Before we go
Rob: We began our adventure like most adventures begin, packing gear. I repeated my usual routine of going through gear and taking out all the essentials to any outdoor activity. On this specific trip we would mainly be hiking and possibly snowboarding around Mount Mansfield in Stowe, VT.
Rob: The weather in the Northeast can vary quite extremely when you drive 5 hours north so we made sure to pack for winter conditions. Being a big believer in over packing when it comes to outdoor activities, I packed gloves, beanies, thick wool socks, puffy jackets, base layers, mid layers, and outer layers. A great way to pack for any outdoor adventure is to hope for the best and plan for the worst.
Natalie: When Rob asked me to join him on a trip to Northern Vermont the first thought that went through my mind was “I am not prepared for this.” The gear and terrain was unknown to me, but my mind was set on new experiences, finding adventure, and finding out what mountain adventure was really about.
I had not ventured much outside of the Tri-State and grew up with the mentality “winter means it’s time to hibernate.” So, naturally I was worried about being cold and uncomfortable, but the excitement of going somewhere new and trying things outside my comfort zone pushed me past those worries.
Rob put my mind at ease by explaining what was needed and what to expect for this kind of trip. After conversing with him, I made a list consisting of things to bring, gear to buy, and snacks to eat. I already knew a five-hour car ride required a variety of snacks.
Getting there
Rob: Our journey began on a mild autumn day; perfect weather for driving north. We drove from Northern New Jersey to Stowe, Vermont.
“If you are interested in taking this trip and are departing from North Jersey then check out my Additions to the Trip section at the bottom of this page for alternative routes.”
Natalie: It was a clear day as we drove up Interstate 87. Off the exit, the Adirondack Mountains spanned for miles in every direction around us as we continued east. The mountains in the far distance behind miles of flat farmland made me feel star stuck by their silent beauty.
The excitement of hiking a mountain with alpine grew on me as I looked at the white peaks in the Adirondacks. Smiling from ear to ear I continued to gaze out the window with enjoyment as Rob hyped up the Burlington Gear Exchange in Burlington, Vermont.
Burlington Pit Stop
Rob: Along the drive, we stopped in Burlington, Vermont. It is a beautiful relaxed small city filled with local drinks and historic sites that are worth a visit. Head over there on a Sunday and parking is free on the streets and in the garages. However, we were not there for the many local craft beers or to take in the sites.
Our destination was the Outdoor Gear Exchange where you can purchase anything you might need and/or forgot to pack for any kind of adventure. A nice feature about this place is that people can bring in their unwanted gear/clothing to possibly receive store credit for it.
Natalie: The Gear Exchange has a similar set up like a Marshals or TJ Max. For someone who needs lots of gear this place is heaven. Wide eyed I sifted through each individual item until Rob snapped me back to reality and took me upstairs to get the items I required for our adventure.
Rob: Natalie was in need of a warm puffy jacket, crampons, and winter gaiters. Having purchased these items for myself in the past, I was able to direct her towards the better companies to go for.
Natalie: Rob has spent a great deal of time on Mount Mansfield in all types of weather. His experience outside, naturally, helps him know what gear is needed for all kinds of conditions. Through years of buying gear he learned that as a die-hard adventurer spending more money on quality items that last a long time is worth the extra cost in the long run.
The first item on my list was a down puffy jacket. He recommended the Rab Women’s Microlight Alpine Jacket and explained why it is important to try gear on as if you were using it outside. I was trying one on in the clearance section but it was just a little too small over two other technical layers.
We probably spent at least fifteen minutes discussing if the cost of comfort and performance is worth the discounted price of the jacket. I decided my comfort and confidence in the jacket is worth more than the $100 discount.
Next we moved on to get the Grivel G-10 New-Classic Crampons, and the Outdoor Research Women’s Crocodile Gaiters. Stoked to use the gear the following day, I left the gear exchange with a smile on my face and tears in my wallet.
Rob: After our Burlington pit-spot we headed back on the road for a short and scenic thirty-minute drive to the Stowe/Waterbury exit. Having booked a couple nights at Topnotch Resort, we traveled straight there to freshen up before dinner.
