| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Baby Stark Mountain, Molly Stark Mountain, Burnt Rock Mountain, Mt. Ethan Allen, Camel's Hump, VT |
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 | Trails: |
Long Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, August 29, 2026 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parking was 3/4 full at Appalachian Gap upon my 6:15 AM arrival. Availability was similar when I got back a bit after 5:00 PM. I suspect this was a busy weekend for section hikers (or shorter backpacking trips). |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
No major crossings at this time. Any flowing water required one or two easy steps on rocks at most. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
This section of the Long Trail is quite rugged, but maintenance is excellent. There were several small stepovers (nothing exceeding calf height), but nothing that needed walkarounds or gymnastic maneuvers. White blazes were abundant- even if you may not be thrilled with the terrain those blazes indicate you need to follow. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Dogs would have to be comfortable with a few challenging scrambles along with strenuous trail. Water sources were limited, except in close proximity to the shelters. |
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 | Bugs: |
Very few flying insects. Didn't need repellent, which was a fantastic change of pace. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
This was a round-trip from Appalachian Gap to Camel's Hump, following a notoriously difficult segment of the Long Trail in both directions. I get the sense there is always at least some mud in vulnerable sections, but conditions were excellent overall. My feet were dry almost the entire hike, and unavoidable mud was rare, with essentially zero standing water. I would recommend avoiding this route (if possible) after recent rain. Wet rock slabs in open areas (such as the northbound ascents of Burnt Rock and Camel's Hump) could be quite hazardous, and the descents would be even worse. A fair bit of the scrambling is in the woods, and would be very tedious (with much more fall potential) after or during rain. These areas may take days to dry out because of the forest cover, but had very good grip on 08/29. Views from Burnt Rock Mountain and Camel's Hump were spectacular, and there were a few other nice outlooks as well. I saw plenty of other friendly hikers, particularly around Burnt Rock and the segment from Wind Gap to Camel's Hump. The route was about 25.0 miles overall, with 8,100' elevation gain. Full details on Unnecessary Climb! |
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 | Name: |
Jason |
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 | E-Mail: |
kurlando7@hotmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2026-09-03 |
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 | Link: |
 https://unnecessaryclimb.wordpress.com/appalachian-gap-to-camels-hump/ |
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Disclaimer: Reports are not verified - conditions may vary. Use at own risk. Always be prepared when hiking. Observe all signs. Trail conditions reports are not substitutes for weather reports or common sense. |
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