Long Trail 25: Abraham and Ellen-Part 2

Just before sunrise, John and I left the Battell Shelter behind. I carried my trekking poles in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other. The trail out of camp was a jumble of stones and gravel, but could be navigated with coffee in hand. We passed the wash pit and privy on the way out, the latter being a few hundred yards uphill from the shelter. John was in front and moving at a quick pace. He’d suffered a poor night’s sleep. I marveled at how he was determined to march on without any rest.

Our first target, Mount Abraham is the fifth tallest peak in Vermont, and on our list of the 67 4000 Footers in New England. The peak was only three quarters of a mile ahead, but it would be the steepest section of the hike. I finished my morning brew and stowed the cup in a pocket as I climbed. The steep ledges would have been challenging if they had been wet, but on this cool and dry morning, I walked up them with trekking poles packed away.

Coming out above treeline, we were greeted by a sign warning us to stay on the trail as not to harm any of the fragile plants that take decades to grow in the harsh environment.

We had arrived at the summit at the perfect moment. The sun was just rising above the horizon.

A circular rudimentary shelter of stones, perhaps a meter high, sat here on the peak. Seeing it now, It resurfaced from my memory from my hike here years ago.

Our next goal was Ellen, at less than three miles away, but we would climb over several lesser peaks to arrive there.

At 1.5 miles, we arrived at Mount Lincoln. The summit is crowned with a chairlift, and an observation deck. A look back over the shoulder revealed the morning’s efforts behind us. Our future miles were visible before us.

Mount Lincoln observation deck, facing back to Mount Abraham.

Ski Chairlift on Mount Lincoln, with Mount Ellen far ahead.

We would march along the ridge line, over Nancy Hanks peak and Castle Rock, it’s ski chairlifts that rose up from the Sugarbush Resort below.

Travel along the ridge was easy. I remembered this section from years back, and how we’d raced along. It was warmer then, and I was a younger, faster hiker!

Soon we came out of the trees again at Castle Rock. The chairs sat motionless, waiting for snow and the skiers.

The next mountain along the ridge was Cutt’s Peak. It was a mere hiccup on the journey, and soon we came out of the trees to the summit of Ellen.

I looked past the sign at the summit, to the Long Trail’s entrance into the woods. Looking North, more than one hundred miles lay ahead of me before I would finish.

John and I sat down at the dormant chairlifts for lunch. it was 9:30.

We sat here for a long time, enjoying the excellent weather. The sun became high in the sky, and temperatures with it. We began to retrace our steps back to the shelter.

I had trekked along wearing my old bucket hat to keep the sun off. I was moving slowly now, with some stops along the way to take advantage of the views. I doubt I shall ever come this way again.

We descended the steep ledges towards Battell, but were no longer alone. The trail was mobbed with day hikers out for a Saturday hike. We let the faster ones pass as is customary, and still made it back to the shelter by 13:00.

It would be another 6 hours until sundown. John and I decided to skip our overnight and go home to sleep in our own beds. After an hour rest at the shelter, we hiked the two additional miles back to the car, bringing our total to approx. 9 for the trip, and an end to this ideal hike in the Green Mountain State.