The night before an adventure
Natalie: We arrived at Top Notch Resort with Rob stating a seemingly truthful saying, “It’s always snowing in Stowe.” Before leaving for dinner we prepared our packs for the next day. We reviewed each item, its use, and where it is in the pack.
Rob: For those of you that have trouble getting out in the morning:
“I recommend packing your bag and laying your clothing out the night before an adventure. It makes for a simple and quick start while you’re waking up.”
After packing, we went out to Doc Ponds. It is a small bar/restaurants nearby the center of town with great food.
“I recommend an order of Blue Balls for an appetizer and a medium rare burger with homemade chips and dip.”
Natalie: After a delectable dinner at Doc Ponds we picked up a bottle of red wine to have back at the resort. It felt like a magical evening as we sipped wine in a hot tub with snow falling, laughing the night away.
Our Adventure
Natalie: “The heart is a bloom” started playing at 5:30 AM and we continued to wake up to “It’s a Beautiful Day” by U2. With snow falling when we woke up, this song echoing in my head kept me hopeful that the clouds would clear around the summit.
Rob: I ran the complimentary Keurig for coffee as we dressed and we were out before the sun. After a five-minute drive from the resort to the trailhead we tossed on our packs and began hiking.
Natalie: Minutes after we started hiking up Mountain Rd (Route 108) towards the Long Trail South, my hands were chilled from the underestimated freezing air. Wasting no time, I pulled on my gloves and warmed them inside my jacket pockets.
Rob: The weather report for Stowe Mountain Resort read a high of 15 degrees and sunny for the day. At the base of Mt. Mansfield the sun was nowhere to be seen. Clouds covered the mountain and snow was still falling.
Natalie: I felt like I was in a winter wonderland with a newfound love for snow. The sun’s morning rays shined through the trees and made the flurries look like falling glitter specs. It was a cool feeling breaking trail in the woods blanketed in snow.
Rob: Our plan was to do a loop hike following the Long Trail south to Toll Road along Mansfield’s ridge and down Sunrise ski trail.
As we hiked on, jacket vents were opened and layers were taken off. For those of you that are just getting into hiking:
“When you move at a steady pace in cold weather it feels much warmer than the actual temperature. My recommendation for cold weather hiking is to pack extra mid layers but start moving with fewer layers on. This will help you avoid unnecessary stops to cool down by taking layers off. This is important when you only have a short window of good weather to get where you’re going.”
Natalie: Not long into our hike I started to sweat. I took off my puffy jacket. To better ventilate I unzipped my hard shell halfway and opened all of the vents.
While we hiked the incline constantly grew and I was still hot. Off came the heavy gloves, the buffs, and hat. I unzipped my mid-layer and shell. This adventure was my first hands-on lesson of layering and how personally dealing with it makes all the difference.
Rob: Step by step as we walked up the Long Trail the snow surrounding us grew thicker. The light dusting that was once blanketing the trail was now three to four inches of fresh snow.
Natalie: As we reached a higher altitude the air got colder and the wind blew stronger. I found myself putting back on all the layers I had taken off. Ice was increasing on the trail which required us to stop and put on our crampons. We tucked in between some tall pine trees right off the trail to avoid the blistering wind chill and laced our crampons on.
Natalie: As we continued on, the scent of a fresh fire was in the air. Rob mentioned there must be hikers at Taft Lodge and we were nearby.
Rob: Our pace increased with the thought of reaching the summit and we were soon at Taft Lodge. While approaching the four-walled shelter we met a young couple fresh out of their sleeping bags and attempting to warm themselves by starting a fire. We soon left the shelter after a brief conversation and with the hopes of clear skies on Mt. Mansfield’s summit.
Natalie: The scenery changed as we hiked towards the summit. The trees lining the trail grew smaller in size but wider with ice. We became more exposed to the wind from less tree coverage and put on our hoods. “You want my goggles?”, Rob shouted through the wind while putting on his sunglasses. I declined.
Rob: As we climbed up Mt. Mansfield’s chin the wind was in full force as it rushed past us. Ice and snow covered most of the rocks. With glove covered hands we grabbed small holds on the available rock and stabbed our crampons into the ice.
