LONG TRAIL HIKING TRIP I PLUS

(CANADIAN BORDER TO LAMOILLE RIVER, VT 15)

MAY 23 - 30, 2007


This is the first in a series of six annual Vermont hiking trips led by Aaron Schoenberg, as I continue to hike the Green Mountains and the Long Trail southbound through Vermont. The idea is to complete the Long Trail during the course of six years and also do additional hiking in other areas of Vermont adjacent to the region of the Long Trail we are hiking. We also will be hiking each annual section a month later each year so the trips will be scheduled: May 2007, June 2008, July 2009 thru Oct. 2012, so we hike and experience the trail throughout the warmer hiking season.


On this trip, a group of New York/New Jersey AMCers and Ramapo & North Jersey ADKers got together for some interesting hiking. The trip was to dayhike the Long Trail southbound from the US-Canada border for fifty miles to the crossing of the Lamoille River and VT 15 near Johnson, VT. We also planned on hiking some mountains in the Lake Willoughby region of Vermont and do some walking in the Missisquoi National Wildlife Preserve in the vicinity of Lake Champlain to the west. Thus the addition of the word “PLUS” is added to the trip title as we are hiking more than just the Long Trail.


On this trip we had 17 participants. Ten of the participants completed all fifty miles of the Long Trail which we set out as our goal to accomplish. Thirteen of the participants were returnees from previous trips of mine.


Although this is my first annual hiking trip to the Green Mountains, Aaron Schoenberg has led seventeen trips to the White Mountains in New Hampshire, led seven trips southbound along the Appalachian Trail from Katahdin and now into New Hampshire and one winter trip to Lonesome Lake/Franconia Notch (in the Whites). I was very happy with myself in that I climbed all the peaks that I planned to ascend and followed the Long Trail for the fifty mile distance I set as my goal.


Attending this trip were Stelios Sifniades who now joined for his ninth adventure with me. He has participated on more trips with me than any other participant that came along. This time his plan was to hike some with the majority of the group along the Long Trail but also hike with his wife Maria and hit the highlights of the journey.


Chris Connolly, a former president of the Ramapo ADK Chapter joined me for his eighth trip. He was probably the fastest in our group as at times he raced ahead and then rested as the others in the group would catch up. He was with us until Tuesday, mid-day when he departed company. Chris was one of ten participants to complete the first fifty miles of the Long Trail on this trip.


Alex Mitrakos joining me for his seventh adventure also completed the fifty miles of the Long Trail. What was incredible was that he took a day off due to back spasms on the third day of the trip (Friday) and made up the mileage on Monday by tacking on the section he missed to a hike that was 13 miles in length. That was a grueling twenty mile day to trek. He left times traced in the dirt at various spots along the hike so we knew how far ahead he was and that he was successfully achieving his goal to get caught up with us on our 50 mile journey.


Chris Sonne was the veteran hiker in the group at the age of 71. He continued to trod along enjoying the scenic wonders that the trail presented. He completed the first 50 miles of the Long Trail and has every intention of continuing south in this series of Long Trail trips. Chris was joining me for his sixth time.


Maria Sifniades joining her husband as she has done five times in the past accompanied him on the hikes to the highlights of this trip and one seven mile stretch of the Long Trail.


George Sheedy, the third former Ramapo ADK president participating on this trip, is now starting a new project to hike the Long Trail joined me for the fourth time. He is the energizer bunny going steadily along and then waiting at the cars at the end of the hike for several of the lead hikers to catch up as he would take just one minimal lunch break along the trail. George completed the fifty miles we set out to hike on this trip.

Ludwig Hendel, also joined me for the fourth time on one of my trips. He was the only participant to have previously hiked to several of the places we went to. Unfortunately his knee started to act up towards the end of the trip, so he took a rest day on Monday, choosing not to hike the thirteen miles that we planned on covering.

Leslie Ann Bosse came along for her third trip with me. She arrived late Friday night and mostly hiked with Maria & Stylios Sifniades and Paul Makus, hitting the highlights of the trip including climbs of Haystack Mt., Belvidere Mt., Devils Gulch and Perch and Mt. Pisgah.


Jeff Deisher and Joel McKenzie both joined for their third trip with me. Both completed the fifty miles of the Long Trail. For Jeff this was a conditioner trip for his future hiking plans this summer, while Joel is very excited about hiking the entire Long Trail. Jeff also joined my hike on Tuesday to climb Mt. Pisgah in the Lake Willoughby area.


Paul Makus also joined me for the third time. He was interested in seeing this area of Vermont and while traveling along VT 105 en route to Montgomery Center he was quite impressed with the parallel bike path along the route of an abandoned railbed. So one day he took off from hiking and struck out on an adventure of his own, rented a bike and traversed this lovely bike path. It sounded like he had a great time. He also visited some of the highlights of the southern part of our Long Trail adventure joining the mini-group of Stelios, Maria and Leslie Ann.


Veronica Cilich now on her second trip with me was enthusiastically looking forward to hiking the Long Trail. She completed the LT 50 mile journey and had a great time in our company. Paul Wharton also joined our group for the second time and was a member of the North Troy trio, named that as they had separate accommodations in North Troy a good distance from the rest of the group in Montgomery Center. He suffered the most significant loss of the trip as he lost his camera somewhere between Corliss Camp and Laraway Mountain on Monday. He went back to retrace his steps to retrieve his camera to no avail.


