Section Hikers Backpacking Blog Hiking and Backpacking for Beginners and Experts 
I am a Long Trail Mentor for the Green Mountain Club and am happy to give you advice about how to hike the Long Trail or what to expect. Thru-hiking or section hiking the Long Trail is a life-changing experience.
Overview and How To
My Long Trail Journal
- Long Trail Southern Terminus to Rt 9. Northbound: October 11-12, 2008. Solo.
- Rt 9 to Rt 11/30. Northbound: May 23-26, 2008, NY/NJ AMC Trip.
- Clarendon Gorge to Rt. 11/30. Southbound, June 6-7, 2008, Solo.
- Clarendon Gorge to Middlebury Gap: Northbound, June 26-29, 2008, Solo.
- Middlebury Gap to Appalachian Gap: Northbound, July 18-20, 2008, Solo.
- Jonesville to Appalachian Gap: Southbound, August 1-2, 2008, Solo.
- Jonesville to Johnson, Northbound, August 22-24, 2008, Solo.
- Journey’s End to Johnson: Southbound: September 11-14, 2008, Solo.
Recommended Guides and Maps
- The Long Trail End to Ender’s Guide: Helpful Hints and Information
- Green Mountain Club Long Trail Guide
- The Long Trail Waterproof Hiking Map
Long Trail Planning Resources
SectionHiker Gear Lists
- Long Trail Backpacking Gear List: Section 3
- Gear List: Long Trail Section Two
- Long Trail Gear List: Section One
- Long Trail Gear List: Section 4
- Long Trail Gear List: Section Six
Health Advice
- Blister Prevention and Treatment for Hikers
- Ticks, Lyme, and Permethrin
- Chemical Free Insect-Bite Prevention
- Hydropel: Move Over Moleskin
- Lightning Storm Safety for Backpackers
- Bodyglide: Skin Chafing Prevention
- Treating your Clothes with Permethrin
- Zinc Oxide: A First Aid Kit Essential
Long Trail History
Most Popular Searches
- long trail
- the long trail
- long trail map
Hi!
I’m hoping to hike from Mt Mansfield to camels hump this summer. Can you steer me towards a good map that will help me know the distance and how long it might take me?
Thank you,
Denise
How about the maps listed above?
Good morning,
If you had just 7 days to hike, which portion of the long trail would you choose?
The north part.
Hello Philip!
I am planning to section much of the LT this summer in preparation for anther hike in CA this September. I live and work in Burlington and will be hiking pretty much every weekend.
I’ve already done the AT section and so will be focusing on the northern part of the trail.
Before I spend hours pouring over my guidebook, do you have any resources about weekend hiking?
Thank you!
Myla
not really. good luck with the shuttles.
Thank you for your reply. I am not worried about shuttles. The plan is to drop a car off and have my partner drive me to my starting point. That is the perk of being local :-)
Phillip,
We are section hiking the Long Trail. We want to do Brandon Gap to Appalachian Gap parking lot this July, 2019. We are having so much trouble finding someone to pick us up at Appalachian Gap and take us back down to Inn at Long Trail where we are going to stay after. We are coming from New Jersey and have decided we will just have to drive 61/2 hours with two cars. Everywhere we call on GMC list is either disconnected or out of business. Is there an actual lot to park a car at Appalachian Gap? We would be leaving it there for 5 days. Any ideas would be appreciated. We used to have a pickup guy but its been two years since we used him and he hasnt responded.
I really can’t remember. Try contacting one of the long trail Facebook group. They can probably answer your questions.
Hi Philip –
Our 17-year old daughter is an experienced hiker, but has always hiked with at least one friend.
She wants to hike one to two weeks of the Long Trail this summer.
Is there a portion that would be safest, and have the most other hikers?
Do you think we should tell her that she needs to find a friend to hike with?
Will she find others on the trail that she will be able to hike with?
The southern section from North Adams up to where the AT turns east to NH. It will be crawling with people. This is the part that coincides with the AT. You know your daughter, I don’t. Hiking with someone else is a real pain in the ass though. Especially on a long distance trail.
Is there a place to find errata from the Green Mountain Club publications? I’ve found a couple of things in the LT Guide (2017) that really don’t seem right, and I’m curious whether someone is keeping track of such things.
Ask the GMC.
A friend and I would like to do an overnight in a shelter on the LT. Ideally around the Breadloaf Wildnerness (for the beauty, maybe you know of an equally beautiful trail), ideally with a summit and view. Approx 5 up and 5 miles back, can do out and back or two cars. What would you recommend? Thank you Philip.
Sounds god. Either way. Go for it.
Sorry, wasnt clear with my question..which trailhead and shelter would be best to accomplish this? Thanks so much.
Get a map. I insist. That will tell you everything you need to now and hopefully keep you from getting lost. Don’t leave home without it.