Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-09-12
TRIPS OVER NEW TRAILS.
Intercsting Trnmps by Members Of
Green Mountain Club.

Intercstine Tramps by Members Of
Green Mountain Club.
Those OF the Labor day excursion into
Smugglers' Notch who remained over
night at Barnes's camp were the first
to travel the brand new Sterling pond
trail The ira IL follows the logging road built
for the lumber Job which brought Barnes's
camp into the notch. and begins directly
back OF the camp. This road ascends by
n long slope. then bears to the left along
the crest Of the cliff giving one OF the
finest views OF the notch. The road then
bears to the east crossing the ridge to
la point overlooking the stowe valley.
Much ingenuity Is shown In the construc-
ton OF this road. especially where II is
carried along slantins Lodges on built-up
logs A civil engineers hair would stand
on end but as piece of lumberman's
craft II worked. for enc and a quarter
million feet Of logs were carried over the
road without an accident. Where this
road ends the blazed trail begins and Il
carried north through virgin forest.
The trail begins to drop and soon arrives
at Sterling pond. a forest-circed body OF
water - acres In ex ent and shaped like
clover leaf. The unexpectedness OF
fnding such large pond high on the
mountain In such beautiful setting adds
TO Its charm. great ledge OF soapstone
Is found on the shore near the trail.
The trail is two miles long. and is to
be regarded as the first step In carrying
the long trail over Sterling mountain to
Johnson. From the pond the trail will
be carried to the southern peak. then
across to the middle peak. then along
the crest to Whiteface. the highest Of
the three peaks. AS seen in birdseye
view Mt Sterling would look like a rude
hand flung down with Its fingers Extend
ing to the north Ridges on Hogback
extend TO Cambridge. johnson. Hyde
Park. Morristown and Stowe. The latter
Hogback many years ago was prophetical-
lly named the Bull Moose. From White
face the trail will be carried down to
Johnson by way OF Raymond pond. North
of this point the route OF the long trail
will be by way Of Eden and Belvidere
mountains
THE sMrGGLERs' NOTCH TRAIL TO
MT. MANSFIELD.
The trail from Barnes's camp to the
summit OF Mt Mansfield was needed bad
~. The only route heretofore has been
down over the chin to the Lake Of the
Clouds where an outlet OF the lake hnds
It's way down into Smugglers' Notch by
a succession OF sheer drops. The scrub
growth along the banks of the brook. the
broken rocks and lodges have inspired
those who have travelled this route to
name II Hill brook. and so far none has
taken exception to the name.
| The new trail was begun by Judge
lTaselton. who later had II completed
and presented II as his personal contribu-
ton to the long trail. The distance from
Barnes's camp to the summit: Is 2 l-2
miles. The lower stretches of the trail
are on gently risinC ground, but the use
soon becomes more abrupt until the trail
travels at level which overlooks the
Stowe valley. very interesting feature
Is portion where the trail follows n
ridge between convergins valleys For
two hundred yards the ridge IL Just wide
enough for the trail. with valleys several
hundred feet deep whose steep slopes are
forest-clad. This stretch should be named
"Al. Strait" that bridge as narrow as the
edge OF a sword over which the souls
Of the Faithful must pass to obtain
Paradise.
1t was only when the last steep pitch
In the trail was reached that the sound
OF running water ceased. The trail r-o-.c.
nnumerable brooks. and from the deeper
valleys came the murrnur Of laIRer
streams. This summer Is exceptional and
this pleasant feature is not so likely to
be remarked again. The trail Joins the
road to Stowe Just half n mile below the
summit. most useful contribution to
the long trail IN making the sr1ueglers'
Notch easily accessible.
THE NEBRASKA NOTCH TRAIL.
After dinner at the Summit House the
travellers started down the trail to Ne
braska Notch. This stretch OF the long
trail starts just beneath the Nose and
bears toward the cliffs on the east. a
mile south OF the Nose This course is
followed for about two miles, does some
winding and retracing to descend the
three high cliffs at the end OF the Fore
head. The trail. with the exception Of
the first half mile on the summit, is a
very dry trail AS a good piece of wood
craft the trail Ia a credit to the man who
located and made It for in addition to
being good trail the picturesque has
always been considered In one long
stretch under the clio on the east side
OF the mountain many interesting bits
are found. In one place where rocks
nave tumbled from tho cliff and formed
an arch. the trail Is carried through the
gateway.
The trail crosses back on the ridge and
travels south. Here a succession OF val
ieys are apt to make one believe that
Nebraska Notch has been reached but
the trail continues to lead up on the op-
posite side. At another point on the trail
view toward Cnderhill opens up and
here the trail turns to the sest dirsot,y
awey from the objective point Of this
party AZ another point tn trail for some
distance fo'owS we'll marked wood
ROAD, wmch might he mistaken for the
Notcn road' but safety lies In following
ths 'pAses'' which Tea one. sv,.~ !.