Peakbagging Vermont

[professor]

The only negative on Vermont peaks is usually their relatively easy nature for hard-core peak baggers (hence the lack of necessity for step-by-step instructions typical of AMC guides - but that one's been pretty well covered already). If you are looking for a more substantial challenge, why not try all five 4000-footer's on the same day? I know, or know of a few people who have done this, and it realistically requires a car spot at one end or the other of the Lincoln Gap-Appalachian Gap Ridge, but the mileage can be in the low 20's. If you are lucky, you can catch the sunset off of Mansfield or Killington.

 

[spaddock]

Thanks, Blue for explaining a little what folks who are used to hiking in the Whites might be looking for and not finding in the Vermont guides. It's just all what you get used to I guess. For example when I recently bought my first copy of the AMCs White Mountain Guide I couldn't help but think, "Man this is way too much info!

I like Guide Books for getting me to the trailhead and for total mileage. After that, if it is a marked trail I'm not too worried about any trail descriptions they provide. Since I'd call myself a peakbagger I'm going to do the peak anyways so, surprise me.

Vermont sounds like a cool place to hike. Before I really started hiking I took the Gondola up Mansfield and hiked from there to the top. The farms and rolling hills are beautiful. In the Winter Jay Peak is the best ski hill around. Keeping it old school with no big resorts around and no such thing as "Out of Bounds".

Sounds like the Long Trail Guide is the way to go. I'll have to get myself a copy after I finish my ADK 46.


-Shayne

 

[sli74]

I have to say that Vermont is one of my favorite places to backpack . . . I find the Whites lend themselves to dayhiking and peakbagging while Vermont draws my backpacking side. When I thruhiked the Long Trail last year, I kept thinking how I HAD to come back and backpack the whole thing again in small sections with side trips, etc. The Whites also have many great trails that lend themselves to backpacking trips but there is something very serene about Vermont that gives you a different feel and calmness that seems over and beyond just being out in the woods.

And while we are at it, let's not forget Maine and NY and CT, etc, etc, etc. We are so very lucky to be healthy and wealthy enough to indulge our hiking addiction. I feel lucky to be able to hike where I want when I want, pretty much . . .

I have been lucky enough to do a lot of smaller trails and hills in VT because I have friends who live spread out all over the state. It is indeed overlooked but in a way its lack of "popularity" is what gives it the serene feel so I guess I am okay with it being kept that way

And Toe Cozy is a REALLY wonderful person who really just loves VERMONT . . . so don't hold her strong feelings for the state against her

sli74

 

[AMF]

... And Toe Cozy is a REALLY wonderful person who really just loves VERMONT . . . so don't hold her strong feelings for the state against her...
sli74

How can one hold ANYTHING against someone who frequents McNeills?!?!?

 

[amstony]

SJ-

Make sure you get the DeLorme Guide for the roads to the trailheads. The biggest problem is not the hike, it is locating the trailheads in VT, (such as park at light pole # 72 for Killingtons trailhead ). As for the trails, they seamed "much easier" (a relative term) than most WM trails. The Green Mountains in VT are very nice, but kind of get overlooked since they are so close to the Whites.

All the 4K's are covered in the Long Trail Guide, which is a good book. The Day Hikers Guide to VT has only 2 hikes for the NEHH, Dorset and Equinox. You can do Abraham and Ellen fast with a car spot, Killington is also a quick hike-nice trail, Camels Hump and Mansfield are awesome hikes.

If you can, stop and pick up the maps and books at the Green Mountain Club HQ in Waterbury. They are very nice people working there, and you'll be surprised at the size of the GMC headquarters, fits in a "breadbox" basically. Nothing close to the scale of the AMC operations in the WM.

 

[Toe Cozy]

How can one hold ANYTHING against someone who frequents McNeills?!?!?

You could hold an ESB (that's a kind of beer ) against me! Or a Ruby Red, or their Oatmeal Stout or their Alt Bier......I digress.

AMF - do you frequent said establishment?

 

[sli74]

If you can, stop and pick up the maps and books at the Green Mountain Club HQ in Waterbury. They are very nice people working there, and you'll be surprised at the size of the GMC headquarters, fits in a "breadbox" basically. Nothing close to the scale of the AMC operations in the WM.

Here is another positive vote for the GMC . . . they have some very nice books and guides in their Headquarters (part of which brned down a few years ago and had to be rebuilt) and they run really great AFFORDABLE "training" sessions various things, backpacking, ice axe and crampon use, etc . . .

sli74

 

[SherpaKroto]

Alchemist's Pub & Brewery: that's it! I couldn't remember the name of the place, but it was excellent Pub fare and the beer(s) were nice and cold. I got to sit and watch the Sox/Dodgers on TV the day I was in there after seeing Chickety off on her way home.

Vermont has a very different feel than the Whites or the ADK's. I can't decide if the mountains take on the feel of the people of VT or vice versa, but it all fits, and I love it!

 

[bubba]

So, in a nutshell -- different strokes. God created Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York... and Indiana, Wisconsin, Idaho, etc. so we wouldn't be bored and gave us the opportunity to hit the road and see other places.

Enjoy them all!

