Hike the Long Trail

If I can can the time off of work, I’m doing it

This illicits a lot of nostalgia for me. I hiked the Long Trail in 1971 and had to end about 35 miles short of a one shot end to end because of the weather. Our entire hike was plagued by Hurricane Doria and I especially remember the Mt. Mansfield crossing was at the same time the Hurricane was reaching land so we had sustained 70 mph winds and rain on the climb and descent.
The constant rain for those two weeks ruined (rotted) the boots on our feet along with some serious issues with trench foot. And I’m sure any who have made that hike can imagine with the grueling pace and the less that best conditions when the food and time ran out (and as teenagers you always think you can do it again…you have forever after all) we opted to quit and try again the next year.

Very tough at the time but the memories now are very cherished indeed by all who were there and although we all finished that last section as individuals none of us ever got or applied for the “end to end” certification. We all wanted to make a fast trip (for the books)as a group and despite the weather came close but in the end I think we all simply accepted that we got beaten and it never felt right to apply for the certification for something we never got to finish as we began.

I’m from Vermont, I’m going to graduate June 9th, 2007. That summer (september) my best friend and I are going to hike the long trail.. The whole thing, not just the Vermont part… Do you have any suggustions?

I hiked the trail straight through in 2005… during hurricanes Katrina and Ophelia! Even with all the rain, I’m glad I did it. If you check the trail logs, my trail name was “Ranger”.

Absolutely worth doing.

I plan to hike the entire Long Trail this summer. I will accomplish this not as a thru-hiker, but over weekends and holidays. I hope to do this in order starting from the south end and ending at the Canadian border. I’ve created a blog to track my progress. Here is the link to the blog- http://thelongtrail.blogspot.com/

If I don’t get into the MGH NP Program, then I will be packing my bags and hitting the trail on May 29th. I may not have a job to come back to when I am finished, but I will cross that bridge when I get to it :)

I’ve done this end to end a few times now, and am contemplating another go at the end of this summer. It’s wonderful. Wonderful. The northern section will kick your ass, and then do it again once you’ve managed to get up . . . but it just reinforces my love affair with these here Green Mountains.

We did a 2 day section hike of the long trail sometime last year. It was my first ‘backpacking’ I’ve done. Before that I’ve only done a few day hikes. I’ve got to say it was extremly fun. The terrain is tough, rocky, and lots of verticel. I think it’s something that I’ll eventually do. I’m not sure If I’ll do it via section, or through. Through hiking it would be unbelievable.
AO