We met at 9 at the Underhill Center commuter lot, consolidated to two cars, and headed up to the Stevensville trailhead. It was sunny but cold (10 to 15 F) as we started out around 9:15, but there was little wind. Recent thaws and rains had reduced the snow depth so there was no question of needing snowshoes, but there was still a light coating of snow on the ground and trees to make the views pretty. There also wasn’t much underlying ice, but enough in patches that some opted to don microspikes or other traction devices.

We made good time, reaching the Long Trail junction a little after 10, where the wind picked up a bit. We got to Taylor Lodge around 10:45, where we met another group with three dogs just leaving the Lodge after hiking up from Lake Mansfield.

We sat on the porch of the Lodge and had lunch out of the wind. David lost the handwarmer from one of his gloves, but Cathy handed him one to replace it that she had picked up from the parking area before we started, intending to throw it away later (it was cold then but had heated up as we’d hiked).

When we got back to the car we found it was one Marc had dropped at the start of the hike. After lunch most of us headed up the short unmarked spur next to the Lodge to the overlook above Lake Mansfield. Some tree cutting had improved the view since the last time David had been there. We then headed back to the cars, reaching them around noon.

David Hathaway (leader), with Marc Gamble, Wes Volk, Robynn Albert, Rowena Albert, Mary Keenan, Sarah Bhimani, and Cathy Tilley.