Sign Up  /  Login

Top of the Notch LbNA #48956

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:Jul 11, 2009
Location:
City:Jeffersonville
County:Lamoille
State:Vermont
Boxes:1
Planted by:Ski Diva
Found by: Hopping The Hills
Last found:Sep 30, 2009
Status:FFF
Last edited:Jul 11, 2009
STERLING MOUNTAIN
Jeffersonville, VT
Elevation 3010'
Vertical Rise 880'
Most Difficult
Description and Highlights:
Climb to the top of Sterling Mountain to the highest trout pond in the state. Fishing license required for ages 15 & older. Take in views of Smugglers’ Notch Resort and the Lamoille River Valley as you ascend. Enjoy this portion of the Long Trail; a trail that runs the length of the state. As you near Sterling Pond, examine the tall outcroppings that are located here and on some of the other ridges of the Green Mountains. Relax along the wooded shore of this pond and its natural setting.

Directions:
Leaving the village of Jeffersonville VT 15 , turn left onto Route 108 South towards Stowe for about 8.0 miles. Park at the top of the Notch in the parking area. The Sterling Pond Trail (blue blazes) is located directly across the road from the information booth. Formerly the Long Trail out of Smuggler’s Notch, this route was originally called Mould’s Trail, in honor of Fred Mould of Morrisville, an active volunteer trail builder. Look for a Long Trail sign and register. From the east side of the highway opposite the parking area and information booth, climb a rock staircase built by the Long Trail Patrol. Continue the steady ascent on the rough path that was once a wood road. Follow the blue blazes to a T-intersection (1.1 mi. about a 35-45 minute ascent). The Long Trail (white blazes) connects at this T-intersection with a wider ski trail (Snuffy’s), a service road linking Spruce Peak and Smugglers’ Notch ski areas. Turn left at the sign for Sterling Pond Shelter to descend on the Long Trail north along Snuffy’s ski trail 0.1 mi. to Sterling Pond. To obtain views of the mountains to the west and north, follow the white blazed trail around the end of the pond through the woods until you reach an intersection with a wider road leading up from Sterling Pond. Turn left off the Long Trail and up a short rise to a clearing for the Sterling Chairlift Summit. You will see a warming hut named the “Top of the Notch” and the Sterling lift to your right. Across from the lift is a trail map of Smugglers’ Notch ski area. With your back to the map and facing the lift, you will see part of an expensive infrastructure that also includes pumps and compressors that gives skiers “independence from Mother Nature”. In the woods, directly behind this brightly colored apparatus, the letterbox is buried and protected by a pile of rocks.
Hiking distance - round trip, 2.4 miles.
Hiking time - round trip, approximately 2 hours plus time on top.

Precautions: The first section of the trail is steep and could be compared to “stair stepping”. The rocks and tree roots are very slippery when wet.