Middlebury to Camels hump for the new year

[david matesi]

I am looking for any input on snow conditions and time needed to ski from Rikert ski center[Middlebury] to Camels Hump area.how about skill level required? I expect to have two overnights camping and two plus days skiing.Are skins necessary?How about snow shoes as an alternative?
Appreciate any info, David

[Lynn Fisher]

Hello David,

By my calculations, Rickert to Camel's Hump Road is over 37 miles. I can't imagine the conditions under which this would be possible in 2 days of skiing! I'd pack climbing skins and no, I wouldn't plan on snowshoeing it although that's certainly possible. I'd say the ability level ranges from easy (north of Rikert, golf course at Sugarbush) to possibly very challenging (descent from Lincoln Gap, descent to Camel's Hump Road). All this of course depends on the snow conditions. Last year I was with a (very fit) group that required over 10 hours to ski from Lincoln Gap to Route 17: the snow was deep and we had to break trail the whole way.

The guidebook has maps and elevation profiles, and you can get printed information about each section on the Catamount Trail web site - you may have already found this. Hope this helps! Lynn

[Paul D]

David,

I am the trail chief of the section from Rt 17 to Camel's Hump Road. We skied most this section on Sunday Dec 30. We were necessarily a fast group, so it took us about 5-6 hours. The snow was fine, and the most recent addition of snow will help in turning and stopping. There are a couple of problems. The biggest is that the warm weather and melting has caused a lot of gullies in the trail at the north end of this section (after you leave the snow mobile trail).

Until the temps firm the ground up and we get a snow cover over the frozen ground, this will continue to be a problem.

Second, there are quite a few branches and small trees down that need to get worked on. I hope to get to some of that in the next two weeks.

I have traveled all the sections you are considering. Feel free to contact me if you need some in depth information on the terrain. (pdemers@vmec.org)

I can see doing these sections in two days under ideal conditions, but if you are carrying your gear, these will be very very challenging days.

Paul