My long trail top 10 highlights

[Yukon]

I haven't done an End-to-End yet, but have hiked about 75 miles of the southern section. Always love being up on Glastenbury. And hanging the hammock at Stratton pond is awesome

[StubbleJumper]

1) A zero day in Manchester Centre
2) View from Bromley
3) Fire tower on Stratton
4) The Secret Shelter (Swansong)
5) The Inn at Long Trail
6) Breakfast on Mt Horrid
7) Sunset at Butler Lodge
8) Snack break at Madonna Peak
9) Sunrise at Whiteface shelter
10) Delicious spring water at Goddard Shelter

Am I really limited to a top-ten? I could probably come up with a top-100. I want to go hike it all again!

[stranger]

Hey is that concrete boxed spring still there in Smugglers Notch? I remember dipping my Nalgene into that super deep pool of water and just guzzling it all down, best spring I've ever seen, right on the road.

[ckwolf]

My home sweet home, dear as memories of my grandmother and first four legged furry friend and teacher:
*the ridgeline between Lincoln Gap and App Gap
*meditation with tree near camp at Lincoln Gap
*roasting apples with dad in snow at Middlebury Gap
*Andron charging up to summit at Mt Abe to meet the Thunder god with a prybar
*Running down the trail from Mt Abe to beer and showers
*blackberries and black bears on the way to Mansfield
*a raven and hawk playing in the wind at Adam's Apple
* swimming with mother beaver at Sterling Pond
*midsummer night at Goddard with rabbits, skunks, porcupines, and deer in moonlight
*covered with little blue butterflies licking salt off hiker body near Killington
*smacked in forehead by hummingbird at Belvedere.
Ahhh, good memories

[Papa D]

1) A zero day in Manchester Centre
2) View from Bromley
3) Fire tower on Stratton
4) The Secret Shelter (Swansong)
5) The Inn at Long Trail
6) Breakfast on Mt Horrid
7) Sunset at Butler Lodge
8) Snack break at Madonna Peak
9) Sunrise at Whiteface shelter
10) Delicious spring water at Goddard Shelter

Am I really limited to a top-ten? I could probably come up with a top-100. I want to go hike it all again!

yep - i came up with about 30 before I realized that I was the OP and had said "top-ten" - it's such a good fun spirited and challenging hike - and it can be done in about 3 weeks - really perfect in a lot of ways

[Hawkwind61]

Just wanted to take a moment to thank all of you. Your Top 10 Lists are excellent! I've been getting 'antsy' for July to 'get here' as it is! LOL!

[Canute600]

Just saw this post now and wanted to add my list:

1) All the friends that joined me for my hike and the great folks I met along the way!
2) Hiking to the southern terminous of the LT from North Adams, reaching that sign and realizing that this dream was becoming a reality!
3) Pitcher plants and beaver dams
4) Getting me trail name (Gravity) at the Glastenbury Mountain firetower
5) Making my first town stop and recharging at The Green Mountain House; seriously, Jeff is amazing
6) Crossing the suspension bridge (Big Branch?) and coming across a trail crew - the first words out of their mouths are: "Do you know any good jokes?" (I love telling jokes)
7) Meeting Swansong on the trail and then getting a bowl of cherries and a Long Trail Ale at the "Secret Shelter"
8) Free beers from former thru-hikers at the Inn at Long Trail while watching/learning about Rugby from some current thru-hikers
9) The hushed forest between Willard Gap and Lincoln Gap, owing in part to the steady (but mostly gentle) rain for that stretch of my hike
10) The magical ridgewalk from Mt. Abraham to Mt. Ellen
11) Seeing Lake Champlain for the first time (from Mt. Grant maybe?)
12) Having the summit of Camel's Hump (and periodic views through windows in the passing clouds) all to myself for 5 minutes
13) Sheltering from a nasty rainstorm at Taft Lodge
14) A LT thru-hiker convergence at the Belvedere Mountain firetower
15) A comically over-capacity shelter at Tillotson Camp, featuring some mouse acrobatics at night as well!
16) Hanging out with a mouse for 15 minutes near the summit of Haystack Mountain
17) Hearing Aerosmith's "Dream On" at the summit of cloud-shrouded Jay Peak
18) Walking the last 1/2 mile to Journey's End solo and soaking in the moment at the end of the hike
19) A wonderful father-daughter pair that drove three stinky hikers all the way from Journey's End to Johnson (regretfully I forgot to get their address to mail them a thank you)
20) A midnight dinner stop on the drive home - stacks of pancakes never tasted so good

I couldn't limit myself to just 10 - hope y'all don't mind!