Hiking Camel’s Hump Mountain In February

This winter has been brutal in Vermont, with record cold that has made outdoor recreation hazardous, especially for those of us who like to climb mountains. I’ve had to cancel multiple group hikes up Killington Peak, a Vermont 4000-footer near Rutland, because subzero temperatures, high winds, and heavy snow have made venturing out too dangerous even for experienced and well-equipped winter hikers. These conditions have also put the kabosh on my solo climbs, bringing my progress toward gridding out the Vermont 4000-footers (climbing them each month of the year) to a standstill.

But when I spied a thaw in the weather this week, I cleared my calendar to go hike Camel’s Hump Mountain, a 4000-footer conveniently located about a 15-minute drive from my home. It was the perfect antidote for the winter blues, with clear blue skies and a light northerly breeze.

With valley temperatures forecast in the low 30’s, I decided it would be prudent to carry snowshoes on this hike, even if they just went for a ride. When the snow gets soft in warmer weather, it can turn into mashed potatoes, making it difficult to walk. But there’s also the courtesy factor: you don’t want to be the guy making dangerous postholes on the trail that other hikers can fall into and twist an ankle.

The tail was solidly packed down low, so I put on a pair of Hillsound Trail Crampons for traction and wore them for most of the hike. On the last 1000′ of elevation gain, the snow was much less consolidated because the terrain is more exposed. Snow, blown by the wind and falling off the trees overhead, covers the trail, providing somewhat less traction, but enough that spikes were still warranted. This section of the climb is also quite steep, and the temperature dropped noticeably as I gained elevation.

While Camel’s Hump is a popular climb, I only saw two people coming down from the summit as I climbed, and another five coming up the trail as I descended. True, it was mid-week, but there are a lot fewer people climbing the 4000-footers in Vermont than there are in the New Hampshire’s White Mountains, so it pays to be extra cautious when gearing up for a winter hike here. If you have an accident, you need to be able to fend for yourself until help crosses your path, or is summoned, which may be a while.

There are three parts to every Camel’s Hump ascent. The first 1000 feet of elevation is easy, while the second 1000 feet is quite steep. At the end of part two, you come to a large open clearing at the junction of the Burrows Trail, the Monroe Trail, and the Long Trail with a clear view of the sky overhead. From here, it’s a short walk to the summit, passing through snow-burdened Krumholz until you arrive at the summit ledges. The summit is fully exposed to the elements and often quite cold and windy, even in sunny weather.

When I reached the summit, I drank in the views. Mansfield, the highest peak in Vermont, positively glowed to the north. The snow stake on the mountain measures 79″ so far this year, compared to an average of 62″. The entire Worcester Range, which I have yet to hike, beckoned from the northeast, while Mts Abrahm and Ellen and the Long Trail ridgeline were clearly visible to the south. It was uplifting to look at them, dream of future hikes, and remember past ones.

The wind was out of the north and stung my face as I headed toward the krumholz and the past down. I hunkered down and was soon back under cover, ready for the hike down and back to the business of life after my three-hour sojourn in the sky.