Vermont's Long Trail
265 mile hike along the ridge of the
Green Mountains, from Massachusetts to Canada!
One year in September, I backpacked
most of the Long Trail through Vermont. This was one of
the finest backpacking trips I
have ever been on! It mostly follows the ridgeline,
so you go up and down every peak! Check out some of the
photos and links to this awesome trail!
SUNRISE! The
typical bivy-sack setup (why carry a tent?) on the porch of an
old ski-hut-platform near the summit at Mad River Glen Ski Area.
If it isn't raining, there is no need for a tent,
or even the roof of a leanto. Sunrise AND Sunset from the Same Location!
Perfection!
A typical cabin along the trail.
Spaced about every 2 to 5 hours, there really is no need to carry
a tent (except in bug season, or if you have serious problems
with snoring or flactulance!)
Trying to get a self-portrait
on the summit of Mount Ellen, the darn wind blew me over backwards,
and of course I landed on my arse!
Another typical Lean-To.
There might be a breeze blowing through, and maybe even some rain
leaking through a few spots in the old tin roof,,,,
But the best part is the cool folks you get to share dinner, cocktails,
and breakfast with!
There are about six or seven
cabins along the trail that are so awesome they will blow your
mind! I'll never tell you which ones they are, but they
are pretty obvious if you buy and read the Long Trail Guide put
out by the Green Mountain Club. All the cabins are potentially
subject to abuse by those who like to party irresponsibly, so
it is up to the rest of us to utilize peer pressure as a means
to educate those few neophytes. The best of those cabins
have (or had) wood stoves in them, so they were pretty awesome
destinations for a winter backpack. Unfortunately it seems
that more and more of the stoves have been removed due to excessive
abuse. The Long Trail in Vermont is absolutely one of the best
moderate semi-long-distance trails in the USA. It follows
the ridgeline of the Green Mountains the entire way. One
note; the trail often makes no effort to utilize switchback-type
trails. Usually the trail goes straight up! These
are classic old New England trails. Often the footing is
tree roots, rocks, and mud. If your knees are not accustomed
to this type of abuse, it is best to limit your daily miles for
the first week or so. A lot of folks wear elastic knee and
ankle supports. If you don't wear them, you should at least
carry them.
It is real easy to separate the new hikers
from the seasoned veteran hikers. Those who have been hiking the
longest usually carry the lightest packs. You really don't need
all the junk that a lot of beginning hikers carry in their packs.
When your overnight pack weighs 20 or so pounds, you can bounce
along the trail, and not even sweat. When your backpack weighs
two or even three times that, you'll be huffing and puffing, stopping
alot to get air, and even worse, tearing the heck out of your
tendons and ligaments. I've spent a lot of hours in the doctors
office, getting my knees and ankles rehabbed. Ever since I quit
carrying all that heavy unnecessary crap, I can hike up and down
all day, then go for a long stroll after supper. Here is a hint;
buy a cheap used scale, and weigh all your "stuff".
Do you really need a two and a half pound, fifty dollar thermarest
pad to sleep on for six hours? I'd never trade my twelve ounce,
nine dollar, ten year old black closed cell ensolite pad for your
thermarest. Do you really need to dish out $$ for a camelback
water carrier? Wake up! You are a heck of a lot better off using
three or four (or more) 20 or 32 oz. plastic soda bottles!
Over the years, I've gotten to
where I love the steepest,
meanest trails! Trails
like "Profanity" going up the drainage from Taft Lodge
on Mt. Mansfield to the summit. That is one awesome after-dinner
workout! The secret is to drink a ton of fluid, munch
a few high-energy foodbars, and take it slow at first. Eventually
the heartrate cranks up to about a buck-eighty or so! The steeps
are always my favorite!
And,,, if ya wanna still
be hiking years later, take this advice,,,
Go Light!!!
Mtn. Bob's Long Trail Trip Report
Spring Mud Season Hiking Discouraged
MAP of
the Long Trail History
of the Land
*
Green
Mt. Club
My
Backpacking Page
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