Mt Mansfield (Stowe VT)

“My wife and I are supposed to clib Mansfield this weekend.

Out of deference to my wife's knees, we are hiking up and taking the lift down (in time for our massages at the Trapp lodge).

Anyhoo . . .has anyone (Tom Terrific?) climbed Mansfield that can provide some trail advice?

I have a long trail guide, that has a section on Mansfield . . .but it is pretty poorly written and confusing.....

Be interested in some first hand informatin.


Thanks”

“No one has climbed Mansfield?????”

“I climbed Mansfield about 20 years ago and that's just to long ago to remember sorry.”

“Hi, my wife and I took the gondola up there to the restaurant about 15 years ago.

I've humped Camel's Hump twice, but never Mansfield.

Ethan Allen Firing Range is on the west slopes of Mansfield.
When I was a Natl Grd weenie we humped all over the west side mostly off trail.

Good luck!”

“The most recent time I hiked it was several years ago, and I hiked from the top of the gondola to the summit. Then we strapped on our skiis and disappeared into the backcountry. It's great to have ski patrolers as friends.

Which trail are you hiking?
Are you taking the long trail from the north? It's been a long time since I've been up there, but depending on which trail you take you may incounter ladders and huge boulders. The easiest would take the long trail from the north to the adams apple and up to the summit from there.

What day are you hiking it?
We're hiking Camel's Hump on Thurs. and I'll be at my sister's wedding in Waterbury on Sat. and then we'll be up in the notch/Sterling pond area on Sunday.
Have a great time!”

“I'll be heading that way. I've had two people warn me that the LT going around the forehead (coming from the south) is somewhat dangerous with a backpack on. They said you have to lean back away from the wall, and with the weight of the pack makes it kinda hairy.”

“Not yet but I plan to. I look forward to hearing about it.”

“Oh and nice move... blaming the wife's knees.”