New participants to the adventures of hiking with Aaron were: Peggy Levin was an invited guest of Alex Mitrakos and Paul Wharton. Peggy kept up a slow and steady pace and was delighted to be a participant on this trip. She also completed her LT 50. Keld Alstrup an invited guest of Chris Sonne, contributed his Danish humor to the delight of all as he hiked aggressively along and completed all planned 50 miles of the LT. Being the only Vermont resident on this trip, he wanted to see a good piece of his home state by hiking the Long Trail. Kathleen Etkins joined us on Wednesday evening when we set out from the Canadian border. Unfortunately due to past nagging injuries, she felt it was best that she depart our group as the plans ahead were maybe too aggressive for her condition. It is a shame as we all enjoyed her company on this first hike.


Our accommodations for the majority of the group was a building in the heart of Montgomery Center with several modernized and spacious apartments. This building was called the Coach House and was in walking distance of a supermarket, restaurant, café and ice cream/pizza shop in town. Downstairs in apt. 101 were Jeff Deisher, Chris Connolly, Paul Makus, Ludwig Hendel and Joel McKenzie. This was a spacious apartment that had 3 private bedrooms and having the most group occupants and being on the ground floor was the group living center. In a separate studio apartment with an outside private entrance was occupied by Stelios & Maria Sifniades. Upstairs were two apartments. Apt. 201 was shared by Chris Sonne, Keld Alstrup, George Sheedy and myself. It was much hotter upstairs and we kept the fan running all night. Apt. 202 was the ladies apartment occupied by Leslie Ann Bosse, Veronica Cilich and Kathleen Etkins. Leslie Ann arrived after Kathleen departed, so all three of them had private rooms within the apartment. I complained about the queen size bed which both Kathleen and Leslie found uncomfortable. The owner said she will consider replacing it, but that does not help with the ladies experience. Overall, everyone was satisfied with the accommodations. Montgomery Center was very well centered as a base for this trip with only two of the car trips to our hikes being considered on the lengthy side.


The North Troy trio made reservations on their own and as a result were twelve miles away on the eastern side of Jay Pass along Route 242 from Montgomery Center in North Troy. Thus their group name. Alex Mitrakos, Peggy Levin and Paul Wharton comprised this group. They seemed to be satisfied with their accommodations. I only wish they were closer to the rest of our group. However, we always communicated the time to meet us the next day for our hike and they were always on time.

DAY 1 – WEDNESDAY, MAY 23, 2007

TRAVEL TO MONTGOMERY CENTER, VERMONT

MISSISQUOI NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE MINI-HIKE

LONG TRAIL (CANADIAN BORDER to VT 105)


The game plan for today was all set. Jeff Deisher was to meet me at Woodbury Commons. Veronica Cilich and Ludwig Hendel were to take the bus and Veronica was to join me for the trip north and Ludwig was to join Jeff. We then were to meet Chris and rendezvous at the Prospect Mt. Diner in Lake George for lunch. All the others were uncommitted until late in the day and were planning on joining us late in the afternoon for the evening hike meeting in Montgomery Center at 4:30 PM.


When I was packing for the trip, I noticed late Tuesday evening that my altimeter was dead. It needed a new battery. I figured the sure place to get one after stores were open was along the commercial strip on Wolf Road in Colonie. So that put us a little behind. I told Jeff to inform Chris Connolly who was to meet us at the diner for lunch, not to wait for Veronica and I as we will be running late and to order lunch. We will catch up and meet them before they left the lunch stop. Little did I know that the stop I planned for lunch had burnt down. That left us all scrambling for alternate lunch stops and none of us meeting up here. As a result we all went our own way. Chris was just about ready to leave the Missisquoi National Wildlife Preserve hiking trailhead when we pulled into the parking lot. So Chris C., Veronica and I went for the scheduled hike here. Evidently some of the others stopped at the Wildlife Preserve headquarters but not at the intended trailhead parking lot. We were running about 30 minutes behind my scheduled mini-hike stop here. This hike was supposed to be about 1.5 miles which was a loop with an extension to Lookout Point. Halfway thru the loop when we reached the extension on the Masquam Creek Trail, we could not continue as the trail went thru a flooded section. The trail appeared to be under several feet of water. It was just as well, since we left the preserve at the planned time. So our hike was abbreviated to under a mile and this worked well as we caught up with our schedule. The bugs were biting fiercely here and we just moved quickly along the trail taking very brief stops for a couple of pictures. We did hear many bird calls on the trail thru the preserve.


When we got to Montgomery Center most everyone was waiting and ready to go on our first hike on the Long Trail so after emptying our cars we organized our group and off we went. But, where was Jeff and Ludwig? They should have been ahead of us. Stylios & Maria were also not there but we left as planned. When we got to the pass on VT 242, there standing alongside the road were Alex, Paul W. and Peggy. What are you doing here? This is not where we are ending this evening’s hike! They were supposed to meet us at the end of the hike where the Long Trail crosses VT 105. Oh well, we found them and told Paul Wharton the driver to follow us. We arrived at the end of the hike to set up our car shuttle approximately 20 minutes late. Then we were talking to Alex and he saw a white wagon with New Jersey plates while driving around. I bet that was Jeff and Ludwig. They did not realize they were part of our group.


The evening was sunny and pleasant and we were excited about starting out on our journey down the Long Trail from the Canadian border. The plan was to hike a few miles to break up what was originally scheduled as a monster 13 mile hike for a first day tomorrow. Since there was a road crossing (VT 105) after 2.6 miles on the Long Trail it was decided to meet and leave our base in Montgomery Center at 4:30 PM for this short evening hike. When we reached Journey’s End and made the left turn off of North Troy-Jay Road, we went on this small country road that deteriorated as we went uphill. Finally we decided to park our cars and start hiking. We started to rise as we followed the old wooded road uphill. Rounding a turn, there was Jeff and Ludwig waiting for us!


