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Vermont 3 day backpacking trip

Original Post
drewdogg2112 · · halifax, MA · Joined Aug 2015 · Points: 20

Hey everyone.
Im looking for a good 3 day backpacking trip in Vermont. Ive hiked all over the whites for years and all over maine but for some reason have never really delved into the Green Mountains.
Im also a photographer so something that has nice scenery, which im sure wont be hard to find, (like nice ponds, great summit views, etc)would be nice.
Ive been rock climbing a ton this year but havnt been pushing my trail legs a lot this season so Im not looking for a killer 20 miles per day kinda thing. 8-12 miles per day is totally doable.
If anyone has any cool not so popular or well known areas that'd be cool too. I usually fly solo so kinda like not being over run with a million people on the most popular vista around.
Let me know if you have any good ideas. Cheers!

Ira OMC · · Hardwick, VT · Joined Sep 2013 · Points: 273

Hey,
backpacking in VT is a little problematic because the main backpacking trail, the long trail, is basically just a single straight line.... I cannnot really think of any loops that would take 3 days and put you back at the point where you started.

That said, if you have 2 cars, the northermost section of the LT is the nicest and the quietest. Also, the monroe skyline area is really between mt. Abraham and MT Lincoln.

If you like to hitchhike, you could just get on the trail someplace and go until you get tired, then hitch back. Every major east-West road in VT crosses the long trail.

The other thing that I do is drop my bicycle at the point where I want to end the hike, then drive back to the starting point, hike for a couple days, then stash my pack, get on the bike and ride back to the car, then drive back up to get the pack. It works and adds a little more variety of exercise to the whole experience.

Luca Keushguerian · · Yerevan, AM · Joined Jul 2011 · Points: 2,817

The Worchester range is a fun one to do. South to North is more fun imo. Took my group 3 days in winter so it won't take you that long in the summer..

Kevin Heckeler · · Las Vegas, NV · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 1,616

I'm only familiar (and nothing recent) with the Kellystand Road area north of Bennington. There's quite a bit to do in there, although if hiking on the weekend you will likely not be alone. Bourn and Branch Ponds are nice camping spots regardless.

books.google.com/books?id=k…

The Adirondacks, being a very large wildnerness area, would have A LOT more to offer in terms of quality 3 day loop potential. But I imagine that adds too much to your drive [plus, how can you go to the ADKs and not climb?? lol].

Josiah Ferguson · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2011 · Points: 19

A nice little loop you could do would be to walk north on the Long trail from where it intersects route 9 in Woodford. It's a reasonable day to get to the Glastonbury shelter. From there, you can take another trail and walk back down to Bennington, eventually hitting the White Rocks/ Bald Mountain. It'll take a short amount of hitchhiking to get back to the LT on 9 but it's a quick walk to high way and people are fairly used to hitchhiking back packers.

It's a bit of a shorter hike than you asked for but it's really nice because you get the LT/AT experience, a lean to, there's a fire rower on Glastonbury, nice views from the white rocks, and the trail between Glastonbury and bald mountain is used enough to be easy to follow, but infrequently enough to have a really nice, remote vibe.

You could also extend it by starting further south at the VT/MA border to get the third day. There's lean to and some good tent sites on Harmon Hill just south of the route 9 intersection and about a 1 day hike north of the border.

Rosalieva · · southshore MA · Joined Jul 2014 · Points: 5

Following this

drewdogg2112 · · halifax, MA · Joined Aug 2015 · Points: 20

thanks for the info guys.
I ended up contacting a friend in VT and jumped on the Longtrail at Middlebury gap- Appalachian gap.
was really nice and very quiet. not many ppl especially after night 1.

day 1- Middlebury gap-> Emily Proctor shelter. 7 miles, just beat a huge storm to the Emily proctor shelter.

day 2- Emily proctor shelter-> leanto at Mt Abraham. 15 miles including side trip to summit of Mt Abraham and back.

day 3- Mt Abe lean-to -> App Gap. 10 miles with some nice rests at Sugarbush ski lift and the warming station at Mad River Glen.

got picked up at App gap and driven back to car.

good time.
Check out photos and story on my website
DrewLedermanPhotography.com - Travel and adventure

Nick Votto · · CO, CT, IT · Joined Jul 2008 · Points: 320

That's a great stretch of the trail Drew, done it a bunch.
Glad it ended up working out....VT is rarely very crowded!

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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