I stopped every so often as we scrambled up the ice and rock to make sure Natalie was comfortable enough to continue on. Just before our last scramble to the summit I noticed frost on Natalie’s eyelashes due to the high winds and lack of eye cover. “Uh Robbie, I think I could use those goggles now,” she said, while giggling after noticing frozen tears forming on her face.
Natalie: My eyes were tearing from the wind which prevented me from seeing clearly and then they froze on my eyelashes making them heavy. Rob kindly held back a, “I told you so,” while he took out his goggles and planted them on my head.
Moments later we reached the last scramble. Looking over the edge, I felt a rush of heat run through my body even though the wind chill brought the temperature down below 0º F.
When I looked up to where I was supposed to go, I saw the rock meet the sky. I was nervous about climbing rock and ice with gloves and crampons, so I looked back at Rob who was smiling at me. “There’s no turning back now. It’s more dangerous to go down than up”, he shouted. Which looking back wasn’t really reassuring at all.
I took a deep breath and began going up after I found decent rock holds. Trying to find balance on sharp uneven rock with only eight spikes on the bottom of my foot was not easy. When I thought I had a good foot my weight would shift causing me to teeter.
Again the rush of heat flowed through my body and I felt more alive than ever. I calculated each step thereafter and once on the peak I felt such relief being on flat ground again.
Natalie: We made it over the Chin and accomplished our goal – we reached the summit. It was a defining moment for me. After touching the geological marker my life was never the same again. My adventure partner and I quickly celebrated then continued down the ridge to get out of the roaring wind.
Natalie: The sky was clear as I gazed out at the panoramic landscape in front of us and continued to hike the ridge. The view of that ridge dividing the clouds reinforced my newfound epiphany of how I wanted to live and experience this beautiful world. Things came full circle as Rob pointed out geographical areas of where we started, where we went and where we were going.
Rob: While hiking along the ridge we made plans to go to the places we saw and spoke about new activities to try. Not before long, we were on the toll road walking down towards the Four-Runner Quad ski lift.
The ski season had not yet begun but we passed multiple groups of skiers skinning up and making turns down along the Sunrise ski trail. It was a great time of year to be skinning and skiing because the mountain had been making snow in preparation for the quickly arriving ski season. Skinning up and riding down is a hobby of mine and one I wanted Natalie to try.
Natalie: Upon reaching the car in the early afternoon we agreed our day wasn’t over. We grabbed our snowboards and Rob gave me my first, very basic, snowboarding lesson at the bottom of the mountain.
Natalie: After finishing the day with a picture of us we left the mountain heading for a well-deserved lunch. The day left a lasting impression on me. I had a newfound love for winter and felt eager for future experiences like this one.
Additions to The Trip
The Drive – Starting your trip in Northern New Jersey or along Interstate 87. There are many routes that will get you to northern Vermont and each one is weather dependent. Here are my two favorite routes to take.
Clear Sky Weather
North on Interstate 87 is a must but after passing Albany I prefer to stay on until exit 28 while your GPS will tell you to take exit 20 at Lake George.
Take Exit 28 on a nice day and you have a beautiful drive through the scenic Adirondacks.
This route will take you into a world of rural beauty where you better have enough gas when getting off the exit to go through the park.
Keep that GPS on because you are likely to go into a no service zone shortly after exiting.
Like to trout fish? Stop along the way whenever you see a stream. There are plenty of trout for the taking. That is if you have a fishing license.
I only recommend this route if the weather is nice due to less maintained winding roads in higher mountain elevation.
Rainy/Snowy Weather
Follow the GPS for the route off exit 20 on interstate 87, which is more ideal for bad weather driving because the roads are mainly straight and lower in elevation.
You can still get a view if you do take exit 20, go towards 22a and head onto route 7.
Here you will get a gorgeous view of both the Adirondack Mountains to the west and the Green Mountains to the east, along with the gorgeous Lake Champlain (this view is also seen when taking exit 28).
Safe travels and #GetOffYourPhoneAndDoSomething
The Mountains are waiting…