I couldn’t believe Jeff drove his van all the way up this rutted road. We celebrated our arrival at the Canadian border and the start of our six year southbound journey along the Long Trail. Five minutes out on the Long Trail, I took a major spill off a wet log where I wound up sliding into knee deep muck, making me look like a complete mess and initiated for the Long Trail ahead. I couldn’t believe I would start off the journey this way. Is that an omen? Fifteen minutes down from the border and just after my mishap we passed another major geographic landmark. We crossed the 45th line of latitude, thus we were now more than halfway between the Equator and the North Pole. The rest of the hike was rather uneventful. After over a couple of hours of hiking we now had several miles in under our boots and we were ready for our long journey ahead along the Long Trail.



Photos: A-08 thru A-12 were taken in and around Montgomery Center and the Coach House. This is our base for the week of hiking on LT I, May 19-27.

Link: http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2309148020063208931rrQgFF


Photos: A-01 thru A-07 were of this Missisquoi Wildlife Preserve Circular Hike.

Link: http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2054638850063208931ZNeZnz

Weather: Sunny 800.

Miles: Approximately one mile.

Total elevation gain: Negligible

Other hikers met: None

Participants: Aaron Schoenberg

Chris Connolly

Veronica Cilich


Route: Starting at the Old Missisquoi National Wildlife Preserve Headquarters we followed the Masquam Creek Trail to the second junction with the Black Creek Trail. Here we made a right and returned following the Black Creek Trail back to the junction with the Masquam Creek Trail. We then made a left turn and retraced our steps out on the Masquam Creek Trail to the trailhead.

Photos: A-13 thru A-46 were of this first hike on the Long Trail.

Link: http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2392000660063208931kpkGhV

Weather: Sunny, low 70s.

Miles: 3.9

Total elevation gain: 1500 feet

Other hikers met: None

Participants: Aaron Schoenberg Ludwig Hendel

Chris Connolly Chris Sonne

Keld Alstrup Veronica Cilich

George Sheedy Jeff Deisher

Peggy Levin Joel McKenzie

Alex Mitrakos Paul Makus

Paul Wharton Kathleen Etkins

Route: Journey’s End Trail from the end of Journey’s End Road to the US-Canadian border at the boundary marker #592 and the northern terminus of the Long Trail. From here we followed the LT south to VT 105.

DAY 2 – THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2007

LONG TRAIL (VT 105 to VT 242-JAY PASS)


Photos: B-01 thru B-53 were taken on this hike.

Link: http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2435086220063208931OctuRX

Weather: Sunny, low 80s.

Miles: 9.3

Total elevation gain: 3430 feet

Other hikers met: 6

Participants: Aaron Schoenberg Ludwig Hendel

Chris Connolly Chris Sonne

Keld Alstrup Veronica Cilich

George Sheedy Jeff Deisher

Peggy Levin Joel McKenzie

Alex Mitrakos Paul Makus

Paul Wharton


Route: We followed the Long Trail from VT 105 to VT 242 at Jay Pass southbound.


Today’s hike did not have the most elevation gain of all the hikes, nor was it the longest hike on the Long Trail of the trip. However, the temperature tied the record high of 880 in Burlington, VT for this date. It was hot and it was muggy. Also, the hike took us to the highest point we would climb to on this trip, Jay Peak at 3858 feet. This ascent of Jay Peak involved a climb of over 1,000 feet in 1.5 miles. But what made this climb the toughest of the trip was that it came towards the end of the hike (6.1-7.6 miles into the hike) in the mid-afternoon (1:15-2:35 PM) during the hottest part of the day. Several of the hikers in the group ran out of water. Some had leg cramps from dehydration. I must have sweated a gallon. Joel claimed he never had such a tough climb and needed to rest as much as he did going up Jay. We were all glad (especially after the fact) that we shortened this hike from the 5,000 feet of climbing that this hike would have involved and the 13 plus miles we would have had to traverse if we stuck with the original plan of the evening hike yesterday and this hike be combined into one hike. If we did it on this brutally hot day, the hike might have turned into a death march. Maybe because it was our first major hike of the trip or more than likely due to the heat, we all experienced to some degree much difficulty on this hike. The climb up Jay was a slow go and most of us felt this probably was the toughest hike of the trip. Also, the trail where it came out onto the ski slope on its ascent of Jay Peak was a bit ambiguous as to where the route of the trail went, we had to make sure everyone went the right way and each person had to wait for the next person to arrive before going on to make sure everyone went the right way. This was one of only three places where the trail was vague as to the course it was taking.


Another note of interest was our sighting of patches of snow. On the first sighting I was hiking with Chris Connolly when my altimeter read 2420 and I saw this patch of snow. Chris said it doesn’t count unless it was on the trail. We came upon a couple of northbounders who gave us the idea that we would reach serious snow accumulations that might impede our progress. As we went up Jay Peak, we finally came upon snow that counted at 2920 feet in elevation. I started to be concerned that due to the heat, I chose not to wear my gaiters and felt that might have been a mistake. As we continued to climb, we came upon more significant patches of snow and in some cases a couple of feet deep. But the old crusted ice for the most part held our weight and only once in awhile did we posthole and sink in. Only once did the snow go over the top of my boot and in. So the snow for some had a cooling effect when placed on our foreheads to cool off. It was only patchy and did not have significant impact on our hiking. Descending down the south slope of Jay Peak we did not encounter any snow.


