Vermont's Long Trail - Please Recommend 14 days

[Brambor]

i have gone over the first 8 pages of search results for Vermont Long Trail but found nothing that would raise flags.

We are currently scheduled to hike 14 from Grafton Notch due north on the AT - sometimes in the first two weeks of August.

This morning during a casual talk we realized that we've never really hiked in Vermont. Most of the weekend warrior outings are in Maine or NH and VT never really gets any consideration while long vacations usually see us much further from New England.

So now we're also considering doing part of Long Trail

Please recommend best 14 day section and include some general info on camping rules and regulations.

Much appreciated - Thank You.

 

[tomcat32]

While I don't know your pace and what you can cover 14 days personally, I would recommend the northern half of the trail. Most can hike the entire LT in 28 days so 14 days may allow you to hike half and the northern part is more remote. You don't have AT traffic to further crowd things. Areas like Abraham, Camels Hump, and Mansfield are covered with there alpine peaks. The far north is fairly remote with less people in the areas between trailheads.

 

[TDawg]

Start at Rt. 73 (Brandon Gap) and hike north. That should be time enough without rushing to reach the CA border and you'll see the best of the LT. According to my End-to-Enders guide (very useful,) that is 148.6 miles of fun. If that's too much/too little, just go to the next gap north or south.

You wouldn't be missing much if you skipped the border and hiked down Jay Peak back to Rt. 242, the ski area base, or N. Jay Pass (Rt. 105.) This would probably be a little easier for a ride at the end, not dealing with Journey's End Rd. Of course, YMMV. Enjoy.

 

[Jay H]

Please recommend best 14 day section and include some general info on camping rules and regulations.

I believe the Green Mountain Club websites lists the various camping rules and regulations. There are different rules depending on the forest you are hiking through so the GMC does a good job in referencing the various lands and regulations, they will also have info on the shelters and if there is a fee and for reservations if needed...

Jay

 

[Brambor]

Thanks. Good tip and I will consider it that way. Our pace might vary depending on circumstances and general condition of one our family members so I keep goals wide open. We're just going to walk and camp and have a good time.

Start at Rt. 73 (Brandon Gap) and hike north. That should be time enough without rushing to reach the CA border and you'll see the best of the LT. According to my End-to-enders guide, that is 148.6 miles of fun. If that's too much/too little, just go to the next gap north or south. YMMV.

 

[mcdxcvii]

Any trip reports out there for hiking the entire LT in 14 days? At least that is my optimistic plan!

 

[Peaks]

old guidebook

The old guidebooks included hiking times between shelters, based on formula. I found that to be very helpful for planning. I don't think newer editions include this.

 

[RoySwkr]

Any trip reports out there for hiking the entire LT in 14 days? At least that is my optimistic plan!

Just try to do one section of the Long Trail Guide per day, that gives you a little slack and maybe a zero day

 

[blacknblue]

You could always start at Jay Peak and just see how far you get in 14 days. Then you don't have to worry about 'timing' it right. I would guess you could do from Route 4 (Sherburne Pass / Killington area) to Jay, or vice versa, in 14 days. Get the GMC Long Trail guide. It's indispensible, IMHO.

 

[Brambor]

Thanks. Getting the guide is my next step.

You could always start at Jay Peak and just see how far you get in 14 days. Then you don't have to worry about 'timing' it right. I would guess you could do from Route 4 (Sherburne Pass / Killington area) to Jay, or vice versa, in 14 days. Get the GMC Long Trail guide. It's indispensible, IMHO.

 

[bcskier]

You could always start at Jay Peak and just see how far you get in 14 days. Then you don't have to worry about 'timing' it right. I would guess you could do from Route 4 (Sherburne Pass / Killington area) to Jay, or vice versa, in 14 days. Get the GMC Long Trail guide. It's indispensible, IMHO.

Be aware that the guide is written from a nobo (northbounder) perspective. Speaking from experience, the sobo is sometimes led astray by the unintended omissions that occasionally crop up.

For example: the guide says that the dangerous weather (read thunder and lightning) route around the summit of Camel's Hump is the Alpine trail. All well and good if you are a nobo. It's actually the Monroe trail to the Alpine trail if you are a sobo. I learned that the hard way. The less-maintained northern section of the Alpine trail is no fun in a drenching wet storm. The nobo hiker who takes the southern section of the Alpine is directed by signage to take the Monroe once they reach the junction with it. A point that is not mentioned in the guide.

FWIW I attempted a 14 day trip starting at Smuggler's Notch hiking south to the Mass border in '04. I was a bit over ambitious. My mileage was supposed to increase steadily to reach 26+ miles per day over the last few days. The spirit was willing but the flesh (mostly my feet) was weak. I was on the trail for fourteen days but finished about 30 miles short of the state line. You would be wise to remember that most thru-hikers schedule in nero and zero days at fairly regular intervals. Twelve to fourteen days of an LT-section-per-day walking is going to be a challenge if you start cold.

My trail name for the journey? Two Weak (sic).

 

[Brambor]

Thank you. Will consider southbound direction.

(The guide book has been ordered)