The View from the parking lot up in the Appalachian Gap
I had circled Wednesday July 7 on my calendar as the day to start my four day hike on a central portion of the Long Trail in Vermont. The week is hot, very hot, as the East Coast is experiencing a record heat wave. I am determined, though, to make this trip work. As often seems to happen with my hiking adventures, I got off to a hectic and late start on Wednesday. This delay led me to cut my trip short, from four days to three, and I decided to begin from Appalachian Gap.
Read on, read on
A beautiful day indeed
It’s Friday June 18 and it’s a beautiful day, maybe a little late in the year for my first real hike but always better late than never. The goal for the day, Mount Mansfield, 4,393 feet, the highest peak in Vermont and a jewel in the crown of the New England “four thousand’ers.” In the past I’ve summited the peak from three of the four cardinal points. Today would see the fourth side tackled with my approach coming from Underhill State Park lying on the west flank of the mountain face. “Face” is the apt term since Mount Mansfield is said to resemble a lying down face in profile, however, I have always thought this a stretch. Nonetheless, the summit ridge is described using this image with the Chin being the high point, the Forehead at the South flank standing at 3,940’, the Nose at 4,062’, the Chin at 4,393’ and then the Adams Apple along the Northern decent at 4,060’.
From the Laura Cowles Trail looking North West
The drive to Underhill, as with most drives in Vermont, is quite picturesque. Passing through the “Notch” from Stowe to Smugglers Notch is always nice and on such a beautiful spring day there were plenty of people about, hiking to Sterling Pond, bouldering and just stretching their legs.
Read on about the Underhill Approach