Although it was humid when we reached the summit of Jay Peak, the view was outstanding. They claimed you could see Mt. Washington and well into Canada. We did see maybe 20 miles of visibility but Mt. Washington and Mt. Mansfield were beyond our vision. There at least was a nice breeze blowing at the summit and we were able to rest and recuperate there before our final descent. So our rest on the summit rocks had a rejuvenating effect. There also was this tower structure on the summit that looked a bit like a white rocket or a painted phallic symbol. It certainly was out of place. The summit ski lodge was closed due to it being a weekday and certainly not ski season. The lifts were obviously not operating.















DAY 3 – FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2007

LONG TRAIL (VT 242-JAY PASS to VT 58-HAZEN’S NOTCH)

VISIT to CHESTER A. ARTHUR HOMESTEAD


Photos: C-01 thru C-26 were taken on today’s hike.

C-27 thru C-30 were taken at the Chester A. Arthur presidential homestead

C-31 thru C-36 were taken in St. Albans.

Link (Long Trail hike): http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2916909870063208931xVSjuB

Link: (Arthur Homestead): http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2033961690063208931ynmKIq

Link: (St. Albans): http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2189588980063208931eSnfmm

Weather: Sunny, hazy, low 80s.

Mileage: 7.0 miles

Total elevation gain: 2180 feet.

Other hikers met: None

Participants: Aaron Schoenberg Ludwig Hendel

Chris Connolly Chris Sonne

Keld Alstrup Veronica Cilich

George Sheedy Jeff Deisher

Peggy Levin Joel McKenzie

Paul Makus Stylios Sifniades

Paul Wharton Maria Sifniades


Route: We followed the Long Trail from VT 242 at Jay Pass south to VT 58 at Hazen’s Notch.


This day was a short hiking distance day (7 miles), but was going to still be a tough hike as the heat and humidity was going to be intense. The temperature was going to rise quickly and they were calling for another record breaking hot day down in Burlington. So I decided to move up the schedule by an hour to get started earlier and take advantage of the cooler temperatures of morning. Since for the most part, we were moving along very nicely, we eliminated our lunch stop figuring we would be done by one PM and we could just eat lunch back at our accommodations. I am glad that we had a shorter hike scheduled for today.


The views from Domey’s Dome, Chet’s Lookout and Buchanan Mountain were of hazy sunshine and were not very impressive, so we did not make any lengthy stops but just long enough to break out the water bottle. We all drank plenty due to the heat and humidity.


Since some of us were moving along rather fast, we decided rather than just wait at the car, when we approached the spur trail to Hazen’s Notch Camp we would go visit the camp. When we got to the camp spur junction, Ludwig was just coming back out from there and he told us the visit was worth it. He said there was a view of Jay Peak that was worthwhile seeing, so a group of us that were together at the time: Keld, Joel, Veronica and myself went down to take a peek. There was a thermometer on the cabin that recorded 820. It was a good view. Due to the heat it wasn’t surprising that we did not meet anybody on the trail today. This was a far from ideal hiking day. Alex skipped this hike due to back spasms that he suffered with overnight.


Since we were done hiking fairly early and we had some time on our hands, several of us (Joel, George, Keld & I) chose to take a ride to see the Chester A. Arthur Presidential Homestead in the middle of nowhere. I had planned a visit here later in the trip anyway. Who would ever dream that a president of the United States would be born out here in pastoral Vermont. Unfortunately when we arrived it was closed. According to the internet it was supposed to be open from 11 AM-5 PM. So we looked in the windows, walked around the nature trails out back, took a few pictures and moved on to St. Albans. We hung out for an hour at a park on the shore of Lake Champlain. Then we joined most of the others from our group who had come to eat dinner out here in this small Vermont city. Our group chose Jeff’s, a nice fish restaurant for our evening dinner meal. We all enjoyed the wine and our food.

















DAY 4 – SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2007

LONG TRAIL (VT 58 - HAZEN’S NOTCH to VT 118 - EDEN CROSSING)


Photos D-01 thru D-63 were taken on this hike.

Link: http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2701676480063208931jwFwys

Weather: Partly Cloudy, Upper 60s.

Mileage: 10.8 miles

Total elevation gain for hike: 3720 feet.

Other hikers met: 18

Participants on hike: Aaron Schoenberg Ludwig Hendel

Chris Connolly Chris Sonne

Keld Alstrup Veronica Cilich

George Sheedy Jeff Deisher

Peggy Levin Joel McKenzie

Alex Mitrakos


Leslie Ann Bosse, Stylios & Maria Sifniades joined our group as far as Haystack Mountain and then returned.

Route: We followed the Long Trail from VT 58 in Hazen’s Notch to VT 118 at Eden Crossing. We also took two side spurs, one to the summit of Haystack Mountain (0.4 mile RT) and the other to the summit of Belvidere Mountain (also 0.4 mile RT).


It is so much nicer to hike with cooler temperatures and a nice breeze. The sun was warm and the visibility was extensive. What a difference a day makes. Today’s hike was not easy. Overall the hike had the largest accumulated amount of ascent of any hike on the trip. But with the weather as pleasant as it was, the majority moved along nicely.


