Before going to Lone Rock for my last time this semester, I did some research about its human history. Lone Rock is believed to be a site used by the Abenaki Tribe for a range of activities, due to its lake front location. Deforestation occurred at Lone Rock, however it opened up the view of lake Champlain, making its beauty apparent and seen by all who pass by. The first Bishop of the Diocese of Vermont, Bishop John Henry Hopkins, was so captivated by its beauty that he decided to cut down more trees, dig up stones, get rid of stumps and construct a house in the middle of it. The Bishop and his family lived on the land for over 50 years and cultivated it through subsistence farming. After Hopkins left the land, it was used as a military marching training ground for boys during the civil war. Currently, the land is set aside for human’s to hike and enjoy, and endangered species to have a place to grow.
Citations:
Berrizbeitia, I. (n.d.). Focal Places in Burlington. Retrieved from https://www.uvm.edu/place/burlingtongeographic/focalplaces/rockpoint.php
Today was a very cold day at Lone Rock. There was some snow on the ground further from the edge of the rock, and the winds were especially sharp. I listened closely, but heard no sign of birds and saw no tracks or scat indicating presence of wildlife. They are sure to be beginning to settle in for winter, either by migration, hibernation, dormancy, or remaining active. During the hike to my spot I saw a couple squirrels scrambling up trees. All deciduous trees in the area had lost their last leaves, however the conifers remained with theirs.