In my last semester living in Vermont, I made the untimely decision to earn my end-to-ender's Long Trail patch. I've done about a third of the trail, and plan to knock out small sections after class this fall. For my first hike towards the now-active goal, my friend Emily joined me for a post-class hike up to Butler Lodge!
While I'd been up the Butler Lodge trail a few years prior, we only did an out and back. So in the hopes of not doing much elevation but getting a view for Emily, I made a Long Trail loop out of Butler Lodge, the segment over Twin Brooks Tenting Area, and down Nebraska Notch Trail.
From the Stevensville Trailhead in Underhill, we rose steadily with a gentle breeze and light sunshine through the trees. Our pace was enough to have labored breath, but not so much that we didn't talk through the entire uphill. We only saw one other party on the uphill, highlighting the joys of Stevensville trailhead as opposed to Underhill State Park- which was mobbed as usual when I visited the day after to lead a center hike.
Butler Lodge Trail is fairly wide for much of its run, only crosses small streams, and the single slab is met with a well-placed ladder. The construction, maintenance, and general grades of the trail make it an any-season delight with a beautiful payout.
At the lodge, the caretaker was not there, but her belongings were in place to suggest she was nearby. There are four bunks in the lodge, but my favorite part of the structure is the red details on the outside, tracing boldly over the rugged wood exterior. From the porch, one can look straight to Hedgehog Hill and up to the likes of Maple Ridge on Mansfield. Turning upwards is always a surprise here because even though you don't feel like you are near the top, it's only another (steep) 0.8 to the face from Butler Lodge! At the lodge, we spoke with a pair that was finishing up a section they couldn't hit due to weather on the Long Trail, then parted ways to journey south.
After getting onto the Long Trail via Wallace Connector, we descended/side-hilled for about 1.5 miles before passing the Twin Brook Tentsite. We passed over one butt-slide slab, but otherwise the only issues were blowdowns and erosion. There was more erosion on this section than we saw all day, many cases from where roots ripped out of the ground on account of tree fall. I imagine it drains poorly, but I couldn't tell what the main culprit of its state is.
After the tent site, the side-hilling felt less obvious. We crossed an attractive stream junction, peered through the trees at Sugarloaf on the shoulder of Nebraska Notch, and had some changing leaves to look at on this stretch. It was classic Long Trail in every way.
Coming down Nebraska Notch trail was maybe my 6th or 7th time doing so, and nothing seemed too different along this stretch. I enjoy the route as a gradual vessel towards great views, but it does tend to feel very repetitive when the end feels closer than it is.
At the hike's end, we took our first 2024 drive through the notch and then finished our afternoon at Ranch Camp, where we had to get Cody's Crunchwrap. I might be a New Hampshire girl at heart, but I must say the apres are far better here in the Green Mountain State. If every Friday could go like this, I think I've got a great rest of the year ahead.
Final Stats:
5.89 miles
1,648 feet
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