Vermont – Page 4 – David Kotz

Mount Mansfield

Over the past week I was beginning to think that winter was a bust – with just a handful of great winter outings to show for it. Today proved me wrong. With Mount Mansfield as our goal, Lelia and I set out for Stowe, Vermont and soon met up with Jen and Lars. The parking lot was nearly full of hikers, backcountry skiers, ice climbers, and others eyeing the pure-blue sky and crisp views of the snowy peaks. Heading south on the Long Trail, we climbed steeply up a well-packed treadway smoothed by several groups of skiers skinning their way up ahead of us, and criss-crossed by the carved turns of skiers and snowboarders who left the groomed trails of Stowe for the hardwood glades of the Long Trail. The snow was fairly fresh, with perhaps six inches of powder on top of a firm but not icy base. We reached Taft Lodge for lunch, basking in the startlingly warm March sunshine with a group of three younger skiers, another group of four older Quebecois, all sharing the happiness that comes from bright sunshine, blue skies, soft powder, and fresh air. More below the break.

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Camel’s Hump

I was itching to get above treeline this weekend, to enjoy the fresh snow the hills received this week and, hopefully, some long-range views. I recruited an old friend and we headed for Camel’s Hump in Vermont. David spent two summers working there as a ranger, and yet had not been back to this impressive peak and its myriad trails in over 20 years.

We were the first to arrive at the Couching Lion parking area on the east side of the mountain, and planned an 8.4-mile loop (up the Dean Trail, along the Long Trail following the ridgeline, and down the Monroe Trail). We made first tracks through several inches of fresh powder on the Dean Trail and Long Trail, enjoying vast views of the Adirondacks and glimpses of Moosilauke and Washington in New Hampshire. We saw nobody else until we hit the summit cone, where we met two hikers and their chilly dog. On the way down, though, we encounters dozens of hikers who had come up Burrows or Monroe trail, and had an easy glide down that latter trail. Check out the photo gallery.

Needless to say, when one is woofed from a big hike, and passing within 5 miles of the Ben & Jerry’s factory, one just has to stop in for some ice cream. Indeed, I think there is an obscure code in Vermont State Law to that effect.

Thanks, David, for a fine outing!

Four recent outings

I have been fortunate to be able to get out hiking and canoeing.

Summer is a grand time in New Hampshire. The days are long, the forests lush, and the rivers calm. The weather recently has been fantastic, mostly warm and sunny but not too hot. I’ve been able to get outside a few times, with my camera:

A four-mile round-trip hike along the Long Trail [photos]
A two-day paddle along the Connecticut River [photos]
A five-mile pre-breakfast loop through (and over) Dixville Notch [photos]
A five-mile round-trip up Mount Jefferson [photos]

I hope to get out more, sometime soon!

The Ridge of the Caps starts at 3000′ elevation.

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