Dates - June 7 & 8, 2014
Peaks - Mt. Mansfield, Camel's Hump, Mt. Abraham, Mt. Ellen, Mt. Wilson, Bread Loaf Mountain (55/100 NEHH)
Trails - Hell Brook Trail, Long Trail, Monroe Trail, Jerusalem Trail, Clark Brook Trail
Companions - Solo
Gear - perfect weather - no need for any gear
Bugs - pesky at times
Crossings - no troubles
Lost/Found - one empty Naraganset can
Dorothy is away on a bachelorette party and Tyler(/Krista/Ted) is sick, so I decided to go it alone and see how many Vermont NE 100 Highest I could bag on my own. I already have the Jays, so I decided to work from North to South from there. Drove up after work on Friday, grabbed some food at a K Mart in who knows where, then got to Hell Brook trailhead around 10:30 and hung a hammock in the trees. Camping in the woods is a whole lot more eerie when you're alone ...
Woke up at 4:45 to try and get the most out of the daylight. Hit the trail around 5:15, heading straight up Hell Brook trail to Mansfield, intending to come right back down the Long Trail. Steep. Maybe not as steep as Tripyramids or King Ravine, but as steep as I've done in the trees, I think. Made it up to the adam's apple then ran to the chin and, for some reason, kept going. Went all the way past the nose and down the steep section after the forehead then realized where I was. Temperature was fine up top but there was a haze around that restricted the view until I made it over the nose and it all cleared. Took the bad weather roundabouts on the way back and then made it back down to the car.
Smugglers Notch.
Back at the car, headed south to Camel's Hump without stopping. Legs still felt fairly fresh so I was moving most of the way. Pretty popular hike, lot of dogs. One in particular, an aussie mutt and its owner, apparently trail ran most of the way, but then I caught back up near the top when the path was thin and a bit of a traffic jam developed. Made it to the top for some great views, was enjoying a granola bar, minding my own when a guy who I came to know as King Steve offered me a beer. I did my best not to shotgun it. Can't imagine something more refreshing than that was right there. Stuck around for a little bit then headed off back down. Made the it the whole way without event, and good time again.
By the time I started driving, it was close to 9 and I couldn't find a gas station open to get some drinks. I felt tired enough that I didn't feel safe driving so I eventually just pulled off into a veterinary clinic parking lot and slept in the car. Not comfy, but I was tired enough to fall immediately asleep. Woke up the next morning around 7:15, sore as I've ever been, and refueled at a gas station. My knees were feeling ready to call it quits, but it seemed like a waste to not do Mt. Wilson and Bread Loaf with me already up there and the whole day available. That being the case, decided to tag them both via Carter Creek Trail. Had some difficulty spotting the trailhead but eventually found it and took off. The first mile and a half were very easy and welcome on my sore knees, and I was flying. The second mile and a half, not so much. Got quite a bit steeper at parts and I was generally just feeling exhausted, so had to stop several times. Finally made it to the ridge, and not a moment too soon. From there, though there were some steep drops back down and up here and there, made relatively good time and an easy go of taking the Long Trail south all the way over Wilson, past the Emily Proctor Shelter, and up to Bread Loaf. I saw little cairns at the top of each, but no signs or canisters, which is a chance from the way of the White Mountains. Consequently, had to take my time at each peak and make sure I was actually at the top. Saw one dog, two through hikers, and a few other section hikers on the way there, and all but the section hikers on the way back. This being the only one I reliably kept track of time for, I know that I made the round trip in 4:22 hours.
Tired and sore now. Wish I could call in sick tomorrow.
Peaks - Mt. Mansfield, Camel's Hump, Mt. Abraham, Mt. Ellen, Mt. Wilson, Bread Loaf Mountain (55/100 NEHH)
Trails - Hell Brook Trail, Long Trail, Monroe Trail, Jerusalem Trail, Clark Brook Trail
Companions - Solo
Gear - perfect weather - no need for any gear
Bugs - pesky at times
Crossings - no troubles
Lost/Found - one empty Naraganset can
Dorothy is away on a bachelorette party and Tyler(/Krista/Ted) is sick, so I decided to go it alone and see how many Vermont NE 100 Highest I could bag on my own. I already have the Jays, so I decided to work from North to South from there. Drove up after work on Friday, grabbed some food at a K Mart in who knows where, then got to Hell Brook trailhead around 10:30 and hung a hammock in the trees. Camping in the woods is a whole lot more eerie when you're alone ...
