Mt. Mansfield Traverse

Mount Mansfield is the highest peak in Vermont (4,393 feet I think) and right across the valley from us here in Stowe.  It has a several mile portion of the ridge-line in the arctic-alpine zone, well above treeline.  There are a couple different routes if you just want to go to the top (including by a road and the ski lifts), but I wanted to do the whole thing.  I feel like if you're going to hike a mountain, you might as well do as much of it as possible, and why not all at once?  The Long Trail goes across the whole thing, so I decided I'd hike up from the Nebraska Valley up to Taylor Lodge on the Long Trail (which I've done many times) and from there take the LT all the way over to Smuggler's Notch, covering the whole thing in one go, from south to north.  This would make a total of about 11 miles.  Not too bad, but the problem was that it's a point to point hike.  I'd either have to hitchhike back to my car on the other end, or wait for Chrissy to get off work to pick me up. So, I wound up doing the latter.  Here are some pictures from that hike (shortly after the family was in town to visit).

 Part of the climb up to Taylor Lodge.

The beaver meadow a bit below Taylor Lodge.

Taylor Lodge, named after James P. Taylor, founder of the Green Mountain Club, the maintainers of the Long Trail.

A small stream crossing on the way up from Taylor Lodge.

The climb begins to get pretty serious as you ascent the forehead.

Including some parts that require a ladder.  There were a few sketchy parts, but I didn't take pictures of them.

The Arctic-Apline Zone.  With the exception of a few New England Summits, you don't find this sort of flora until you're well into the Canadian Arctic.

A view to the south from atop the Forehead.  Camel's Hump is the pointy peak in the far distance.

Looking north towards the Nose (with the antennae) and the Chin (the highest part of the ridge).

Worn out survey marker at the summit.

From the top, looking down into Stowe.

Looking down into Smuggler's Notch.

Yours truly.  Cold and windy (a guy with an anemometer recorded 70mph gusts) on the way down into Smuggler's Notch.

Giving my sore dogs a rest as I wait for Chrissy to pick me up.

I'd have to say this was probably the best hike I've done in Vermont.  Comparable to Mt. Katahdin in Maine, but not nearly as hard, and nowhere near as remote.  I'd love to do it in the fall and winter too!  Looking forward to it.