A thru-hiker's day out in Vermont shows just how much you can pack into a single stretch of the Appalachian Trail — and why the state's high peaks are worth detouring for, whether you're walking the whole AT or just out for a weekend.

Starting from Route 103 at 7am, the writer aimed for roughly 27 miles northbound, with a spur to the top of Killington Peak, Vermont's highest mountain, its ski trails visible from miles away. The morning route passed wildflower fields, a viewpoint over Rutland airport, a plaque marking 500 miles south of Katahdin in Maine, and the Governor Clement Shelter — an unusual all-stone shelter with a large fireplace sitting right on the trail.

The climb up Killington turned out to be surprisingly gentle by Vermont standards: a mild grade, mostly dirt underfoot, few rocks or roots. The summit spur itself is the rugged part — best done pack-free, as the hiker did, leaving the bag at Cooper Lodge just below the top. Views stretch toward neighbouring Pico Peak and across a slope laced with far more ski runs than you'd expect, hinting at Killington's other life as one of the East's big winter resorts.

Beyond Killington lies Maine Junction, one of American hiking's more meaningful waypoints: the spot where the Appalachian Trail and the Long Trail part ways, the AT heading east while the Long Trail runs north to Canada. The North Country National Scenic Trail also begins here, its western end a scarcely believable 5,000 miles away. This corner also sees plenty of day-hikers, many heading to the popular Deer Leap overlook near Route 4, where the Inn at Long Trail makes an appealing base.

The day's finale was the boldest move: an extra 800 feet of climbing to camp on Pico Peak itself, reached via the blue-blazed Sherburne Pass Trail and a spur past Pico Camp lodge. The final approach follows an old ski trail to a decommissioned lift at the summit, and a short path around a fenced radio tower reveals a wide western viewpoint — perfect sunset territory. With clouds over Killington glowing pink and orange for a good 15 minutes after the sun dropped, the hiker called it an all-time best. A warm Pico Lodge hiker hut at the summit makes a cold morning dawn more bearable.

For travellers, this is a solid blueprint: a challenging but achievable day linking two summits with a wild-camp payoff, or a taster for anyone considering Vermont's section of the AT. It also doubles as a scouting trip for winter — both mountains are working ski areas, and the Inn at Long Trail sits conveniently between them.