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. After 2.3 miles 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 1.6 miles to the Hazen's Notch Camp (2,000 feet), closed frame camp, stove, water, bunks for 6, shelter for more. Tillotson Shelter to Hazen's Notch Camp, 4.5 miles, 2 3/4 hours (southbound, 3 1/4 hours).

Hazen's Notch Road (1,780 feet) is .2 mile north of the camp, in State Forest Park, No. 28 (parking and picnic space). 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 the west shoulder of Sugar Loaf and, after crossing several ravines and ridges, ascends sharply to the south peak of an unnamed mountain (sometimes called Splatterfoot), 2,900

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DIVISION XII

feet, 3.4 miles from Hazen's Notch. One-half mile farther along the ridge the Trail goes over the main peak of this mountain (2,940 feet), from which there is a view of Jay Peak and its neighbors. After another 1/4 mile there is a lookout to the north with a view along the ridge, traversed by the Trail. The Long Trail zigzags steeply down to the 2,580 foot level and then climbs to Domey's Dome (2,880 feet), with views to north and northeast. Main peak to Domey's Dome, 1 1/4 miles, 3/4 hour (southbound, 1 hour).

The Trail then follows the ridge for 1 mile to the top of the south spur of Double Top (2,680 feet), where Jay Peak appears in sharp silhouette, 2 miles across the valley. The Long Trail then descends the west slope of Double Top to the abandoned Montgomery Center-Jay Road, at its highest point (2,211 feet), and Jay Camp (built in 1936), closed frame camp with inside fireplace, bunks for 8 to 12 and spring water. Hazen's Notch Camp to Jay Camp, 7.2 miles, 4 3/4 hours (southbound, 4 1/2 hours).

An approach trail (blue blazes) leads out southwesterly along the old highway to the Deuso Farm (meals, lodging, mail; can accommodate 6 persons in summer, 4 in winter). Address, Albert Deuso, Montgomery Center, Vt. Jay Camp to Deuso Farm, 2 1/4 miles, 1 1/4 hours. Deuso Farm to Jay Camp, 1 3/4 hours.

From Jay Camp, the Trail ascends steadily, northwesterly towards Jay Peak. At a point 1.2 miles from Jay Camp, the "New" trail (blue blazes) from Jay Village comes in on the right. The Trail then climbs steeply, mostly over rock, to the summit of Jay Peak (3,861 feet). Jay Camp to Jay Peak, 1.7 miles, 2 hours (southbound, 1 hour). 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