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regarding these trails and runs, some of which are among the sportiest in New England, may be had from the Mount Mansfield Ski Club, of Stowe. This club maintains a winter camp, called the Ranch Camp (also shown on large map), which is used by skiing parties almost every week-end during the season.
Approach and Side Trails
For description of this region see page 88. See also the large map in front of Guide Book. Numbers below correspond to those on this map.
All the trails described below are steep, and are marked with blue blazes, unless otherwise noted. Times given are for the uphill direction.
Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 may be reached by car from Burlington or Cambridge to Underhill Center, or by bus from Burlington to Underhill Center (18 miles). Bus now leaves Burlington at 11 a.m. and 3.30 p.m.
1. SUNSET RIDGE TRAIL. Starts from Halfway House, at end of steep motor road from Underhill Center (4 miles). Vermont Forestry Department maintains large open-front shelter on road 1/2 mile below Halfway House. Trail ascends over high bare ridge with fine views, turns right at fork near top and joins Long Trail a short distance south of the summit of the Chin. Best route to Summit and Taft Lodge from west side of mountain. Halfway House to Summit, 2 miles; time, 2 1/2 hours; to Taft Lodge, 2 1/2 miles; time, 3 hours. 2. COWLES CUT-OFF. (Built and maintained by Judge C. P. Cowles, of Burlington.) Leaves No. 1, about 1/4 mile above Halfway House, follows a brook at first, and climbs up the hollow south of Sunset Ridge, joining No. 1 again just below junction with Long Trail. More sheltered but less sightly than No. 1, and a better winter trail. Distance and time, about the same as No. 1. Orange blazes. 3. HALFWAY HOUSE TRAIL. Starts from the Halfway House, bearing more to the south than No. 1 or No. 2, and meets Long Trail 1/4 mile north of Mount Mansfield Hotel. Shortest route from Halfway House to Long Trail and Hotel. Built more than 75 years ago and once used as horseback trail. To Hotel, 1 3/4 miles; time, 2 3/4 hours. 4. BUTLER LODGE TRAIL. Originally built by State Forestry Department. Leaves Stevensville Road on right, just before the road crosses Stevensville Brook (road ends near here, 3 miles from Underhill Center) and leads direct to Mabel Taylor Butler Lodge, 1 3/4 miles; time, 2 hours. Joins Long Trail near Needle's Eye, 10 minutes beyond the Lodge and 1 1/4 miles south of Mount Mansfield Hotel. Excellent meals and rooms can be had at J. B. Shannon's, 2 miles from Underhill Center (postoffice and telephone, Underhill Center) on Stevensville Road.
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5. NEBRASKA NOTCH TRAIL. Leaves Stevensville Road at blue sign on right (south), just below start of No. 4, and follows wood road up through old pasture and into woods. Joins Long Trail at west end of Nebraska Notch, 1/2 mile west of Taylor Lodge. Nowhere steep or difficult. Road to Long Trail junction, 1 3/4 miles; time, 1 1/4 hours; to Taylor Lodge, 2 3/4 miles; time, 1 1/2 hours. 6. HELL BROOK TRAIL. Leaves State Highway No. 108 opposite Big Spring in Smuggler's Notch, climbs very steeply to top of ridge just south of the Lake of the Clouds, then bears south and joins Long Trail in Eagle Pass, between the Chin and Adam's Apple. 1 1/2 miles; time, 2 hours. With No. 14, this forms shortest approach to Taft Lodge from State Road. 7. TAFT LODGE TRAIL. (Part of The Long Trail, white blazes.) Direct route from State Highway No. 108 at Barnes Camp to Taft Lodge. 2 miles; time, 2 1/2 hours; and Summit, 2 3/4 miles; time, 3 1/4 hours. 8. HASELTON TRAIL. Named for the late Judge Seneca Haselton of Burlington, a great lover of Mount Mansfield. From State Highway No. 108 at Barnes Camp to Toll Road, about 1/2 mile below Mount Mansfield Hotel. 2 miles; time, 2 1/2 hours. 9. KINGSFORD TRAIL. (Not maintained by Green Mountain Club.) Built by Doctor Kingsford of the Mansfield Trout Club. From Mansfield Trout Club at Lake Mansfield over Mount Dewey to Long Trail, 3/4 mile south of Needle's Eye. Steep and rough but very sightly. 4 miles; time 5 hours. Red blazes. 10. LAKE MANSFIELD TRAIL. From end of motor road at Mansfield Trout Club, past Lake Mansfield, to Long Trail at Taylor Lodge. 1 1/2 miles; time, 1 1/2 hours. 11. BEAR POND TRAIL. Leaves No. 6 at top of ridge and runs north, past Lake of the Clouds, along high ridge to Bear Pond, a tiny lakelet in a wilderness setting. 3/4 mile; time, 1/2 hour; then descends very steeply to highway in Smugglers Notch. 12. STORY TRAIL. Built by G. F. E. Story, of Worcester, Mass. From fork near top of No. 1, bears left around north end of Chin and joins Long Trail just above Eagle Pass. Level but rough. 1/2 mile; time, 20 minutes. 13. WAMPAHOOFUS TRAIL. Named from an overhanging rock that the Long Trail Patrol thought looked like the open jaws of a Sidehill Wampahoofus. From Mabel Taylor Butler Lodge to Long Trail on top of the Forehead. Rough and picturesque. 3/4 mile; time, 3/4 hour. 14. HELL BROOK CUT-OFF. From Taft Lodge north, about on a level, to No. 6. 1/2 mile; time, 20 minutes. With No. 6, forms shortest route from Taft Lodge to State Highway. 15. PROFANITY TRAIL. From Taft Lodge southwest to Long Trail south of Chin, at junction with No. 1. Steep and rough. 1/2 mile; time, 3/4 hour. Best route, with Long Trail,
Machine-read from the 1937 scan. Text is the OCR’d original, unedited — including its age and its typos.
