“I’m glad I don’t have to down climb this.”

Peak #1 of the New England Six Pack of Peaks Challenge, 9-29-2025

Today, I set out to summit the highest peak in Vermont, my 8^th of the 50 states high points and my first peak of the New England Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge via the Mount Mansfield Loop Trail.

Of course, it started with another early morning wakeup call and then a 2-hour drive to the trailhead. I arrived there at about 6am and started my hike at about 6:15am. My original plan was to hike the lollipop loop clockwise. However, on the recommendation of a local hiker the day before, I decided to go counterclockwise. That turned out to be a good choice.

Miles 1 & 2 were a mix of trail and road walking with a combined elevation gain of about 860 feet, 550 of that coming on the first mile. Mile 3 had the biggest gain at 875 feet and was also the beginning of class 2 and 3 rock climbing as well as doing a lot of steep flat rock traversing. I remember thinking to myself, “I’m glad I don’t have to down climb this.” It’s a doable down climb, but it would have been a careful one with a few precarious spots. Most of mile 4 was the same until I reached the ridgeline. Then it was a roller coaster on trail traversing and rock climbing until the final push to the summit. I had a total of 5.4 miles up and across with a total elevation gain to the summit of 3,048 feet.

Coming down was much easier than the ascent. I recorded about 2.79 miles down and it didn’t feel nearly as steep with only class 1 and 2 rock climbing.

I finished my hike with a total of 8.19 miles and 3,089 feet in total elevation gain. This was peak #1 of my New England Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge and my 8^th of the state high points.