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12/17/10 Much of the trail is covered in ice, very thick at times - covered with a very thin layer of snow in parts. Some parts are difficult treading even with full crampons - where the trail is on steep hillside the ice can be difficult to bypass. Plenty of opportunities to fall - some were...

Interesting stuff. Thanks for the info. Despite some disagreements on man-made contributions it sounds like industrial activity parts of Asia - mostly central Asia, thus not primarily China, is a factor.

Is there any reason to think Indian dust would be a more likely cause than Industrial pollution from China (or India).

I met someone doing the LT this summer who had brought a solar charger - he found it totally impractical - he had very little time to give it enough sun to do anything. If you are in the practice of taking long breaks in the middle of the day - you might be able to actually do some recharging...

Great Link TB - thanks! I discovered the value of great socks last year when I got some cheaper ones based on more than a decade without blisters and got a few. Since then I've stuck with Darn tough almost exclusively - they do better wet on day 3 than the competitive REI socks do dry on day...

I think you're right that changing the blazing would be enough to change the minds of the die hard white blaze purists - even for a six mile road walk. It might have even persuaded some who were more ambivalent about holding fast to the white blazes. I'm not sure what would have changed my...

Caveman and Roy: Is the original trail significantly different than the current Old Job trail? The current Old Job Trail - which is to my memory pretty much the same as the original does not avoid the bridge and construction site in question. If there is a trail only solution why would the...

Roy I agree with most of that well articulated analysis including the legitimacy of not wanting people fording at a construction site. However, the Old Job trail still requires a crossing at the bridge site, so they would still need the long road walk + part of Old Job.

I forded this 10 days ago doing the LT. Unless there have been massive amounts of rain, this is not going to be a ford - its a rock hop. My mid-size dog managed it without getting wet. My wife who has complained about difficult stream crossings in the past, crossed happily. The big branch is...

If you turn from route 100 onto the Arlington-Stratton Road you will come to the bridge which is being rebuilt and will not be able to cross. This isn't a huge problem because taking Newell Hill Road to W. Jamaica Road will get you back to the road (this turn off is just a little north of...

The only impact is coming from the east (Wardsboro/Stratton and Rt 100) - and the bypass doesn't add much time if you have planned your route or can consult a detailed map like DeLorme on the spot. From the West (Arlington - Rt. 7) the road was clear. Also in that are there are construction...

Hi there. I hiked with you once in the winter (Carters?) and enjoyed talking with you. Anyhow, I was thinking of trying to write up a profile of a repeat LT hiker (Snowman), trail maintainer and all around trail angel. He has hiked the LT 10 times and I got to wondering if that is any kind...

Thanks, that's useful info in case Kelley Stand is the rendezvous point when my wife meets me for my SOBO LT hike in August. Do you know when the start date was?

I can't say I know for sure. When we passed through on the 18th, it looked like it was an established site - there was no bridge in place and it looked like they were putting in supports. It didn't look like something thrown together in a few days.

I've become quite enamored of the LT over recent years, so I very much wanted to join the relay event - which is a series of day hikes covering the length of the Long Trail. A porcupine doll is the mascot of the hike and is working its way from Massachusetts to Canada. Day 3 offered the most...

Going from Stratton along the Arlington Stratton Road to the Kelley Stand Rd. trail crossing we found the bridge was out entirely. This can be bypassed by taking Newell Hill Rd from Route 100 (just a little north of Arlington-Stratton road).

I was at the Rt. 9 trail head yesterday morning and noted a car with a smashed in window. Other fresh auto-glass was in on the ground. Some local folks said there had already been four car break ins on the lot in the past week.

I brought my deer fly patches with me for a short hike up to Stratton mountain late Sunday afternoon and for a hike from Route 9 to Kelley Stand Road today. I did not encounter any deer flies, so did not take out the patches. Obviously, they are so powerful - they reply deer flies at a...

My patches arrived today. I will test them out tomorrow and Monday in Vermont if the deer flies are out. Doing a short day hike tomorrow before camping out so I can joining some GMC'ers bright and early for day three of the Long Trail 100th Birthday End to End Relay Hike...

Thanks for the link - I couldn't resist ordering them. I'll be on the Long Trail soon and from reports - if these things are any good at all, carrying a few will be well worth it.