CVU Students Thru Hike the Long Trail
by Janet Bull,
August 25, 2011, page 1.....

On August 18, CVU sophomores and Charlotte residents Allie Bull and Alexandra Spicer completed a thru hike of Vermont’s Long Trail. Their journey ended at the Canadian border approximately ten miles north of Jay Peak. It was an adventure full of challenges and triumphs as they hiked their way along the high ridgeline of Vermont’s Green Mountains.

The Long Trail is the oldest long-distance trail in the United States. The Green Mountain Club built the trail between 1910 and 1930 and commemorated its 100th birthday just last year. It was the inspiration for the Appalachian Trail (AT) and runs contiguous with the AT for its first 100 miles. The Long Trail is approximately 273 miles long and runs the entire length of the state of Vermont from the Massachusetts border to Canada. The trail climbs many rugged peaks and passes pristine ponds as well as alpine bogs and hardwood forests along the way. Its highest point is the chin on Mount Mansfield. There are almost 60 primitive shelters along the trail, each with its own unique history. White blazes on trees and rocks mark the way.

Allie and Alex, along with Allie’s mother, Janet, who provided intermittant support, began their journey in mid-July at the Pine Cobble Trailhead in Williamstown, Massachusetts. From there they worked their way over some of the ski areas located in southern Vermont, including Stratton and Bromley Mountains. During the heat wave that befell Vermont, they labored along the trail stopping to swim at some of the spring-fed ponds. As their journey continued, they hiked over the summits of the highest peaks in Vermont, including Mount Abraham, Camel’s Hump and Mount Mansfield. Almost all of their nights were spent in a tent near shelters and reliable water sources. Despite an abundance of water in streams during the first half of their trip, drought-like conditions appeared later on. Care had to be taken to remain hydrated, and the girls sometimes had to carry extra water in their packs. Evenings were spent reading in their tent as well as recounting the day’s events.

The girls traveled with the Green Mountain Club’s field guide to the Long Trail and learned about some of the abundant plant and animal life along the trail. They photographed some of the beautiful berries, plants and amphibians they saw, like the exotic-looking red eft salamanders sometimes seen in wetter areas. While there was ample evidence of moose in the woods, none were spotted. But the girls had the sense that moose remained just out-of-site behind the brush as they moved along. They became familiar with the stinging sensation caused by brushing up against the prolific mountain nettle that grows along the trail.

Some favorite places include former fire towers, which offered 360-degree views of the Vermont countryside. The slippery puncheon (wooden walkway used to cross bogs) boardwalk along Griffith Lakes, which resulted in an unplanned dip in the water, was another favorite moment during the trip. And the many ladders along some of the steeper stretches of the trail, including the forehead of Mount Mansfield, provided even more unforgettable memories.

With the trail now behind them, Allie and Alexandra are preparing for the beginning of the school year. They will start their sophomore year at CVU with many good memories of their challenging, yet rewarding, adventure on the Long Trail.

Postscript: The girls, accompanied by Allie’s mother, Janet Bull, arrived at the Canadian border at approximately 2:45 p.m. on August 18.  Alex’s mother, Nancy Forrest, along with Alex’s aunt, cousin and sister picked them up on the corner of Journey’s End Road and drove them home.