PS Liza are you sharing your loot when you do win the lottery?? (Just had a friend win $$millions and haven't seen any of it yet...)

 

[Rugger]

There is truely something different about Vermont (yes I'm biased - grew up there, family still there and hope to get back someday). I think it may have been Robert Frost that talked about the difference between the Whites (coiled up like a snake) and the Greens (laid out in nice neat rows) I'm sure I have it quoted wrong so if anyone else remembers where it is from...Finally if you are visiting Vermont you have to have pie for at least one meal (not dessert - the whole meal!) Suggestions are the diner in Lyndonville, Maple Cream pie from the Wayside on the Barre-Montpieler road and a huge Farm Stand on Route 5 I think just South of Bellows Falls (blueberry). My grandmother's blackberry cream pie is better than all of these, but I'm not sharing.

 

[spaddock]

Finally if you are visiting Vermont you have to have pie for at least one meal (not dessert - the whole meal!)

My buddy I'm hiking with this weekend would be ALL over that. We just might have to change our itineary.

-Shayne

 

[Puma concolor]

One thing I've noticed about lists is that when you complete them, you generally walk away with a real good "feel" for the mountain range in question ... whether it's the ADK 46, White Mtn 48 or Catskill 3500 Club.

Vermont's Green Mountains are the exception that proves this rule. There is no major Vermont list and the Greens force us otherwise conquest-oriented peakbaggers to actually be CREATIVE in exploring the hills. Egads.

There is no possible way to walk away from bagging a paltry 5 4K Vermont peaks and feel like you have any kind of intelligent insight into these mountains. 14 NEHH gets you a little further, but you really just need to explore away from the lists to become insightful on this range.

Toe Cozy says it best for sure.

 

[Toe Cozy]

Swimming holes

Another feature of VT hiking is the possiblitiy of local swimming holes for cooling off afterwards. For those without direct local knowledge, there is actually a thin little book you can buy that describes swimming holes in VT. Just be forwarned....Vermonsters like their "au naturel" style swimming!

Also the Chelsea royal diner in West Brattleboro on Rt. 9 has great breakfasts...right sli?

 

[sli74]

One thing I've noticed about lists is that when you complete them, you generally walk away with a real good "feel" for the mountain range in question ... whether it's the ADK 46, White Mtn 48 or Catskill 3500 Club.

Vermont's Green Mountains are the exception that proves this rule. There is no major Vermont list and the Greens force us otherwise conquest-oriented peakbaggers to actually be CREATIVE in exploring the hills. Egads.

There is no possible way to walk away from bagging a paltry 5 4K Vermont peaks and feel like you have any kind of intelligent insight into these mountains. 14 NEHH gets you a little further, but you really just need to explore away from the lists to become insightful on this range.

Toe Cozy says it best for sure.

Thruhike the Long Trail . . .

 

[Puma concolor]

Thruhike the Long Trail . . .

11 years until retirement!

 

[spaddock]

Another feature of VT hiking is the possiblitiy of local swimming holes for cooling off afterwards.

So let me get this straight. Pies for dinner, swimming holes with naked people, and the Ben & Jerry's factory! It's like I'm 7 again, except this time without any parents to tell me no. Are you sure this is Vermont we're talking about here, or heaven?


-Shayne

 

[Toe Cozy]

So let me get this straight. Pies for dinner, swimming holes with naked people, and the Ben & Jerry's factory! It's like I'm 7 again, except this time without any parents to tell me no. Are you sure this is Vermont we're talking about here, or heaven?

Most of the time, it pretty much feels like the same thing. BTW, you forgot to mention all the good craft brewed beer. And don't forget the artisan cheeses and hearth breads. Hopefully a bunch of you will get to enjoy the hiking and all other good Vermont things at the gathering in Sept.

SJ: sorry we kind of hikjacked this thread. It's turned into a Vermont LoveFest But if you're gonna be in Vermont for a few trips in Aug. & Sept. maybe some of these tidbits can be put to good use for a really top notch Vermont experience!!!

 

[Gandalf]

Thruhike the Long Trail . . .

I would love to try this sometime! I'm guessing it would take the typical hiker three weeks or so?

For anyone familiar with hiking in Vermont...I'm planning on making Camel's Hump my inaugural climb/hike in the Green Mountain State some time in early August with my wife (we've hiked fairly extensively in the Daks High Peaks region). Is the ascent from the west (the Burrows Trailhead, I believe) difficult to find?

 

[sli74]

I would love to try this sometime! I'm guessing it would take the typical hiker three weeks or so?

Gandalf,

Check out the following thread on a LOT of info on the Long Trail. I highly recommend it.
http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?t=5489

SJ,

Do you feel special that your thread has been hijacked? Vermont Lovefest indeed.

sli74

 

[Toe Cozy]

Hey Gandalf,

I can't remember off the top of my head, but I think that trail makes a good loop with the Forest City Trail...I'm trying to picture it in my hiking book. And what I'm picturing is not the GMC Long Trail Guide...but Michael Lanza's New England Hiking book....I totally forgot that that's the book I always used before I got the GMC book when I did part of the LT with Seema. For Vermont hiking, that's a really good book too. I don't remember this trailhead being being hard to find, but as mentioned...get a VT delorme gazateer!