Division X

BOLTON LODGE TO FRENCH CAMP

From Bolton Lodge the Trail continues northward up the valley, ascending at first gradually and then more steeply. Two and one-half miles north of the Lodge the Trail passes the old Dunsmoor Lodge, now abandoned, from which there is a wonderful view to the south. After 1 1/4 miles more climbing, mostly through spruces, the summit of Bolton Mountain (3,725 feet) is reached. Here an observation tower affords a magnificent view in all directions. The most striking features are Camel's Hump and the Lincoln Range to the south; Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks to the southwest and west; Mount Mansfield to the north and the Worcester Range to the northeast and east. Bolton Lodge to summit of Bolton Mountain, 3 3/4 miles; time, 3 1/2 to 4 hours (southbound, about 2 1/2 hours).

From the summit of Bolton Mountain the Trail drops rapidly about 800 feet to the saddle between Bolton Mountain and Mount Admiral Mayo, rises to the wooded summit of Admiral Mayo (3,160 feet) and then descends 550 feet to the notch between Mount Admiral Mayo and Mount Admiral Clark. From here the Trail follows the ridge 1/2 mile northward and then drops, swinging around the east side of Admiral Clark, with several beautiful outlooks towards Lake Mansfield, to Taylor Lodge, at the east end of Nebraska Notch. This is a very comfortable closed lodge, built of peeled logs by the Burlington Section in 1926 and named for James P. Taylor, the founder of The Green Mountain Club. Bolton Lodge to Taylor Lodge, 7 1/2 miles; time, 7 hours (southbound, the same).

Taylor Lodge provides bunks for 14 to 16 and a good stove, but to get water it is necessary to go

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several hundred feet down the approach trail (10) towards Lake Mansfield, turning off to a small brook at a sign. From an outlook back of the Lodge, one looks down on Lake Mansfield, surrounded by wooded hills and mountains; while across the valley north of the Lodge rugged cliffs and ledges tower into the sky. Approach Trail No. 10 leads down from Taylor Lodge to Lake Mansfield and the highway at the Mansfield Trout Club (1 1/2 miles; time, 3/4 hour down, 1 1/4 hour up).

Lake Mansfield is on the private preserve of the club and fishing is forbidden except to members. The club house is at the outlet of the lake and can be reached by auto from the east. The club house is also the southern end of the Kingsford Trail, a difficult but exceedingly sightly trail about 4 miles long and joining The Long Trail south of Mount Mansfield.

Leaving Taylor Lodge, two routes are available. One continues westerly through the bottom of Nebraska Notch, an extremely rugged and picturesque cleft in the mountains, partly filled with immense boulders. There is little climbing as the summit of the Notch is at about the same elevation as the Lodge, but the Trail is rough and should be traveled with care by hikers burdened with packs. In one place the Trail passes under a great rock, negotiating a vertical drop by a ten-foot ladder. The alternative route avoids the rough going in the bottom of the Notch by climbing up over the shoulder of a hill called the Sugar Loaf and rejoins the first Trail just beyond the Notch. This Trail is likely to be safer in winter but is not advised in summer because it misses so much interesting scenery.

A short distance farther west The Long Trail bears to the right at a fork, the left hand trail leading out 1 3/4 miles to the highway at Stevensville (3 miles from Underhill Center, and 21 miles from Burlington). The Long Trail climbs gradually along