3/12/23
Day 110

Today was quite the slog. Danielle and I set out to do a traverse along the Long Trail in Vermont, hitting two peaks on the New England 100 Highest list - Abraham and Ellen. The first three miles were a dream along Battell Trail but once we started on the Long Trail, heading north, conditions deteriorated significantly. The snowpack was so high, that we found ourselves fighting through the treetops as the monorail was pushed into the branches. Along with fighting the trees, we were contending with an unpacked monorail and sticky spring snow which made the added 2 pounds of snowshoes even heavier. To say it was trying would be an understatement. As we trucked along at about a mile an hour pace, I thought to myself how very few people have attempted a thru-hike of the Long Trail in winter. And how so many west coast hikers underestimate east coast hiking because the peaks are lower in elevation. The Long Trail may be only 272 miles long and sit at a maximum elevation of less than 4500’, but it will kick your butt. It kicked ours today. 

NEHH: 42 & 43 

Peaks: Abraham & Ellen

Miles: 10.91

Elevation: 3574’

Overall Miles: 1135.96

Overall Elevation: 330,278’