Division XII

TILLOTSON SHELTER TO CANADIAN BORDER

From the Tillotson Camp sign, The Long Trail climbs to Tillotson Peak (3,040 feet) 1/2 mile beyond. In 2 1/4 mile more of crooked trail it reaches Haystack Mountain (3,223 ft.) marked by a rocky summit knob, striking when seen from the mountain top or from the lowland. While there is no trail to the knob, its northern outlook is well worth the scramble up it. The Long Trail crosses through lumber slash to the northern end of the mountain top, passes two piles of logs rotting on their skidways and drops 1,200 feet in 1 1/2 miles to the Fred H. Tucker Camp (2,000 feet), (closed framed camp, stove, water, bunks for 6, shelter for more). Tillotson to Fred H. Tucker Camp, 4 1/2 miles; time, 4 1/2 to 5 hours either way.

Hazen's Notch Road (1,780 feet) is 1/4 mile north of Tucker Camp. Montgomery Center is 6 miles northwest along the highway (Route 58) and Lowell is 6 miles southeast. The Notch is named for Gen. Moses Hazen, who, in 1778-79, built a military road from Peacham to this point. A granite marker to commemorate this bit of history stands beside the road where the Trail enters. North of the highway, Sugar Loaf Mountain rises in a 700-foot cliff. At a short distance north of the highway a side trail turns right from The Long Trail and climbs, 1/4 mile, up Sugar Loaf (2,543 feet) for a good view down the Montgomery Valley.

The Long Trail climbs a shoulder of Sugar Loaf, then skirts a basin that opens to the southwest, and in 4 1/2 miles emerges from the woods at the top of an open pasture for a splendid view of the three Jays (Little Jay 3,202, Big Jay 3,800, and Jay Peak, 3,861) 2 1/2 miles away. After cross-

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DIVISION XII

ing a pasture, Jay Brook and a field, the Trail enters a road just south of the Deuso Farm. (Food, mail and lodging.) Address, Albert Deuso, Montgomery Center, Vt. Tucker Lodge to Deuso Farm, 5 1/2 miles; time, 5 hours either way.

From the Deuso Farm, the Trail keeps along the old highway for a mile, turns sharply to the left, and climbs through a wooded basin to the ridge connecting Big Jay and Jay Peak. It swings right on this ridge and approaches Jay Peak from the west. Jay Peak itself is on side trail, for The Long Trail leaves the ridge 1/6 mile west of the summit and drops northerly toward North Jay. Here, bearing right, is a trail leading up to Jay Peak. Just before the highest point there is a sign to indicate another blue branch called the Old Trail which descends abruptly over the north side of the mountain. In 2/3 mile it meets the New Trail which will be described shortly. The summit trail, straight ahead, is marked with blue blazes to Jay Peak (3,861 feet). From the top there is a superb view in all directions. To the north the Green Mountains stretch away toward Canada with North Jay (3,400 feet) 2 miles distant and a row of at least 10 unnamed peaks, ranging from 2,100 to 3,300 feet between Jay Peak and the International Border. To the northwest, the sharp cone, in Canada, is Pinnacle (2,200 feet) north of Richford. Almost due north are the Sutton Mountains rising to an elevation of 3,100 feet in Round Top. A little to the east of north, Mount Orford, the highest Canadian mountain in this region, is 30 miles away. In the northeast are Elephantis (or Sugar Loaf) 2,100 feet, Owl's Head 2,400 feet, and Bear Mountain, 2,000 feet, all in Canada. Across the southern slope of Bear Mountain is the cleared strip of the International boundary. Past both sides of Owl's Head and Bear Mountain the waters of Lake Memphremagog are visible. All the White Mountains are east and southeast while the Green