lx93
New member
- Joined
- Sep 19, 2005
- Messages
- 301
- Reaction score
- 14
Traction need:
We only used snowshoes the entire hike, from the Long Trail to Battell Trail (.9 miles after Mt. Abraham). Some parts of the Battell Trail & descent from Mt. Abraham were icy, but nothing really major.
Donna and I started off at Sugarbush Ski Resort, having car-spotted down at USFS 350, Battell Trail.
Ascending Sugarbush was steep, but probably quicker. We lost some of the time savings, however, in finding out which ski slope to ascend. Having experienced some of the same confusion in descending via Polecat from Wildcat D in the White Mts., I'm not sure that it's not just better to take the trail and save yourself a bit of confusion.
Also, at first we were told by a Sugarbush employee (probably just starting to work there) that we would couldn't ascend via the ski slope and would have to go to VT. Hwy 17- not the news we wanted to hear as we were off to a late start (my fault). Then another Sugarbush employee told us that we could go get a hiker's pass for free & be told which path to take (there are a multitude of ski paths, in case you're like me & never ski).
While hiking up, it was really fun to look up at the people in the chair lifts and say "Chair lif? We don't need no stinking chair lif!" They all thought it was funny, too.
Anyway, when we reached the summit, Sugarbush employees graciously let us use the ski patrol hut to warm up our toesies. Another drawback to ascending via ski slopes is exposure to the wind, and my toesies felt it.
Upon bagging Mt. Ellen, we got onto the Long Trail.
Ellen had a decent view close to the summit, which itself was wooded but marked with a wooden sign kind of like those in the Carters in the White Mts.
Later on, we came to another Ski Patrol hut at Castle-something and used their stove (real kitchen type!!!) to boil water for our freeze-dried smorgasbord, at least it was to us. This was a really big plus, it felt like luxury to not have to pack out our Cliff Bar wrappers- they just take their garbage down the chair lifts.
The Long Trail overall was easy to follow, just not brushed out in some places. There were many tracks except for middway, apparently not everyone bags Ellen & Abe in the same hike.
The view from the observation point on Mt. Lincoln (right before Little Abe) was awesome and provided a great tool to steady myself for blur-free pix.
FYI, Mt. Lincoln apparently has less than 200 feet elevation gain between it & Mt. Abraham, for if not it would be one of the Hundred Highest. I think it was either 3800 or 3900-something elevation.
Coming from Mt. Lincoln to Little Abe, the summit sign was on our left-hand side, it's in the same style as the sign for Mt. Ellen.
The summit for Mt. Abraham, though not marked, was fairly obvious. Lots of rocks, path marked on either side by well-laid out rock boundaries.
Trail junction w/ Battell Trail & Long Trail was well-marked.
Lodging FYI: White Horse Inn is real close to Sugarbush Ski Resort, and reasonably ($65/night, in this area, that's reasonable) priced. It would have been worth the extra money to have been able to start real close, plus the Rodeway up on exit 13 on I-89 that we rented separate rooms in was a real dump. How much of a dump? It was better to turn up the heat than to use their blankets.
All in all, a great hike with a great hiking partner, who gave me many well-appreciated insights on things like adjusting straps on pack, packing the heavy stuff on top, trail knowledge, etc., as well as being just a great person to talk to. 300% better than solo hiking!
We only used snowshoes the entire hike, from the Long Trail to Battell Trail (.9 miles after Mt. Abraham). Some parts of the Battell Trail & descent from Mt. Abraham were icy, but nothing really major.
Donna and I started off at Sugarbush Ski Resort, having car-spotted down at USFS 350, Battell Trail.
Ascending Sugarbush was steep, but probably quicker. We lost some of the time savings, however, in finding out which ski slope to ascend. Having experienced some of the same confusion in descending via Polecat from Wildcat D in the White Mts., I'm not sure that it's not just better to take the trail and save yourself a bit of confusion.
Also, at first we were told by a Sugarbush employee (probably just starting to work there) that we would couldn't ascend via the ski slope and would have to go to VT. Hwy 17- not the news we wanted to hear as we were off to a late start (my fault). Then another Sugarbush employee told us that we could go get a hiker's pass for free & be told which path to take (there are a multitude of ski paths, in case you're like me & never ski).
While hiking up, it was really fun to look up at the people in the chair lifts and say "Chair lif? We don't need no stinking chair lif!" They all thought it was funny, too.
Anyway, when we reached the summit, Sugarbush employees graciously let us use the ski patrol hut to warm up our toesies. Another drawback to ascending via ski slopes is exposure to the wind, and my toesies felt it.
Upon bagging Mt. Ellen, we got onto the Long Trail.
Ellen had a decent view close to the summit, which itself was wooded but marked with a wooden sign kind of like those in the Carters in the White Mts.
Later on, we came to another Ski Patrol hut at Castle-something and used their stove (real kitchen type!!!) to boil water for our freeze-dried smorgasbord, at least it was to us. This was a really big plus, it felt like luxury to not have to pack out our Cliff Bar wrappers- they just take their garbage down the chair lifts.
The Long Trail overall was easy to follow, just not brushed out in some places. There were many tracks except for middway, apparently not everyone bags Ellen & Abe in the same hike.
The view from the observation point on Mt. Lincoln (right before Little Abe) was awesome and provided a great tool to steady myself for blur-free pix.
FYI, Mt. Lincoln apparently has less than 200 feet elevation gain between it & Mt. Abraham, for if not it would be one of the Hundred Highest. I think it was either 3800 or 3900-something elevation.
Coming from Mt. Lincoln to Little Abe, the summit sign was on our left-hand side, it's in the same style as the sign for Mt. Ellen.
The summit for Mt. Abraham, though not marked, was fairly obvious. Lots of rocks, path marked on either side by well-laid out rock boundaries.
Trail junction w/ Battell Trail & Long Trail was well-marked.
Lodging FYI: White Horse Inn is real close to Sugarbush Ski Resort, and reasonably ($65/night, in this area, that's reasonable) priced. It would have been worth the extra money to have been able to start real close, plus the Rodeway up on exit 13 on I-89 that we rented separate rooms in was a real dump. How much of a dump? It was better to turn up the heat than to use their blankets.
All in all, a great hike with a great hiking partner, who gave me many well-appreciated insights on things like adjusting straps on pack, packing the heavy stuff on top, trail knowledge, etc., as well as being just a great person to talk to. 300% better than solo hiking!
