View Full Version : Vt in August?
woodsman
02-12-2013, 13:01
What type of weather would one expect in Vt during the middle of August? Going to plan and do all of Vt in August.:sun
Kerosene
02-12-2013, 13:24
I'd be prepared for anything from the high 90's to the high 20's. When I did a SOBO thru-hike in August '79 (before global warming was the rage) it was over 100 degrees atop Little Jay Peak in early August. The temperature dropped below freezing with snow near Smugglers Notch and stayed overly cool for the rest of the hike. I still remember crawling into frozen clothes many mornings and carrying along the cotton sweatshirt I found in a shelter to supplement my gear just enough.
My guess is that you may not encounter those extremes this year, but I would still be prepared for cold, rainy days as you near September, and the mountains are high enough that a 20-degree bag won't be appreciated.
I was on the Long Trail / Appalachian Trail this past August 13-17th. We had very mild temps, I was prepared for varying tempetures but nights were in the 50s and days probably as high as the low 80s. It was humid and the Green Tunnel was just that dark and wet with lots of puddles, roots and mud. Over alll you could get away with early fall gear. It rained the night before I went on our 5 day hike and it rained (sputtered) on the end of our last day. Ending at The Inn at the Long Trail was very nice:sun We got lucky with 5 days of sun.
Slo-go'en
02-12-2013, 13:42
When I did the LT this last August, (SOBO) is was really hot at the start of the month and starting to get chilly enough at the end to have to start zipping up the sleeping bag. Most of the rain I had came at night or late in the day. I only had one day of all day drizzle.
Of course, the weather next August will be completely different. If your going NOBO as most do, expect it to get chilly towards the end of the month, low 40's, high 30's in the mornings at times. For the most part it will be pleasent.
Good luck with trying to anticipate New England weather, Woodsman. I live in New England and thought the last two weeks of August would be perfect for a Vermont section hike. Ha! The year I hiked, the first week was temps in the 50s and 60s with rain, rain, and more rain. The trail turned into a swamp.
peakbagger
02-12-2013, 14:59
Typically hot and muggy with chance of afternoon thundershowers. Its highly unlikely to get snowed on but sometimes an approaching thuderstrom will throw some hail at you.
Good luck with trying to anticipate New England weather, Woodsman.
Agree, you never know what you will get up here...
I hear Vermont is perfect anytime of the day or year! :cool:
seriously, expect just about what everyone else has already said ;) pretty cold just recently though
my commute this am over Sheffield Heights
<a href="http://s643.photobucket.com/albums/uu159/seamster/?action=view&current=P21100081280x640.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i643.photobucket.com/albums/uu159/seamster/th_P21100081280x640.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" ></a>
sorry the photo wimped out
http://i643.photobucket.com/albums/uu159/seamster/P21100081280x640.jpg
Cookerhiker
02-12-2013, 22:24
It sounds like you're staying on the AT and not venturing to the parts of the LT further north.
While the weather can vary wildly as other posters have stated, I'd expect warm days and cool nights. I hiked the entire LT (including the AT portion) from mid-August to mid-September (http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?trailname=6248) with my 45 degree bag the entire hike. Maybe only one night was cold enough to warrant a warmer bag.
Were I hiking in your timeframe, I'd bring a light fleece sweater, rain jacket, rain pants, and extra hiking shirt.
If you don't like the weather in New England, wait a minute.
You asked about weather and the answers here are right on the mark.
Also, be advised mid August will find the trail in Vermont quite busy. That is peak AT thruhiker season. It is also the start when universities have their orientation hikes, dozens maybe hundreds of freshmen getting to learn how to get along with others. Kind of entertaining really.