The crest of Mt. Mansfield, which is Vermont's highest mountain, resembles the profile of a human face. The mountain's highest point is the Chin, at 4,395 feet. From the chin are promontories for the nose, forehead and even the Adam's Apple.
Like Camel's Hump, the views are 360 degrees around. On Saturday, from the Chin of Mt. Mansfield, we looked southwest to see the majestic double summit of Camel's Hump, the summit we climbed to on Friday, July 4th. Just as we did when on top of Camel's Hump, here on Mt. Mansfield, we could see Lake Champlain, the city of Burlington, and New York state's Adirondack Mountains.
Cantilever Rock off of the Sunset Ridge Trail is worth the side excursion. It's a truly amazing 30 foot rock monolith jutting from the face of a barren cliff (see photo). It's so massive and apparently precariously situated that I felt uncomfortable standing beneath it.
A warning -- don't descend via the Laura Cowles Trail! And don't rely on the map you purchase at Underhill State Park! The map leads you to believe that the grade for both the Sunset Ridge Trail and Laura Cowles Trail is the same, as the contour lines look nearly identical. Beware! While the Sunset Ridge Trail is rated as difficult, with rock scrambles and rough footing in many sections, the Laura Cowles Trail is extremely steep and FAR more difficult. It is truly a challenge to descend on the Laura Cowles Trail. If you want to do a loop to the Chin from Underhill State Park, ascend the Laura Cowles, and return via the Sunset Ridge Trail. Your knees will thank you.
7.0 miles (with side trip to Cantilever Rock), ~2,500' elevation gain
Summit: Mt. Mansfield (the Chin) = 4,395 feet
Route: Sunset Ridge Trail to the Chin; Laura Cowles Trail back to Underhill State Park lot
No comments:
Post a Comment