Not trying to ignite any purist vs not purist debate but thought I would share my experience with this "side" trail. As most know, Sherburne Pass Trail was originally the LT/AT. When heading north you come across this trail as you are descending from Killington. If you take the Sherburne Pass Trail it will lead you directly to the Inn at Long Trail. If you don't, it requires a 1 mile road walk to get to the Inn. Since I was staying at the Inn I planned on taking this side-trail. However during my actual LT hike I was talking to a couple of other LT hikers and they, in a completely friendly manner, teased me that I wouldn't have really hiked the LT end-to-end if I took this side trail. They were joking but it got me thinking man I would hate to have it even be called a little into question just to avoid a 1 mile road walk. So when I got to that intersection I actually tried to call the Green Mountain Club. No one picked up the phone. Oh well, so I hiked the "real" LT/AT and did the road walk to the Inn. Later while at the Inn I called the GMC again and this time got through to a real person. Now at this point I was just curious what they would say. The response made me laugh so I'm sharing it here.
A woman answered the phone and I told her this was a strange question but I was hiking the trail and a couple of my hiking buddies and I were talking and would it count as an end-to-end hike if we took the Sherburne Pass Trail.
She gave a friendly laugh and said "Well I sure hope it would count because I think that most LT end-to-enders use Sherburne Pass and in fact I used Sherburne Pass during my LT hike and I'm looking at my end-to-end patch right now!"
Anyway that made me laugh. I later asked a few people if they know why the trail was rerouted off Sherburne Pass Trail and no one seemed to know. Anyone on whiteblaze know? Thanks!