SteveHiker
New member
Went to Vermont for my cousin's high school graduation and to escape from the crowds during bike week. Figured I could get a couple summits in as well. Turns out, graduation is next weekend. Good excuse to go back next week I guess.
I went from Lincoln Gap, along the Long Trail, over Mt Abraham as far as Mt Ellen, and then turned around and went back the same way. I think this would have been a good trip to go from gap to gap with a car spot as there is a lot of ups and downs along the way. It reminded me a little of Wildcat Ridge, except that there are little signs on most of these bumps to tell you what they are.
It was really humid and pretty hot most of the way up in the morning. I left the car about 8:30 and before I knew it I was at Battell Shelter. I think it took about an hour, which was a little faster than I thought. By this time I had completely overpowered my tech-wick shirt and was soaked. Brief water stop and then on my way. The summit area of Abraham is open and looks like if it wasn't foggy there would have been a nice view. Another water stop and something to eat and off I went. Just north of the summit as you get into the trees, I found evidence that a moose bagged this peak recently too. I stopped briefly on the lookout on Mt Lincoln, but still couldn't see anything. I headed to Ellen and got there at about noon. It was getting darker and there's not much to see there either so I left about 12:15. By 1 o'clock I was back past the ski lift and near the lowest point on the ridge. I heard two rumbles of thunder. From then on I made two brief stops for breathe, but otherwise went as fast as the damp rocks would allow until I got back to Battell Shelter. The rain never got to be more than a light mist, and actually felt pretty good. While sitting at the shelter resting up and expecting Mother Nature to unleash her fury, the sun came out. And stayed out all the rest of the way back to the car. And it got much hotter. I planned pretty well. I had about 4 oz of Gatorade and 2 mouthfuls of water left in my bottles when I got back. As I drove down towards Warren, I could now see the top of all the ridge. But it was now 3:30 and I had to go, not that I was really going to go back up there anyway.
I stopped at my parents' house for dinner where I found out that I was a week early. It takes about an hour and a half to get to there house from the Sugarbush area. My clothes still hadn't dried. I went to take a shower, but they said make it quick there's a thunderstorm on the way. "Not to worry", I said, "if the good Lord wanted strike me down with a lightning bolt today, he would have done it while I was out in the open."
And of course, in keeping with tradition, on the way home I was reaquainted with the NH state police in Newport. This time for a burned out headlight. Honestly I didn't know it was out, I'm not sure if he believed me or not, but he let me go.
I went from Lincoln Gap, along the Long Trail, over Mt Abraham as far as Mt Ellen, and then turned around and went back the same way. I think this would have been a good trip to go from gap to gap with a car spot as there is a lot of ups and downs along the way. It reminded me a little of Wildcat Ridge, except that there are little signs on most of these bumps to tell you what they are.
It was really humid and pretty hot most of the way up in the morning. I left the car about 8:30 and before I knew it I was at Battell Shelter. I think it took about an hour, which was a little faster than I thought. By this time I had completely overpowered my tech-wick shirt and was soaked. Brief water stop and then on my way. The summit area of Abraham is open and looks like if it wasn't foggy there would have been a nice view. Another water stop and something to eat and off I went. Just north of the summit as you get into the trees, I found evidence that a moose bagged this peak recently too. I stopped briefly on the lookout on Mt Lincoln, but still couldn't see anything. I headed to Ellen and got there at about noon. It was getting darker and there's not much to see there either so I left about 12:15. By 1 o'clock I was back past the ski lift and near the lowest point on the ridge. I heard two rumbles of thunder. From then on I made two brief stops for breathe, but otherwise went as fast as the damp rocks would allow until I got back to Battell Shelter. The rain never got to be more than a light mist, and actually felt pretty good. While sitting at the shelter resting up and expecting Mother Nature to unleash her fury, the sun came out. And stayed out all the rest of the way back to the car. And it got much hotter. I planned pretty well. I had about 4 oz of Gatorade and 2 mouthfuls of water left in my bottles when I got back. As I drove down towards Warren, I could now see the top of all the ridge. But it was now 3:30 and I had to go, not that I was really going to go back up there anyway.
I stopped at my parents' house for dinner where I found out that I was a week early. It takes about an hour and a half to get to there house from the Sugarbush area. My clothes still hadn't dried. I went to take a shower, but they said make it quick there's a thunderstorm on the way. "Not to worry", I said, "if the good Lord wanted strike me down with a lightning bolt today, he would have done it while I was out in the open."
And of course, in keeping with tradition, on the way home I was reaquainted with the NH state police in Newport. This time for a burned out headlight. Honestly I didn't know it was out, I'm not sure if he believed me or not, but he let me go.