While setting up the car shuttle, we were now driving back to Montgomery Center. Just about a mile from Eden Crossing and where we planted our cars at the end of the hike, Long Pond is on the left on VT 118 and on the right was this swamp. Well being early morning (7:50 AM) Bullwinkle wandered across the road, startling all of us in the car, but by the time I got my camera and focused to take a photo I got a picture of a typical Vermont swamp. I must say he did hang around a bit but I guess got a little too impatient to wait for my photo. On the hike there was a lot of moose droppings. This was prime moose habitat – especially around Lockwood Pond.


Today we split into two groups. Leslie Ann Bosse and Maria & Stylios Sifniades climbed Haystack in the morning a little behind the rest of us and then returned back to their cars in Hazen’s Notch. Paul Makus took the day off and decided to rent a bike and do a bicycle tour of the pastoral Vermont countryside along the Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail which parallels VT 105.


The rest of our group of eleven continued on. While resting at the Tillotson Camp, two Long Trail maintenance trail workers from Quebec, sort of scolded me. Technically the Long Trail is not officially open until Memorial Day weekend, but some signs indicated that the trail was not open until Memorial Day itself and some signs claimed the trail was closed thru May 31! I claimed that the guidebook said the trail was closed at the higher elevations due to mud season until the holiday weekend, so this being Saturday, I felt it was OK to use the trail and so I planned the trip to start with the Memorial Day weekend. I did not let on that we have been hiking the trail for the past three days. They then said it was Ok this season because things have been pretty dry so our tread on the trail would not be causing much damage as the mud has dried up on the trail already. Thank goodness they did not see me on Wednesday evening caked in mud from one of those monstrous swamp holes bridged by a slippery log.


Another spur took us to the summit of Belvidere Mountain where they converted a former fire tower into a nice observation deck. Along this spur, you have to keep your head up and look at what is ahead. When you hike, you sometime just look down so you know where you are putting your feet. But when you do this, you probably will not trip or step on a frog, but OOPS – what a bang – Joel McKenzie got a good cut and bump on his head from this log that lay about six feet above the ground over the trail. I had to take a photo of that cut on his bald head (see photo). I didn’t bother to take a picture of the log, but on the way back down the spur, Joel was a bit more careful.

At the summit aside from the spectacular views all the way around which included where we came from Jay Peak and beyond into Canada, as well as Mt. Mansfield to the south, and the asbestos mines just at the eastern base of the mountain, we had company. I was entertained and drove this tiny toy terrier that yapped at me crazy. I couldn’t believe that little thing could climb this substantial mountain and then have a barking contest with me. When you see the photo, you can see how cute he is.


Another feature of this hike was that none of the ups or downs along the route were very steep. There were long and steady ascents and descents, but none too tiring. This was a nice hike along a beautiful stretch of trail. The hike was 10.8 miles, but it was a comfortable length. We all really enjoyed today’s hike.






DAY 5 – SUNDAY, MAY 27, 2007

LONG TRAIL (VT 118-EDEN CROSSING to

CORLISS CAMP-DAVIS NEIGHBORHOOD)


Photos: E-01 thru E-18

Link: http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2837459950063208931gLyawd

Weather: Cloudy (until noon), Rain (afternoon), 600.

Mileage: 11.3 miles

Total elevation gain for the hike: 2900 feet.

Other hikers met: 4.

Participants on LT Hike: Aaron Schoenberg Ludwig Hendel

Chris Connolly Chris Sonne

Keld Alstrup Veronica Cilich

George Sheedy Jeff Deisher

Peggy Levin Joel McKenzie

Alex Mitrakos Paul Wharton


Participants on Babcock Loop Hike: Stelios Sifniades Paul Makus

Maria Sifniades Leslie Ann Bosse


Route: We followed the Long Trail from VT 118 at Eden Crossing to the junction with the Davis Neighborhood Trail at Corliss Camp. Then we exited to our cars at Cross Road via the Davis Neighborhood Trail. I also hiked the 800 foot spur to the Spruce Ledge Camp and Devils Ledge Outlook.


Those that took the shorter hike went as far as the Spruce Ledge Camp/Devils Ledge Outlook, retraced their steps thru the Devils Gulch to the junction with the Babcock Trail. Then they followed the Babcock Trail back to their cars at the LT crossing of VT 118 at Eden Crossing.


Saturday evening, everybody that ever lived or had anything to do with Montgomery Center along with all the current townsfolk got together for their annual community homecoming. This took place in the usually quiet community building across the street from the Coach House. Music, noise, commotion and partygoing festivities continued on until the wee hours of the morning. As a result most of us had poor and little sleep (especially those with windows facing the street), but regardless we were ready to go when the appointed time came for this days venture along the Long Trail.


Today’s weather called for rain and thunderstorms in the afternoon. However in the morning when we started out it was overcast, comfortable and cool. Excellent hiking conditions. We even moved the hike up 30 minutes due to the forecasted rain. After a long car shuttle with everyone being amazed I was able to find the Davis Neighborhood Trailhead, we got started. The group doing the Babcock Loop got started first as they did not have to drive the lengthy distance for the car shuttle. But us faster hikers caught up with them at Ritterbush Lookout or shortly afterwards. When I caught up with the Babcock Loop Group, I hiked with them through the Devils Gulch and then moved out and thought I would wait for the Babcock Loop Group at the Spruce Ledge Camp. I thought the rest of our group would be waiting for me there. When I got to the camp, nobody was there but a couple of campers staying at the shelter who told me that they saw nobody this morning. There must have been a mix-up of communications. I enjoyed the view of Ritterbush Pond and Belvidere Mountain in the background. I also enjoyed the piped spring right at the camp spur junction with the Long Trail. The cabin was quite unique as I never saw a shelter with sliding doors on wheels to close the opening of the shelter and keep out the elements if you choose to. After taking photos with the Babcock Group, I took off. Now I was behind and on my own.


