Green Mountain National Forest

Green Mountain National Forest is a national forest located in Vermont, a forest area typical of the New England/Acadian forests ecoregion. The forest supports a variety of wildlife, including beaver, moose, coyote, black bear, and white tailed deer. It also supports an abundant variety of bird species, such as wild turkey and ruffed grouse. The forest, being situated in Vermont’s Green Mountains, has been referred to as the ‘granite backbone’ of the state.

The forest was established in 1932, as a result of uncontrolled overlogging, fire and flooding.[3] It consists of 399,151 acres (1,615.31 km2); and is the biggest contiguous land mass in the state. If Finger Lakes National Forest, which is managed as a unit of the Green Mountain National Forest, is included within it, GMNF is one of only two national forest northeast of the Pennsylvania-New Jersey barrier; the other being the White Mountain National Forest. Split into the southwest and central areas, GMNF has a total of eight wilderness areas. These were designated by Congress beginning with the Wilderness Act of 1964 to be areas off limits to mechanized gear down to and including bicycles.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Mountain_National_Forest
http://www.fs.usda.gov/greenmountain

Example of a Camp Site at Somerset Airfield Camping Area

Nothing too impressive, and with limited privacy, but for big group gatherings, probably not half bad place to camp. There is a nice new pit privy in the area, and it's near the Deerfield River. Not my choice for camping with so many alternatives around, but it's there for those who want to use it.

Taken on Sunday June 19, 2011 at Somerset Airfield.

Somerset Airfield Campground

An open field area with several campsites you can camp in for free up to 18 days. It is similar to an area up at Grout Pond (see yesterday's photos), or even the camping areas at Six Nations Horse Camp in Watkins Glen NY.

Taken on Sunday June 19, 2011 at Somerset Airfield.

Roadside Campsite on FR 71

There are many road side campsites along Kelley Stand Road, Forest Road 70 (to Lye Brook Wilderness) and Forest Road 71 (to Stratton Air Field/Kelley Stand Road). Most of them are pretty basic with no facilities but stone fire rings, although some are a little farther back then others.

Taken on Sunday June 19, 2011 at Forest Road 71 - Somerset Airfield Rd.

All Packed Up

This is a very nice, basic roadside campsite, assuming you brought all the gear you really need or want.

Taken on Sunday June 19, 2011 at Branch Pond.

Morning’s Trash

The best part of camping is the campfires and being able to burn my trash. Playing with fire is fun, even if some of this styrofoam and plastic stuff kind of smells and puts out black smoke when burnt.

Taken on Sunday June 19, 2011 at Branch Pond.