NewEnglandTrailConditions.com
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VT
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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Mansfield - Adams Apple, Mt. Mansfield - The Chin, Mt. Mansfield - The Nose, VT
Trails
Trails: Hell Brook Trail, Adams Apple Trail, Long Trail, Toll Road, Haselton Trail, Barnes Camp Loop, VT 108
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Saturday, August 24, 2024
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: I parked at the small lot on 108, directly across from the Hell Brook trailhead.  
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: There are no large water crossings on this route, but there is a lot of water!  
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Overall these trails are in amazing shape. There are two blowdowns on Haselton. One is about 0.1 miles below the spot where you pop out to the ski trails. It’s at least a 12” diameter birch. The other is a akinnier birch that is about 0.25 miles feom the ski area parking.  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes:  
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: There is a shirt hanging from a branch about 0.4 miles up Hell Brook. It didn’t smell fabulous so I didn’t pack it out.  
 
Comments
Comments: Hell Brook was about as much fun as a person can have while hiking - it’s a beautiful trail with super-fun scrambles! There is a lot of running water so the bare ledge scrambles were a bit slow going, but I didn’t mind. I very much enjoyed this hike!!
I took the spur trail over Adam’s Apple and am very glad that I did - I really liked the up close and personal view of Mansfield (ie the Chin).
The Mansfield summit had at least 3 dozen people on it, and my ridge walk was people-y as well. I was intrigued by the Nose and hiked up the Toll Road to see it … I was disappointed that there wasn’t a cool viewpoint up there.
The top few tenths of Haselton were super steep and muddy (exposed ski trail) so I landed on my bum a few times. However I didn’t mind because that section had a beautiful view of Smuggler’s Notch, and an amazing variety of wildflowers (and therefore an amazing variety of pollinators.). Once the trail popped into the woods it was easier to hike the steep descent as there are lots of trees to hug.
Route 108 was very busy with cars and motorcycles and I was happy to find the Barnes Loop, which replaced about half of the road walk. The first section is elevated bridge over a bog, and it was a really pretty walk.
For comparison, as I am a NH hiker, Hell Brook is very similar to Great Gully and Haselton (below the ski area) is very similar to Kinsman Ridge Trail as you descend from Cannon down toward Lonesome Lake.
Multiple people have told me to hike Cliff Trail, as a part of this loop, when I go back. And I definitely will!!  
Name
Name: Bikecamphikegirl  
E-Mail
E-Mail:  
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2024-08-25 
Link
Link: https:// 
Bookmark and Share 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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