I told some members of the group we would make a stop at the Devils Ledge Outlook. I also told a couple of our group hikers that I planned to eat lunch at the south summit of Bowen Mountain along the way. I also said if it is raining everyone should gather in groups of four (we had three cars at the end of the hike for the twelve hikers) and hike out the Davis Neighborhood Trail. This way nobody is waiting at the cars (and possibly getting cold in the rain). Everyone knew the last instruction but evidently in a move to push on due to the impending rain either members of the group decided to bypass the camp, did not know we were supposed to also stop at the first camp, did not know a view was there and a couple of hikers were looking for a sign for Devils Ledge Lookout and did not realize that the lookout was at Spruce Ledge Camp (did not carefully read the detailed itinerary). Well, you can imagine the look I gave Joel McKenzie, who was elected to wait for me when he asked me what took me so long when I arrived at the Bowen Mountain – South Summit. I had hiked the last 2.5 miles on my own. By this time, Joel was getting bitten up alive with annoying black flies waiting for me and there was no view to talk of. So, I said I’d continue to hike a distance and postponed stopping for lunch.

We continued on to a section of trail that was newly rerouted past several ATV/snowmobile trail crossings in the Basin Brook vicinity. The snowmobiles were legal, but not the ATVs. Sure enough before long, Joel & I met a few people on ATVs making a racket. They certainly disturbed the serenity of the woods. We walked on and then I took a lunch stop. As we approached the summit of Butternut Mountain it started to rain. I am glad I got lunch out of the way. When Joel & I arrived at Corliss Camp, six participants for two cars were waiting in the cabin out of the rain. I think we almost caught up with Chris Sonne & Peggy Levin. Then all of us descended the Davis Neighboorhood Trail together in the drizzle.


Other than the beginning with the views of Ritterbush Pond and the rock formations in the Devils Gulch, for the most part this was not the most interesting section of trail. However with the weather deteriorating, that was OK. We all did the 11.3 miles under six hours which is pretty good time.


On the way back to Montgomery Center we saw the cheapest gas station in the region. At a small convenience store in Eden, VT the price of unleaded 87 was $2.999.



DAY 6 – MONDAY, MAY 28, 2007

LONG TRAIL

(CORLISS CAMP-DAVIS NEIGHBORHOOD to

LAMOILLE RIVER, VT 15, JOHNSON, VT)


Photos: F-01 thru F-80

Link: http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2272400600063208931mnpPQu

Weather: Sunny, breezy, upper 60s.

Mileage: 13.0 miles

Total elevation gain for the hike: 3460 feet.

Other hikers met: 23.

Participants on LT Hike: Aaron Schoenberg Alex Mitrakos

Chris Connolly Chris Sonne

Keld Alstrup Veronica Cilich

George Sheedy Jeff Deisher

Peggy Levin Joel McKenzie

Participants on Mt. Belvidere Hike: Stelios Sifniades Paul Makus

Maria Sifniades Leslie Ann Bosse


Route: We followed the Davis Neighborhood Path from Cross Road to Corliss Camp. Here we made a left onto the Long Trail south which we followed from Corliss Camp to VT 15 after crossing the Lamoille River near Johnson, VT.


This was a beautiful day. There was a nice breeze so that even when in the sun we were constantly cooled. This was good as this was the longest hike of the trip. However, we were trail toughened and ready for our final long hike on the Long Trail for this trip. After everyone gathered and departed Corliss Camp, we had our most significant loss of the trip. Paul Wharton who was hiking ahead, lost his camera. He did not realize this until when on top of Laraway Mountain, when desiring to take a photo, he realized he did not have his camera. He was waiting for us figuring we’d stop at the summit. I told him that the Laraway Outlook the more scenic location where we would stop was another 0.3 mile and we would stop there. So he continued to this lookout and then retraced his steps back to his car at the start of the hike to look for his camera. He did not find it.

The beautiful weather, low humidity provided us with some spectacular views. Laraway Lookout on this hike was no exception. It truly had a great perch overlooking the pastoral Vermont countryside and a great view south to Mt. Mansfield which will be the highlight of next year’s section when we hike the Long Trail.


This hike was probably the most interesting of the trip. Aside from mountain views, there were impressive cliffs, streams and waterfalls, old farms and meadows that were also traversed and for a finale the crossing of the Lamoille River. Right after we started descending Mt. Laraway, we came upon and under a stretch of cliffs that overhung the trail. This I did not read in the guidebook. Water trickled over them making it quite a sight. We were quite surprised and enjoyed the beauty of this wall of rock. Further along we hiked through an old farm where a rock wall paralleled the trail for ¼ mile. The trail went alongside passing dense fern growth and lush second-growth woodlands. We crossed a couple of refreshing streams and went past a group of maples that had tubing stretched around them to accommodate the tapping of them for Vermont maple syrup. Another surprise was the beautiful view we had from Roundtop Shelter which also was not mentioned in the guidebook.


Then one last outlook at Prospect Rock which equaled Laraway for beauty. This was a much more zoomed in close-up of the Lamoille River Valley. The view was outstanding as we basked in the afternoon sunlight. Here you are above major rock cliffs that were buzzing with rock climber activity while we were visiting.


