Jay Camp

3.2 miles

Planning out the day.

Tending blisters from the
Manistee hike the week B4.

Getting up after a less than perfect start, was a bit slow. Scott, our soldier buddy took off in a light drizzle about 8 am. It is misleading to think heading out into nature is simple and easy. Lots of planning before and during is necessary to be prepared. Camille was so well informed before we started! Because the shelters are open to critters, anything that would be attractive for a critter to eat, ie food, scented toiletries, toothpaste, etc had to be hung.  Barriers like gatorade container, tin pans, plastic lids are strung through the middle in such a way that if it (mouse, chipmunck) climbed down the hanging rope it would be unable to get around the wobbling barrier. We were an hour after that by the time we ate, cleaned up and packed. 

We started out with our rain gear on and soon realized there was no point. We would either be wet from the rain or wet from sweat. So off the rain gear came. 

Which is no small feat when your pack is stuffed with 35 lobs or more. Not to mention when nature calls. The Green Mountain Club encourages peeing in the woods and using the composting privies for the rest. If privies are not available, a 6” cat hole has to be dug and everything buried. Leave no trace.

Hiking up Jay Peak was steep! 

It was also somewhat ethereal with the low hanging clouds and covered in beautiful patterns of mosses, lichen, ferns etc. It follows the edge of a ski hill. The mist from the clouds felt great. It was hard work getting up to the top of the mountain! 

It is probably a good thing it was foggy and we couldn’t see how much more we needed to climb. Ever wonder what it’s like to hike up a ski slope? We don’t anymore! 

Top of Jay Peak before heading down.

Scott from Laura Woodward shelter told us there was a Snack Shack open from 10 am - 3 pm everyday, serving lunch, snacks and drafts. It was a driving incentive. 

Naturally, as luck would have it, it was closed (lady called in sick). 

We sat for a good 1 !/2 hours, charging phones, getting rehydrated and giving our legs a rest. We had a bit of Trail Magic, when George, the tram operator volunteered his services, actually, his wife’s services to give me a ride down in the tram and then to the car. Turns out, that was about a 15 mile trip back. Love that Trail Magic!

While I moved the car, Camille continued on.