Woke up at 4:45 to try and get the most out of the daylight. Hit the trail around 5:15, heading straight up Hell Brook trail to Mansfield, intending to come right back down the Long Trail. Steep. Maybe not as steep as Tripyramids or King Ravine, but as steep as I've done in the trees, I think. Made it up to the adam's apple then ran to the chin and, for some reason, kept going. Went all the way past the nose and down the steep section after the forehead then realized where I was. Temperature was fine up top but there was a haze around that restricted the view until I made it over the nose and it all cleared. Took the bad weather roundabouts on the way back and then made it back down to the car.
Cool overhang.
Another overhang.
Flowers
Southerly view near from the forehead.
Cairn on the chin?
Tunnel of sorts on the path
Steep decline after the forehead
Another southerly view from Mansfield.
Westward view with Champlain and Adirondacks in the distance
Looking back at the nose and the fog beyond.
Fog on the ridge.
Smugglers Notch.
Back at the car, headed south to Camel's Hump without stopping. Legs still felt fairly fresh so I was moving most of the way. Pretty popular hike, lot of dogs. One in particular, an aussie mutt and its owner, apparently trail ran most of the way, but then I caught back up near the top when the path was thin and a bit of a traffic jam developed. Made it to the top for some great views, was enjoying a granola bar, minding my own when a guy who I came to know as King Steve offered me a beer. I did my best not to shotgun it. Can't imagine something more refreshing than that was right there. Stuck around for a little bit then headed off back down. Made the it the whole way without event, and good time again.
View south from way up Camel's Hump.
View from Camel's Hump
Cairns or trolls?
Back at the car, drove next to tackle Mt. Ellen and Mt. Abraham. Unfortunately, they were not as conducive to a practical up and back or loop each, so decided to through hike them and bank on hitchhiking back. Started from Lincoln Gap, which was packed with cars, and headed north up the Long Trail. The trail was generally tough and persistently uphill, without much in the way of views or rivers. Nevertheless, made it up Mt. Abraham and then the ridge provided a welcome relatively flat break. Jogged it at parts, but my legs and general energy level were starting to fade. Saw a LOT of moose droppings and even the remnants of an antler scratch on a tree. No moose though. Also came upon several ski resorts and a guy meditating at scenic vista that seemed like a pretty good place to meditate. Made it all the way to Mt. Ellen by around 6:30. My plan had been to potentially camp at Glen Ellen shelter or just off in the woods, but the downhill to the shelter deterred me, then I just decided to finish it off rather than call it quits, particularly with 2 hours of daylight left. Jerusalem trail was a VERY welcome easy downgrade for most of the way. Saw some elaborate maple tree setup on the way down, though it took me a while to figure out what it was, and didn't see anything flowing. When I got back down to the trailhead, just started walking with thumb out. Made acquaintances with an Australian Cattle (guard) Dog along the way, but not with any prospective drivers, unfortunately. Finally, after walking probably two or three miles, a younger guy picked me up and was nice enough to take me all the way up to the car, despite it being a bit out of his way.
By the time I started driving, it was close to 9 and I couldn't find a gas station open to get some drinks. I felt tired enough that I didn't feel safe driving so I eventually just pulled off into a veterinary clinic parking lot and slept in the car. Not comfy, but I was tired enough to fall immediately asleep. Woke up the next morning around 7:15, sore as I've ever been, and refueled at a gas station. My knees were feeling ready to call it quits, but it seemed like a waste to not do Mt. Wilson and Bread Loaf with me already up there and the whole day available. That being the case, decided to tag them both via Carter Creek Trail. Had some difficulty spotting the trailhead but eventually found it and took off. The first mile and a half were very easy and welcome on my sore knees, and I was flying. The second mile and a half, not so much. Got quite a bit steeper at parts and I was generally just feeling exhausted, so had to stop several times. Finally made it to the ridge, and not a moment too soon. From there, though there were some steep drops back down and up here and there, made relatively good time and an easy go of taking the Long Trail south all the way over Wilson, past the Emily Proctor Shelter, and up to Bread Loaf. I saw little cairns at the top of each, but no signs or canisters, which is a chance from the way of the White Mountains. Consequently, had to take my time at each peak and make sure I was actually at the top. Saw one dog, two through hikers, and a few other section hikers on the way there, and all but the section hikers on the way back. This being the only one I reliably kept track of time for, I know that I made the round trip in 4:22 hours.
Tired and sore now. Wish I could call in sick tomorrow.
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