| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Mansfield (The Chin), VT |
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 | Trails: |
Toll Road, ski trails, Long Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Thursday, May 25, 2017 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parking lot at the Inn at the Mountain and Toll House in Stowe, Vt 108. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
None. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Good. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Long (10+ miles), but moderate hike for a dog. Recommend the Toll Road out and back. |
|
 | Bugs: |
Some mosquitoes and small black flies in the lower elevations. Breezy enough to where they were not a nuisance. |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
None. |
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|
 | Comments: |
We planned to walk up the entire Auto Toll Road, however roadwork was being done at the base/gate entrance. So we went up a ski trail for a while until we crossed onto the service road and we were able to walk up the entire way. We saw there had been a lot of work done on the road and met a group of workmen with chainsaws trimming branches. We passed the road to the Visitor Center to take the TV road to the Long Trail north. The trail runs along the ridgeline to the 'Chin' (summit) about a mile and a bit. Trail begins with puncheons/broadwalk through stunted trees and then enters arctic tundra. Then it is all rock. Today the trail was dry, some water puddles, but easy to rock walk to avoid the rain water and keep off the fragile vegetation. The views along the entire ridge were superb. It was very breezy yet not too cold. Gusts took us off balance a couple times as we got to the junction of the Sunset Ridge Trail where we met hikers coming down from the summit. They said Sunset Ridge had some "mucky" muddy places below but generally doable and a dry ridge. We reached the 'Chin' which was less windy. Again, fantastic views 360 degrees.
The hike down allowed us to look at the rough topography of the Green Mountains in the south. We actually saw quite a lot of hikers coming up Sunset Ridge - I guess for some fair-weather hiking season has begun. Once on the Auto Road, we walked to and descended the Sunrise ski trail (moderate), the Lullaby Lane (moderate) and the Easy Mile ski trails to avoid getting in the way of road maintenance. Ski trails were dry up top but wetter lower down, and lots of bluets and other wildflowers. It did rain lightly on our way down. A worthy hike. |
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 | Name: |
Flo and Joe |
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 | E-Mail: |
aloe@myfairpoint.net |
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| Date Submitted: |
2017-05-25 |
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 | Link: |
 https:// |
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Disclaimer: Reports are not verified - conditions may vary. Use at own risk. Always be prepared when hiking. Observe all signs. Trail conditions reports are not substitutes for weather reports or common sense. |
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