Chapter 618

5/27/2022

Stowe Vermont

Von Trapp & Mansfield & Burlington

link to Stowe picture folder

The highlight was hiking to the top of Mount Mansfield, Vermonts highest peak at 4400 feet. We did it the easiest way after driving up the Stowe toll road 4.5 miles (red dots) to the Nose then a 2.8 mile round trip (orange dots) to the peak also called the Chin. Above rendered picture from  NY Times. Colleen's daughter and husband hiked up the back side on the right but we only met up at the lodge.

Our drive on the Toll Road (blue) was to the Nose. Then 600' vertical along the Vermont Long Trail (goes from bottom of VT to Canada) to Mount Mansfield (Chin). Ben & Amanda came up the Hellbrook Trail from the north side and looped back down the Profanity Trail. Considered one of Vermonts hardest trails 3000' vertical, wasn't for us.

From Rte 108 you can sort of see the profile of a man's head as if he were lying prone. Above just the nose two lips and chin as well as adams apple left to right.

My drone shot shows the toll road winding up the mountainside to the (closed) Visitor Center. From there, justs north of the Nose outcropping, we hike up the Vermont Long Trail. Over the Upper Lip, Lower Lip onto the Chin, the peak of Mount Mansfield. Our 2.8 mile round trip might not look like much but you'll see below it is not a walk in the park. Nevertheless, we met dogs and 4 year old children who made it.

The Stowe Gondola which you can ride in the summer appears on the upper right. Hiking up to the peak from there up the Cliff Trail is 700 feet vertical of dangerous and difficult rock slab, we were warned. 

This hike was simply wonderful. If all our hikes were like this we'd be out there every weekend. Not only did we have glorious weather, not too hot, not too buggy, but the scenery was magnificient left right forward and back.

It is a bit of a struggle manuvering through the many rocks to find the right foothold and keep balance. Always taking the trekking poles with us now.

It's not a straight upward incline. Sometimes you gotta descend to again ascend up the next slope. Just ahead is a trail called theSubway that goes right over the rock cliff toward Lake Champlain to the west with an Adirondack backdrop. Attempted just a few steps but couldn't  imagine actually going down it. 

I feel the money shot is often not at the top but nearing the top. This hike now moves into the top two all time, just below Colorado's Flat Irons.

Felt like we were on top of the world. Everywhere you look it's beautiful. I had to put the brakes on Colleen who was anxious to get to the top. Was able to slow her down enough to take our time and savor the moment. The tedious time editing the photos merely adds to the enjoyment of the trip.

Droned the notch of VT state rte 108 which is closed during harsh winter conditions. The patch of brown parking area I believe is where Ben & Amanda (up to celebrate Mom's birthday) left from the trail head of the Hellbrook Trail traversing 1.5miles straight up left toward Mount Mansfield. We took a steep trail just beyond this to the right toward Sterling Pond on the first day before getting rained out. We'd gotten rained out during our second day's attempt at Mansfield as well.

We stayed a couple nights at the Trapp Family Lodge. So wonderful. The Hills were alive with the sound of music. Sampled their Von Trapp Brewery for sure as well as at the Alchemist Brewery nearby. Could be a whole chapter by itself. Extensive family photographic documentation on all walls.

We spent a night in Burlington to check out the Vermont Brew Pub, Church Street Pub, Foam Brewery,  and did some of the Island Line Rail Trail Colchester Causeway. Sent the drone up at sunset for this shot. Took the cute  Grand Isle Ferry across Lake Champlain back into NY at Plattsburg. Too many photos, no. That's a hobby in itself. The trip probably deserves a slide show video considering the amount of good photos.