a Welsh terrier named Dickens.  They said that this is a good name for a Welsh terrier.  I think so too! 
     We were back out at 1:30 PM.

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