Ascent of Stark Mountain - North Peak on 2021-11-11| Others in Party: | UMOC: Isaac H.
Isaac G.
Andrew D.
Grace G.
Will C.
| | Date: | Thursday, November 11, 2021 | | Ascent Type: | Successful Summit Attained | | Peak: | Stark Mountain - North Peak | | Location: | USA-Vermont | | Elevation: | 3644 ft / 1110 m |
Ascent Trip ReportEntered 11/12/2021. Drove up from MA to VT Wednesday (11/10) night. Stashed a car at App Gap around 8:15pm then drove in a second to Lincoln Gap Road, the upper part of which closed for the winter back in October. Cement barriers blocked the road just past a red house before Forest Road 66. This is about where private inholdings in the National Forest end. We parked in front of the barrier and hiked the road about 1.2 miles to the Long Trail. The road reaches about a 20% grade. Once reaching the high point of the Gap, we hiked south on the Long Trail another 0.7 or so miles to Sunset Ledge. The trail is rocky at times but not steep or technical in good weather. Behind Sunset Ledge there are tent sites in the woods.
We began hiking at 7:30 Thursday morning and retraced our steps north back to Lincoln Gap. After Lincoln Gap, we ascended mostly gradually to Mount Abraham. The only steep section is just below the summit. The summit is exposed and has rare views of both the Adirondacks and the White Mountains. I could see Mount Marcy and snow-capped Mount Washington on either side of me. From there the Long Trail is a series of short ups and downs along a high, subalpine ridge, occasionally passing by ski lodges and ski lifts. Each one was different and fun to check out. The second major summit of the day was Mount Ellen. I almost passed by the summit without noticing it. It is wooded and the only views offered are from a cleared ski trail just below the summit. From there was a short descent to Stark Mountain, passing by Mad River ski resort. Then there was the longest descent of the day to App Gap. We made good time and arrived at App Gap at 4:30pm (before sunset). We crammed into the car and drove to Lincoln Gap to retrieve the other car. Then we stopped at The Mad Taco in Waitsfield before driving home. |
| Summary Total Data | | Route Conditions: | Road Hike, Maintained Trail, Scramble | | Gear Used: | Headlamp, Ski Poles, Tent Camp | | Weather: | Cool, Breezy, Clear
unlimited visibility, around 32 deg F, high clouds rolled in near end of day, | | Ascent Statistics | | Route: | Lincoln Gap Road, Long Trail | | Start Trailhead: | Lincoln Gap Road | | Descent Statistics | | Route: | Long Trail | | End Trailhead: | Appalachian Gap | Ascent Part of Trip: Lincoln Gap to App Gap 20211111 (1 nights total away from roads)
Complete Trip Sequence:
Total Trip Loss: 3335 ft / 1017 m |
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