Then it was down to the Lamoille River. There used to be a 1.5 mile road walk to the bridge over the river by VT 15, but now the Green Mountain Club in conjunction with the state of Vermont built a beautiful hikers suspension bridge over the river. This shortened the hike a little, eliminated the road walk and provided a pleasant ending to a beautiful hike. There was supposed to be a parallel channel that might be difficult to cross right after the bridge. We were warned about this by a couple of hikers several days ago when we were climbing Jay Peak. They also warned us of the deep snow we would encounter on Jay. Neither concerns came to pass as the side channel was a rock hop. There was a rope to hold onto at high water levels. Right after this was a ladder that helped you climb up the sand cliff after the channel. Then there was the only patch of poison ivy we had to brush by before arriving at the parking lot.


Others hiking on this beautiful day from our entourage included Ludwig Hendel who hiked around the Lamoille River area at the end of the hike including climbing to Prospect Rock. Paul Wharton joined us to Laraway Outlook and retraced his steps to look for his camera and then hiked northbound to Prospect Rock and retraced his steps at the end of the hike. Alex Mitrakos aside from doing this hike today did the seven mile hike from VT 58 (Hazen’s Notch) to VT 242 (Jay Pass) northbound, doing the hike he missed and we all did on Friday. He even left his time schedule in the dirt at different locations to let us know that he was proceeding on schedule to complete his two hikes. He had help from Chris Connolly who kept ahead with him on this 13 mile hike and transported Alex to Hazen’s Notch for his second leg. The group that climbed Mt. Belvidere went north from VT 118 to the fire tower and back. They had a glorious view from the tower at the summit. Nobody bumped their heads on that overhead log! Paul Makus after climbing Mt. Belvidere also visited the Lamoille River bridge. Keld Alstrup departed our company at the end of the hike as planned since he finished the 50 miles of the Long Trail that he wanted to accomplish. He headed back to his home in Manchester, VT.












DAY 7 – TUESDAY, MAY 29, 2007

MT. PISGAH, MT HOR,

BURKE MOUNTAIN & DRIVING AROUND


Photos: G-01 thru G-38 for Mt. Pisgah Hike

Link: http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2375533500063208931ryRRrT

Photos: G-39 thru G-48 for Mt. Hor Hike

Link: http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2362139930063208931tEHwBH

Photos: G-49 thru G-64 for Mt. Burke and pictures from Vermont roadsides

Link: http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2732592430063208931GhmnAq

Weather: Sunny, mid 60s.

Total elevation gain for Mt. Pisgah hike: 1670 feet. Mileage: 4.1 miles

Total elevation gain for Mt. Hor hike: 920 feet. Mileage: 3.6 miles

Other hikers met on Mt. Pisgah: 5.

Other hikers met on Mt. Pisgah: 0.


Participants on Mt. Pisgah Hike: Aaron Schoenberg Alex Mitrakos

Chris Connolly Ludwig Hendel

Jeff Deisher Leslie Ann Bosse

Stelios Sifniades Peggy Levin

Maria Sifniades Paul Wharton


Participants on Mt. Hor Hike: Aaron Schoenberg


Mt. Pisgah Hike Route: We followed the South Trail from the east side of VT 5A, a little bit south of the south end of Lake Willoughby. We followed this trail in its entirety passing Pulpit Rock and the South Lookout. From the summit we continued to follow the North Trail descending in its entirety, taking the spurs on our left to the West Lookout and the two North Lookouts. The trail emptied out onto VT 5A, 3 miles north of where we started via the road.


Mt. Hor Hike Route: From the CCC Road, I took the Hawkes Trail (no sign indicating the name of this trail). At a junction I took the West Branch Trail to the left first to its end at the Summit Lookout. Then I retraced my steps and continued along on the East Branch. Near the end of this trail, I reached another junction. I first descended to the right to the East Lookout and then I went to the left to the North Lookout. The return was back along the East Branch to the junction with the Hawkes Trail where I made a left and followed back to my car on the CCC Road.


What we wanted to accomplish, hiking along the Long Trail we did. However Tuesday was so beautiful and I wanted to make a trip over to Lake Willoughby to see for myself this natural wonder of the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, So I decided to devote a day to hiking and seeing this area. Ludwig Hendel said he was here many years before and that it is worthwhile seeing and Paul Wharton was excited about hiking here as he spent many childhood summers in cottages at Lake Willoughby, so he also wanted to do these hikes. Today was the plus part of the Long Trail trip. The trail and the cliffs on our first hike up Mt. Pisgah lived up to its reputation. It was a great day and what a spectacular view overlooking the placid waters of this narrow lake. I kept looking across the lake and straight down and thought it would be nice to climb the mountain on the other side later. This was not a full day hike so time would allow me to do that.


This hike along the cliffs of Mt. Pisgah required a car shuttle. I went in Maria & Stelios’ car from the end of the hike to the beginning leaving my car at the end to shuttle people back to the beginning after the hike. The hike had breathtaking views and I enjoyed it immensely. I took notes on my cards that I have in my pocket like I always do. When we reached the end of the hike, I could not find my keys. I went into an almost panic. But one last hope was that just maybe they could be in the Sifniades car. So I waited and members of the group and I talked about possible options of what to do. I figured the keys must be at one of the resting spots I took along the hike. There were several rest stops we made and I took notes in many places. But as much as I enjoyed the hike, I did not really want to redo the hike. And I could wind up empty handed after that. I just could not imagine losing the keys. What was amazing is that I never missed them on the hike and I entered that pocket at least a dozen times. Well Maria came back dangling the keys and asked if I were missing these? You betcha!!!!


