Quest for the Right Words @ Quechee Gorge Quechee, Vermont Moderate Architectural, Natural Trail 1:00 Please bring a pencil, swimsuit To get there: Take Route 4 toward Woodstock and pull into the great new Quechee Gorge Visitor Center on the left. Plenty of parking and lots of great information! Your Quest starts at the gate next to the visitor s center. Clues: Welcome to Hartford s Quechee Gorge. We promise that you won t get bored. Fill in all of our blanks with the words that you choose There are no right or wrong answers; just follow our clues! This Quest should be. You don t have to run. When you ve finished walking, writing & all the rest, You will have created your own personal Quest. Start at the gate There is no need to wait. Go down the steps. name of material Pass through a door. Inside, you will find a store. 1
This is the Visitors Center: Have no fear! Please enter. When is done, head out back. name of person in group Yes, go back outside and read the plaque. the blue trail and you will be right back for more. A great switchback trail made by the Youth Conservation Corps. Soon you will come to a bend, But this trail it will not end. Turn right, not straight And do not. Up ahead you will find a fence Read the sign and please do what it says. The trail has blazes marked on the trees. color Use your eyes, you can! This is not a test. But if you look, you might even find a bird s nest. At the trail merge, turn stop a bit along the ridge And look up and you will find a bridge. It is a bridge, off to your, color direction Stop, look & listen: enjoy this sight. The bridge you have spotted was originally built with train tracks in 1875. John Storrs designed this unique structure, where cars now drive. 2
OK - Get going down the trail. You will pass many roots, veiling the sides of this everlasting trail. Coming right down the path, there will be a where you may want to rest. Pause for a moment and think of what a place for this kind of Quest. And down the slope you will continue your part All this walking is good for your. part of body Beyond 0.2, at the Quechee Gorge trail, stay right Unless you are camping here for the night! Another fork follows, soon in your sight Remain on the trail on the route that keeps right. We hope you are enjoying this trail. You re doing great. If you work together will not fail! Long, long ago a, a thick sheet of ice Covered this place, leaving a natural treasure we think is. down to the bottom of the gorge A new trail you need not forge! Stroll by the ferns on your left ad 3
Listen to the in the Ottauquechee River singing best. liquid At the DANGER sign, stop and look around The rocks, river and much more are there to be found. Walk down the stone stairs on the right, Scramble on, you ll enjoy the sight. plural If the water is low, and the temperature is high Go in for a dip - look up at the sky. When you re done with your scramble And ready to ramble, Go back up to higher ground Your treasure box still to be found. Past the stone stairs a bench is found Walk 50 steps up hill with your feet on the ground. On the right side of the trail, look for a set of 4 trees 3 birches and another hold your prize, if you please! Valley Quest Valley Quest is a series of more than 150 treasure hunts that teach and share the natural and cultural history of the Upper Valley region with children, families, adults and visitors. How can I participate in the Valley Quest program? 1. Go on a Quest! 2. Complete 20 Quests and earn a Valley Quest patch. Go on 50 Quests and earn a Valley Quest hat! 3. Utilize an existing Quest as an Outdoor Classroom with a group. 4. Adopt an existing Quest as a box monitor. Help foster community as you steward one of the Upper Valley s Special Places. Contact Laura@vitalcommunities.org if you are interested! 5. Create a NEW Quest by yourself or with friends. Help preserve a special place in your community. 6. Buy a Best of Valley Quest guide book from your local bookstore and head out on an adventure. 4
Vital Communities Valley Quest is a program of Vital Communities, a regional non-profit organization serving the Upper Valley Region. For more information about Valley Quest please check our website: www.vitalcommunities.org. You can call us at 802-291-9100 or email laura@vitalcommunities.org. 5