Mansfield via Long Trail 1/4/09

Great track from Smuggler's Notch to ~3100 (Thanks Fed Ex and others). From there to Taft Lodge and beyond, deeper drifts filled in track. Lost the route at around 3900' but was able to bushwack through knee- high snow to the cliffs of the Chin, where track was again ascertained on the wind scoured Chin. Did not need ice axe or crampons, thanks to the teeth of my MSRs. Eerie white clouds hovered over all summits , though Camel's Hump was visible underneath a wavy, white cloud from the highway.
-Lucky Laura