Jeff&Henry
New member
(Loop Hike, via Long Trail > Profanity Trail > Long Trail)
Full photo album
First hike in the State of Vermont for us; no idea why we waited so long to hike in the Green Mountains, but scenery is simply lovely...on par with anything in the Whites, in my opinion.
After spending the week in Smuggler's Notch, and gazing up through the notch each day at Mansfield, we decided we would tackle Vermont's highest and arrived at the Long Trail trailhead on route 108 around 7:45 AM on 8/1/13. (Note: we stopped at the Green Mountain Club HQ on Route 100 and got a very good map of the area. Good people there too!)
For those of you who haven't been around Smuggler's Notch, it easily rivals Franconia Notch, but a bit more steep and cramped. With such dramatic surroundings, and with a cool, clear morning, we knew the views would be sensational.
The hike up the Long Trail is only about 2 miles with nearly 3,000 feet of vertical climb, so we knew it would be steep immediately, with few breaks. Ironically, we would find the climb up the trail much better than the climb down. The greatest irritant were all the damp areas, especially on the rock faces. All three of us took at least one fall during the day.
Taft Lodge provides a welcome break around 3,700 feet, before heading up for the final push up to the ridge and to the summit of Mansfield. Once on the ridge, the real rock climbing begins, although most steep areas provide decent hand and footholds.
The summit of Mansfield we found to be as rewarding as the Whites...and the ridge towards the auto road was breathtaking, especially as the low clouds blew throught the notch. The caretaker from Taft Lodge was on summit duty and we were thankful for someone to take our picture. Heading south on the Long Trail from the summit, I found the views to resemble a "mini-Tuckerman's ravine" and the passing clouds made it even more dramatic.
Another odd thing about Mansfield are all the "auto-road" hikers who drive up and see the enticing, rocky summit of Mansfield 2.1 miles away, and take their keys and ill prepared selves and begin their journey over. We passed two women with nothing more than light workout outfits and Lexus keys go past us shivering...
After a brief lunch on the ridge, we decided to head down Profanity Trail (the bad weather route back to Taft Lodge). Well, after heading down Profanity Trail, we understand why it has that name. We regretted going down the wet, loose gravel, rocky trail almost immediately. We wished we went back down the Long Trail. If the weather was lousy, or it was wintertime, I can understand why people would use it...
The trip back down the Long Trail was relatively easy, but slow, given the wet rocks.
We exited back onto Route 108 around 12:45...so 5 hours total. Not too bad. Mansfield was lovely!
Full photo album
First hike in the State of Vermont for us; no idea why we waited so long to hike in the Green Mountains, but scenery is simply lovely...on par with anything in the Whites, in my opinion.
After spending the week in Smuggler's Notch, and gazing up through the notch each day at Mansfield, we decided we would tackle Vermont's highest and arrived at the Long Trail trailhead on route 108 around 7:45 AM on 8/1/13. (Note: we stopped at the Green Mountain Club HQ on Route 100 and got a very good map of the area. Good people there too!)
For those of you who haven't been around Smuggler's Notch, it easily rivals Franconia Notch, but a bit more steep and cramped. With such dramatic surroundings, and with a cool, clear morning, we knew the views would be sensational.
The hike up the Long Trail is only about 2 miles with nearly 3,000 feet of vertical climb, so we knew it would be steep immediately, with few breaks. Ironically, we would find the climb up the trail much better than the climb down. The greatest irritant were all the damp areas, especially on the rock faces. All three of us took at least one fall during the day.
Taft Lodge provides a welcome break around 3,700 feet, before heading up for the final push up to the ridge and to the summit of Mansfield. Once on the ridge, the real rock climbing begins, although most steep areas provide decent hand and footholds.
The summit of Mansfield we found to be as rewarding as the Whites...and the ridge towards the auto road was breathtaking, especially as the low clouds blew throught the notch. The caretaker from Taft Lodge was on summit duty and we were thankful for someone to take our picture. Heading south on the Long Trail from the summit, I found the views to resemble a "mini-Tuckerman's ravine" and the passing clouds made it even more dramatic.
Another odd thing about Mansfield are all the "auto-road" hikers who drive up and see the enticing, rocky summit of Mansfield 2.1 miles away, and take their keys and ill prepared selves and begin their journey over. We passed two women with nothing more than light workout outfits and Lexus keys go past us shivering...
After a brief lunch on the ridge, we decided to head down Profanity Trail (the bad weather route back to Taft Lodge). Well, after heading down Profanity Trail, we understand why it has that name. We regretted going down the wet, loose gravel, rocky trail almost immediately. We wished we went back down the Long Trail. If the weather was lousy, or it was wintertime, I can understand why people would use it...
The trip back down the Long Trail was relatively easy, but slow, given the wet rocks.
We exited back onto Route 108 around 12:45...so 5 hours total. Not too bad. Mansfield was lovely!
