There is no shortage of sights to see for those who hike Vermont's famous Long Trail. But one of the most fascinating things you might run into is the plane wreckage from a 1973 crash. You don't have to hike the entire 273-mile trail to see it - in fact, there's a shorter 2.6-mile stretch that leads you straight to the Mount Abraham plane crash site.
Beginning at the trailhead off Lincoln Gap Road you can climb to the summit of Mount Abraham. The 2.6-mile trail to the peak will take you past the extraordinary plane wreckage.
The hike begins gently over rolling terrain but as you ascend, the hike becomes more difficult. At the 1.8-mile mark, you'll reach the Battell Shelter, a great place to take a breather before the most challenging portion of the hike.
After the shelter, the last section of the trail is steep. Expect to encounter several rock scrambles and slabs to climb. Don't give up! The end is near and well worth the work it takes to get there.
Give yourself a high five and soak in the views from the summit. Your reward is the spectacular near-360 degree views of the White Mountains, Green Mountains, Champlain Valley, and the Adirondacks.
To see the plane wreckage, you'll have to venture about 100 yards off of the trail either on your way to the summit or on your return down.
The aircraft crash occurred in June of 1973. The pilot took two friends up and got lost in the clouds. The plane crashed into the forest coming to a stop just hundreds of feet from the Long Trail. Miraculously, all three occupants were uninjured and walked out of the crash site.
You can see the remains of the plane although the engine, controls, and other parts are missing. The battered shell lies on the forest floor as a reminder of the accident.
Survey the scene and find the bent and torn parts of the single-engine Cessna 182N amongst the trees.
What's surprising is that the wreckage lays scattered throughout the forest under the green canopy of evergreens, the wing laying far away from the body of the plane.
The mangled wreckage inspires a sense of awe. It's not every day that you see a machine of modern times abandoned on the side of a mountain.
Have you ever hiked to the site of the Mount Abraham plane crash? Two other trails that also belong on your outdoor adventuring bucket list are this dramatic bridge hike and this unique fossil hike.
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