One month in the Northeast...what do you suggest?

[Rolo]

I thru hiked GA-PA a few years back before joining Peace Corps and now I am back with no job and nothing but some time. I want to hit the trail again for a month so I am looking for a good suggested hike anywhere from NJ to ME.

I will have to start off at about 10-12 miles but should increase to 15 midway just to give an idea. I also like town time if the place is cool so I am looking at perhaps 6 or 7 days in town and about 3 weeks hiking.

Any suggestions for a sweet stretch of trail and nice New England towns to check out?

No it's not a lot of time but I gotta get in what I can fit in! Thanks in advance.

[hikerboy57]

you can do maine in amonth. 297 mi from katahdin to gorham, NH.
what time are you planning on going?

[Rolo]

Ah yea, that is a good question that should have been stated. I am looking at probably the month of September not to mention I will have my dog as well so places like the Whites in NH might be hard for me.

Before I left the trail I took a train up to ME and hiked the 100 mile wilderness to Katahdin (which was awesome) so perhaps I could start in Monson and head south? I just didn't know if that stretch was nicer than say Mass to southern maine.

[Cookerhiker]

You could also consider Vermont's Long Trail, at 272 miles just the right length for your timeframe. Rewards on the LT include challenging mountains, picturesque lakes in which to swim, views of Lake Champlain (nowhere on the AT do you have a 50+ mile stretch with continuous views of a large body of water), reasonable diversity of forest zones with deciduous, evergreen, and alpine areas. Give it a try!

[hikerboy57]

mahoosucs in ME are a bit rough for the pup, but you could either SOBO to grsfton notch or NOBO from grafton notch to K.

[johnnybgood]

Start September 13th atop Katahdin and hike to Gorham,NH.
Early treat would be getting a hitch from Abol Bridge to the Trails End Festival in Millinocket , Sept 14th-16th.

www.trailsendfestival.org/

[Rolo]

Already covered katahdin south to monson through 100 mile wilderness so I would like to see something else.

[hikerboy57]

long trail in VT.

[peakbagger]

Long Trail in Vt is your best fit, there are several nice towns along the trail. Farily easy hitches (except for the trail you need to take at the North end).

[DavidNH]

With a month at your disposal to hike, the Long Trail would be a perfect fit time wise. It would be rather unkind to your pet to bring him/her on the northern half of the LT as the terrain is very very rugged.

as for Appalachian Trail with a month in September, you might consider starting at Gorham, NH and hiking SOUTHBOUND thru New Hampshire and VT to Williamstown, Mass. I suggest southbound so you can get the high elevation above tree line hiking done earlier in the month to have less of a chance of encountering bad (snowy/icy) weather. Winter comes on real fast in the Presidentials. May not happen till Columbus Day weekend, but it could pay a visit anytime in September.

David

[peakbagger]

I cant recommend the whites for a dog see this recent post about Dogs getting cut up pads in the whites. Several of the folks responding hike with their dogs every weekend and even those dogs get hurt

http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthrea...dog-owner-(me)

[Kerosene]

Another suggestion to check out the Long Trail. The northern LT is pretty rugged in spots, so if you're concerned about your dog then you might want to consider starting at Killington and hiking south to about the Hudson River (or go NOBO).

[Driver8]

I would recommend doing Salisbury, CT to Moosilauke or vice versa. You would bag one of the awesomest Whites and could descend or ascend it on the north end of your hike via the Gorge Brook Trail to the lodge owned and maintained by Dartmouth on the east side - the trail is pretty mellow and would not be hard on your dog. You'd have great towns to choose from along the way - Salisbury, Great Barrington, Williamstown, Manchester, Rutland, Hanover - and the trail would afford great views from Bear, Everett and Race, Greylock, Glastenbury, Stratton, Bromley, Killington and Moosilauke, the last of which would briefly get you above treeline.

If you do Moosilauke, I highly recommend its South Peak, which is accessible via a 0.2 mile spur trail which departs from the A.T. (Glencliff Trail) a few steps south of the junction with the Moosilauke Carriage Road. South Peak affords extraordinary views of the main summit and of ravines to the west of the mountain, as well as, on a clear day, a neat view of Mt. Washington, barely peeking around the East Ridge of Moosilauke.

The Dartmouth Outing Club appears to be pretty welcoming and offers food and lodging at their facility for very reasonable prices and work-for-stay, as well. This is a link to their Moosilauke page: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~doc/moosilauke/.

Hanover looks to be a pretty sweet town, I stopped in there over the weekend on a trip to the Whites. Just got a small taste of it, but liked what I saw. A place to bring spending money, for sure, but it looked like you could have a good time there - lots of nice restaurants, bars and shops, a picture-postcard New England small college town. It's just a mile and change east of I-91, across the border from Norwich, VT.

[Smooth & Wasabi]

September is a beautiful time to be here. As far as the dog is concerned it depends on him or her. My dogs do pretty well on most terrain (sometimes with a little help). The most spectacular sections are definately ME, NH, and northern VT. Are you trying to stay on the AT? If so you might consider Monson to Grafton Notch. If you have more time and are concerned abouth Mahoosuc notch you should be able to arrange a shuttle around it. I have done most of that with my dogs (except Rangely to Stratton so others might have insight) and they did well.

[Driver8]

PS: Here's a sampler of views from the South Peak:

Northwest into Tunnel Brook Ravine and across to Mt. Clough:
2012-05-05 17.53.32.jpg
Eastward from the prior photo to a western shoulder of the Mountain:

2012-05-05 17.53.37.jpg

The Middle Peak and the Summit:

2012-05-05 17.53.41.jpg

The summit and the east ridge, with Mt. Washington, fainly, peering around the corner at right:

2012-05-05 17.53.44.jpg

[Mags]

Another vote for the LT. Northern VT is a bit less used than the nearby Whites...and a New England Fall would be awesome.

[RED-DOG]

Do the Mid-Atlantic states Mass south to Delaware water gap or go as far as you can, in september the temps should be alot cooler,and easier on your dog, besides you will be able to do the Deli to Deli hike which is awsome. Happy hiking RED-DOG.

[Rolo]

Awesome info everyone! Whiteblaze rocks.

[Tom Murphy]

LT definately