After the rest of us completed the car shuttle we hung out and ate lunch and then everyone departed. Some of the group were in a hurry to get home immediately so they sacrificed today’s activity. The rest of the group chose to hike Mt. Pisgah and then most took off for home. The North Troy trio went on their merry way to a house in southern Vermont of someone Peggy Levin knew. I was left for the remainder hike to do on my own as well as tomorrow’s adventure. So keys back in pocket off I went to climb Mt. Hor. It was a gorgeous day and I had a nice solitary climb seeing nobody.

The views from Mt. Hor of Mt. Pisgah were sensational. The imposing cliffs of the mountain we climbed in the morning were quite formidable. The lake was glorious. Then, I still had some time and decided to check out the fire tower on top of Burke Mountain. The drive down there was a pleasant tour of the Vermont countryside through scenic Burke Hollow. At the base of the mountain was East Burke which in the peak of winter looks like a very lively sports and health oriented community, but other than a couple of small shops and a thriving bike shop was much more a sleepy little hamlet at this time of year. The mountain has a windy paved road to the top. If someone is coming down a little fast and doesn’t stay over to the right you could have some fairly bad accidents on these blind hairpins along the route. I guess it is for ski access in the winter and to reach the radio antenna buildings all year. Here in the late afternoon were fantastic views of the Presidentials which still had significant snow on them, the Franconia Range, Moosilauke and in the other direction the Lake Willoughby Gap mountains, Jay Peak and north into Canada. It was a great view. There is a toll charge to drive up this road of four dollars. However, it was the honor system as nobody was there and just this slotted box to put your money in. Since I only had two singles, that is all I placed in. Sorry.


I returned back the same route as I traveled in the morning and enjoyed the views in the late evening shadows, taking a number of photos along the way. I even stopped one last time for a drink from the spring along the Hazen’s Notch Road. Since we reserved the accommodations for the week and we finished the Long Trail without our scheduled zero day I now had four rooms in the Coach House for myself and over a gallon of ice cream to indulge myself with left over from the ice cream social we had on our last evening together the previous day, courtesy George Sheedy. I ate some and sacked out.



































DAY 8 – WEDNESDAY, MAY 30, 2007

BURNT MOUNTAIN & DRIVE HOME


Photos: H-01 thru H12 for Burnt Mountain Hike

Link: http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2199495660063208931eYCRRO

Weather: Sunny, upper 70s.

Mileage: 4.5 miles.

Total elevation gain: 1410 feet.

Other hikers met: 1

Participant on Hike: Aaron Schoenberg


Hike Route: Starting out at High Ponds Farm, I followed the Burnt Mountain Trail to Burnt Mountain. On the return I retraced my steps back on the Burnt Mountain Trail to the junction of the Sunset Ridge Trail. Here I made a left and descended. When I reached High Meadow, I followed the High Meadow Trail back to the car at High Ponds Farm.


After a night where I had The Coach House in Montgomery Center all to myself and all the ice cream I could eat as everyone departed from the trip, I set out to do my last mini-hike that I scheduled for myself. This was to be a local hike on the Hazen’s Notch Association lands including a climb of Burnt Mountain. This was a circular hike to this summit with an awesome view of the region including a stretch of the Long Trail that we followed earlier in the trip.


Before starting out and immediately after parking my car, Rolf Anderson came over to greet me. He is the head of the Hazen’s Notch Association and maintains the trails on these lands. He also is a former president of the entire Green Mountain Club. He was very personable and noticed my New York plates. We talked a bit and he asked me if I was a member of the NY/NJ Trail Conference. He asked what my plan for hiking was and was glad I was not descending the Burnt Mountain Trail. It is very steep and is suffering from much erosion. Since I was going solo, and knew of the Sunset Ridge Trail which I was using as my route of descent, he wished me a pleasant hike and I then took off. The view from Window Rock the first attraction on the hike was very scenic. Then the trail as I expected became very eroded and steep. I had to use my hands as well to boost myself up the trail. The view to the north was outstanding including Jay Peak and the Buchanan Range. It also appeared that if you continued along the ridge from where the trail ends after a couple of humps, you could connect to the Long Trail at the summit of Haystack Mountain. I wonder what kind of bushwack that would be like, or if there ever was thought to connect a trail from Burnt Mountain to Haystack. Upon my return and talking to Rolf, he said they don’t want to connect a trail to the LT as this would bring an increase in hiking traffic to the association’s lands which they feel is undesirable.


The returning descent along the Sunset Ridge Trail was newly cut and not well trodden. In places it also was poorly marked. But I persevered and found my way down where the trail goes through an old farm with excellent views as it continues to go through this High Meadow with several ponds. This really was a worthwhile hike to do when in the vicinity of Montgomery Center.


Since I still had some time before heading home I decided to give Laraway Mountain a try and see if I could find Paul Wharton’s camera. So I went to the Davis Neighborhood and climbed. Looked all around Corliss Camp and then continued up Laraway Mountain until about 2400 feet of elevation before turning back. I came out empty handed leaving a note in the Camp register just in case someone finds the camera. I then proceeded homeward bound.


Overall the trip was a complete success with ten out of the 17 participants completing the fifty miles of the Long Trail. Accommodations were very nice and all enjoyed the camaraderie of hiking friends that join together for these trips that we have come to expect.









I drove my 2004 Mazda Tribute SUV on this trip.