Driver8
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Wanted to get out and visit a 4000-footer this weekend, and had to decide which one. After considering multiple variables, and upon learning that Mt. Abraham is in the Green Mountain National Forest, so that the trail is open through mud season, I gave this peak some thought. Calibrating from multiple trail reports from across New England, I reasoned that, because Lincoln Gap to Abe is south-facing and exposed to sun without shade from mountains to the south almost all day, and because it's been an exceptionally dry spring, this route would likely be OK to jump the gun on a late mud-season hike by 5 days.
Turned out that I had a lot of company. Saw maybe 30 other hikers on the route. Got a late start, coming up from Rutland, where I stayed the night, I arrived just after noon and departed around 12:25 pm. Lincoln Gap Road was in much better shape than I feared it would be, happy to say. There were a couple dozen cars or more parked roadside and in the lot.
As for the hike, I benefitted, in the first mile and change, from the trail's terraced climb - 30 foot moderate climb, 100 yards of level ground, 100 foot steep climb, another hundred yards of level. It allowed me, out of shape after a long winter and a tough 2014, to catch my breath and pace myself. The calculations I made turned out to be right - the trail was the driest of any hike I've done in Vermont, other than Mount Ascutney last summer solstice. Only in seepage spots and at brook crossings was the trail wet. In places above the shelter, the trail bed had that "just out from under melted snow" look - "winter was here a week ago," it seemed to say.
The water sources were few and far between. The brook just south of the Battell junction was running pretty well, the brook next to the shelter less so.
The super-steep pitches on the cone were vertiginous - scared me on the climb, with my mildly wobbly vertigo, as I considered descending them. but they turned out to be doable with care and a lot of butt-sliding on the way down. The cone and the summit grounds were pretty - I prefer Camel's Hump, but really enjoyed that rigorous last climb to Abe's summit. My legs were starting to cramp just as I got to the big quartz boulder - the sign they give when they don't have much climb left in them - but I made it. Just the right sized hike at the time, and a beauty at that.
The best views were along the spine of the Greens. Late afternoon - took me just under four and a half hours on the climb - it was pretty hazy. Views east were, I think, to Moosilauke and South Kinsman, I believe, or maybe just as far as Signal Hill, and the Appalachian Trail corridor in that direction. Views were to faintly to Lake Champlain, with the Dak's very faintly hovering behind - couldn't make out any peaks. Ascutney was the limit of the view southeastward, and Killington, with snow on a north-facing slope, was a big presence SSE-ward. The local views to Ellen and Mansfield, were very fine and south along the spine to Wilson, Breadloaf and neighbors as well.
All in all, a beautiful day for a hike. If I'd tried much of anything more, it probably would've been too much. And fortunately, the trail was good and dry - did a quick jaunt north of the summit to look for the plane crash, but found some lingering snow and soggy conditions and soon turned back.
Turned out that I had a lot of company. Saw maybe 30 other hikers on the route. Got a late start, coming up from Rutland, where I stayed the night, I arrived just after noon and departed around 12:25 pm. Lincoln Gap Road was in much better shape than I feared it would be, happy to say. There were a couple dozen cars or more parked roadside and in the lot.
As for the hike, I benefitted, in the first mile and change, from the trail's terraced climb - 30 foot moderate climb, 100 yards of level ground, 100 foot steep climb, another hundred yards of level. It allowed me, out of shape after a long winter and a tough 2014, to catch my breath and pace myself. The calculations I made turned out to be right - the trail was the driest of any hike I've done in Vermont, other than Mount Ascutney last summer solstice. Only in seepage spots and at brook crossings was the trail wet. In places above the shelter, the trail bed had that "just out from under melted snow" look - "winter was here a week ago," it seemed to say.
The water sources were few and far between. The brook just south of the Battell junction was running pretty well, the brook next to the shelter less so.
The super-steep pitches on the cone were vertiginous - scared me on the climb, with my mildly wobbly vertigo, as I considered descending them. but they turned out to be doable with care and a lot of butt-sliding on the way down. The cone and the summit grounds were pretty - I prefer Camel's Hump, but really enjoyed that rigorous last climb to Abe's summit. My legs were starting to cramp just as I got to the big quartz boulder - the sign they give when they don't have much climb left in them - but I made it. Just the right sized hike at the time, and a beauty at that.
The best views were along the spine of the Greens. Late afternoon - took me just under four and a half hours on the climb - it was pretty hazy. Views east were, I think, to Moosilauke and South Kinsman, I believe, or maybe just as far as Signal Hill, and the Appalachian Trail corridor in that direction. Views were to faintly to Lake Champlain, with the Dak's very faintly hovering behind - couldn't make out any peaks. Ascutney was the limit of the view southeastward, and Killington, with snow on a north-facing slope, was a big presence SSE-ward. The local views to Ellen and Mansfield, were very fine and south along the spine to Wilson, Breadloaf and neighbors as well.
All in all, a beautiful day for a hike. If I'd tried much of anything more, it probably would've been too much. And fortunately, the trail was good and dry - did a quick jaunt north of the summit to look for the plane crash, but found some lingering snow and soggy conditions and soon turned back.
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