7_31_2015 Mansfield, Mansfield Bypass, Up over Forehead, back to Mansfield down Amherst.

We needed to go back and complete the section from the Needle's Eye to the TV Road. We didn't complete this section when we were on on the mountain on July 16th because of weather conditions. To start out we took the Toll Road up to the parking lot at the Visitor's Center. From their we hiked the LT to the Forehead Bypass. We took the Forehead Bypass down to the Needle's Eye. There are some really tough sections on this side trail with only steep bare rock. We took our time and went really slow so we could get hurt. Once we got to the Needle's Eye we took a break and then headed up the LT. We met two groups of young hikers heading south without maps so we took the time to direct them to the place they were hiking to! We had a perfect day for views, the air was clear and the cloud cover was at about 5,000 ft. Once we got back to the TV Road we hike a short way down the Lakeview Trail and found a beautiful rock outcropping to have lunch. What a view!! We then hiked back on the LT passed the Visitor Center north to the Amherst Trail and took it back to the parking lot and back down the Toll Road. Total miles for the day = 3.6 

7/23/2015_LT Route 73 to 125

Weather report for today was 30%  change of rain but we decided to get this section done completed. Dropped the truck off at the trailhead at Route 125 and drove down to the trailhead on Route 73. The weather was a bit cool to start but great hiking weather. A ot of the view points mentioned in the LT book have overgrown. We only met 4 NOBO hikers, stopped at Sucker Brook Trail for lunch where we re-met the 4 NOBO hiker. The climb up to Worth Mountain was not difficult. There were no view from the top. A few small bumps coming off from Worth Mountain but once we hit the first Snown Bowl ski trail it was all down hill except for the short up hill to the road. When we got to the truck it started to sprinkle, great timing.

This is a painting I did from the photo (above it) taken on the trail.  This is a pastel painting called Forest Web.

July 16, 2015 - LT from 108 up over Mansfield, South Link to Haselton Trail

Started out bright and early, temperatures at the house were in the high 40's. Dropped the truck off at the Gondola Base Lodge where the Haselton Trail head ends. Very few vehicles at the LT parking lot on Route 108. Met a father and son doing a section hike from AP Gap to 108, told us it was a bit cold and windy on top. Steep climb up to Taft Lodge, having been there numerous times in the past we didn't stay long, but as already great view. The hike up to the Chin was steep like we remembered, met a couple from Canada hiking up to the top but were stopped by the last very steep piece before the Chin. The women was  very uncomfortable with heights and they thought they were going to have to turn around. We continued to the summit and had a great conversation with A.J. the GMC caretaker at Taft Lodge. Weather was great on the summit. On the way down we ran into the caretaker for Butler Lodge, Dave,  on his way up to joint A.J. at the summit. We asked about the Forehead By-Pass and Dave said it was a bit slippery and very rocky. We were going to use this trail after we reached it south bound on the LT to return north. We decided to do this section another day and crossed over to the Haselton Trail via the South Trail. Took the Haselton down to the truck. Great day, sunny most of the time and we found numerous side trail we want to come back and complete some other day.

July 10, 2015_Butler Lodge Trail to LT, to Needle's Eye, back on LT to Nebraska Notch Trail

Today was going to be in the 80's so we got an early start. Headed up the Bulter Lodge Trail and used the Wallace Cut Trail to get to the LT. We processed up the LT to the Needle's Eye and returned to the Wallace Cut-Off. From the Cut-Off we headed south to the Nebraska Notch Trail. We used the Nebraska Notch Trail to get back to the parking lot. By the time we got to the parking lot it had started to heat up and the parking lot was full. We stop at the small store in Underhill Center to buy chips and drinks and eat lunch on the green in front of the church. Great day.


10/13/2012 we hiked the Nebraska Notch Trail to Clara Bow and back!  Travel this trail to the Clara Bow Trail and back via the Long Trail to Nebraska Notch Trail. The temperature was in the mid thirties when we started out. We were on the trails for about 3 hours. Great trails and great day.   We have several times hikes up from Mansfield Lake, around to Clara Bow and back, too. 

July 6, 2015 Stratton

Started the day by dropping off the truck at the Stratton Pond Trail and went back to the Long Trail trail head. It was a beautiful morning with the prospect of a very warm afternoon so we were on the rail by 7:15am. When we gotten to the top we were met by the caretakers.Had a great conversation we them which lasted 30 or more minutes. They had over 250 people at the tower area the day before. We then climbed the tower and had lunch. At this point we had not met another hiker. Headed down the LT to it's junction with the Stratton Pond Trail. Took a break for water and snack, at this point we met a AT Thur hiker. He had been on the trail for 108 days and was hoping to get to the Whites in two weeks. The bugs were a bit pesky on our way out on the Stratton Pond Trail. Met several hikes on this trail. Actual hiking time not counting our visit on top 6.5 hours.

July 5, 2015_Bromley

Started the leaving home very early and dropping a vehicle at the parking lot on Route 11/30 and driving over to the parking lot on Mad Tom. It was a great day to hike this section. At least the second time around. Met very few hikers on the trail to the Bromley summit. We did meet a  young lady who had been doing a tru hike but had injured herself and had to get off the trail. She was doing this section to get back in shape to continue her thru hiker. Had lunch on one of the ski lift platforms, great view. We could see Stratton Mountain which is our hike on the next day. Quick hike down to the parking lot on Route 11/30. We stopped at the little Cilantro food stand and had a custard. Then off to get the Rav at Mad Tom and then to Stratton Mountain/Black Bear Lodge to spend the night before our hike the next day.

June 7, 2015 - Route 103 - Upper Cold River Road

Today, a beautiful day in Vermont, we hiked a small section just south of Killington Peak. This was a 5.5 mile section which had a varying number of beautiful characteristics:  Evergreen forests, hardwoods, farm fields, etc.  In one evergreen forest, the trees were so tall, that is completely blocked out ground foliage and there was really no trail - only needles.  We had to really watch for white blazes.  One forest had beds of Lady Slippers - and many, many of them.  Magical. One brook crossing had some trail magic, nice and cool in the little brook.  We did not take it as we are not long-distant hikers - only section hikers. We met a gentleman at Clarendon Shelter and we gave him 4 snack bars because we had many and he looked like he'd really like them.We met "The Martins" at Clarendon Shelter who volunteer for GMC too at a different shelter.  Very nice couple.  Had a GREAT hike on this day and all was right with he world! - Cindy

We choose a great day to hike this section. Morning temperatures when we left our house were in the high 30's. We parked one car at the parking lot on RT. 103 and drove to the LT crossing on Upper Cold River Road. There were numerous places along the trail on the where their were patches of Lady Slippers, and they were gorgeous. Bugs were minimal because it stay cool for along of the hike. Met numerous NOBO AT and LT thur hikers. Stopped at the Clarendon Shelter for a break and unload most of our snack bag to a NOBO AT hiker. Met the Martin's as we were leaving the shlter, they maintain the Minerva Hinchey Shelter. Stop for lunch at the Clarendon Lookout. Our reward at the end of the hike was a Maple Creamee.  - Ira