The Long Trail in Vermont, I think.

“Forget the beartooths, Mike and I are thinking of taking two weeks and ding the long trail. If anyone can point me in the direction of info and maps I would be very happy! :D”

“hehehe, didn't CMB tell you he is already signed up for that trip
http://www.thebackpacker.com/trips/trip/339.php”

“Two weeks is extremely fast time if you're thinking of doing the whole thing.

For more info, and lots of trip planning advice, guidebook/map information, see www.greenmountainclub.org”

“We were going to make a death march of it...getting in shape and all that. Two weeks is all that Mike can take off. I will have more time off then that but he can't.”

“Two weeks is going to be tough. You're looking at about 270 miles from Massachusetts to Canada, and the trail goes over numerous 4,000+ foot peaks.

The average person takes 3-4 weeks to complete the Long Trail. While it can be done in 2 if you go total "Deathmarch" style, I would think that that would have a severely negative impact on your experience out there.

Vermont is an extremely magical place. The entire state is almost like a living museum of what North American rural life was like back in the 18th century. You really should take the time to stop and smell the roses, especially if you're going to come all this way.

That being said, if you only have 2 weeks, might I suggest that you start at the Maine Junction (the place where the AT splits of the Long Trail and heads east toward Maine), and head north towards Canada? I think that might be a bit more doable without missing the scenery.

Anyway, good luck with that, and let me know when y'all go. I might drive up there and join yous for a weekend...”

“Cave Dog did it in less than 5 days.

http://www.thecavedog.com/Long_Trail-Web_Pages/The_Long_Trail/Long_Trail-index-frame.html”

“other info is at:
http://www.vermont-st.com/longtrail/”

“The past page at Jack's link for the LT is:
http://www.greenmountainclub.org/ltb.htm”

“I heard about that. But still, if this is going to be your first time in Vermont, or even New England, you shouldn't plan to rush. You'll miss way too much...”

“Cave Dog is a nutcase though, even CMB ain't THAT crazy.”

“Even Cave Dog took his time his first time hiking the Long Trail.”

“we all need a little crazyness! Mike needs a challenge to get him out of his backpacking rut..it was he who suggested it.”

“See also:

http://www.linkvermont.com/external_links/link_longtrail_maps.htm



I'd also advise against trying to do the whole thing in 2 weeks. It is an incredibly beautiful (and rugged) area and it would be a shame to rush through it, IMO.”

“Who the hell let the non-backpacker on here?”

“Some of the people from the VFTT site may be able to provide you with some good info as well.

http://www.viewsfromthetop.com/”

“dayhiking 20 miles is one thing.

if you wanna average 20 miles per day for 2 weeks straight you'd better be in wicked great shape and get lucky with great weather.

JMO.”

“Cave Dog had a real nightmare experience the first time he tried to do the Long Trail in less than 5 days (it's on his site, somewhere).

I had been planning to do the Long Trail last summer. I don't hike fast, but I hike long days and get good mileage. When I did the New Hampshire AT, I left all the Southbound Thru-hikers I met behind me. Still, I was planning to allow three weeks for the whole Long Trail.

Two weeks would be about 20 miles/day. That's probably doable on some of the easier portions of the trail - but I figured averaging 14 miles/day was a much reasonable goal.”

“Check out gforcfes trip report:

http://www.thebackpacker.com/trailtalk/thread/26218,-1.php”