High Tech's '10 Chunk Hike

Miles from Springer	Features	Elevation
1578.2	Mass. 8 (1,000') Adams, Mass. 01220	1000
1579	Outlook Ave. (1,350')	1350
1581.7	Old Adams Road (2,350')	2350
1582.6	Mark Noepel Shelter (2,750') ?17.3mS; 7.1mN	2750
1583.2	Jones Nose Trail, Saddle Ball Mountain (3,150')	3150
1585.4	Notch Road; Rockwell Road (3,290')?pond	3290
1585.9	Mt. Greylock, Summit Road (3,491') Bascom Lodge, War Memorial	3491
1589.1	Notch Road (2,400')	2400
1589.2	Wilbur Clearing Shelter (2,300') ?7.1mS; 10.4mN	2300

Miles from Springer	Features	Elevation
1591.3	Pattison Road (900')	900
1591.8	Catherine Street-Phelps Road (670')	670
1592.2	Mass. 2 (650')?Hoosic River, railroad tracks overpassNorth Adams, Mass. 01247 Williamstown, Mass. 01267	650
1592.3	Massachusetts Avenue
1594	Sherman Brook Primitive Campsite (1,300')	1300
1595	Pine Cobble Trail (2,010')	2010
1595.5	Eph's Lookout (2,254')	2254
1596.3	Massachusetts?Vermont State Line (2,330') Long Trail (southern terminus)?sign	2330
1596.7	Brook (2,300')	2300
1599.1	Seth Warner Shelter (2,180') ?10.4mS; 7.4mN	2180

Bennington, VT - The Vortex
Day: 51-2010
Daily Mileage: 11.5
Mileage: 1601.3

Miles from Springer	Features	Elevation
1599.4	County Road (2,290')	2290
1600.5	Ed's Spring (2,890')	2890
1602.1	Roaring Branch (2,470')	2470
1605.8	Stamford Stream (2,040')	2040
1606.3	Congdon Shelter (2,060')?7.4mS; 5.9mN	2060
1608.8	Harmon Hill (2,325')?views of Bennington	2325
1610.6	Vt. 9, City Stream (1,360') Bennington, Vt. 05201 North Bennington, Vt.	1360

08/2/10 7:15 pm

Woke up early, never really feeling like I slept well at all. Got going, but could tell the humidity was up. The duct tape fix for my boots didn't last long at all. Got to the next shelter around noon and met Lonestar a SoBo. He told me about a place for hikers in the next town as well as a place to buy boots (even though the town has no outfitter). So decided to change my itinerary and stop in. He was right on the money. Got a neat place to stay, new boots and squeezing in a load of laundry (thanks to the attendant who bent the "last load" rule just a bit).

Goddard Shelter
Day: 52-2010
Daily Mileage: 10.1
Mileage: 1611.4

Miles from Springer	Features	Elevation
1612.2	Melville Nauheim Shelter (2,330') ?5.9mS; 8.5mN	2330
1613.8	Hell Hollow Brook (2,350')	2350
1616.4	Little Pond Lookout (3,060')	3060
1618.2	Glastenbury Lookout (2,920')	2920
1620.7	Goddard Shelter (3,540')?8.5mS; 4.3mN	3540

08/3/10 8:15 pm

Well the Vortex lived up to its name. Just couldn't seem to get out of there. I think it was almost 11 when I took the bus back to the trail. Got to the first shelter out of town and just moved on. An hour or so latter it rained, but just a brief downpour, but it was over quick (although it did force me to use my raingear for the first time). Got here with the threat of rain once again showing its ugly head. Set up the tent quick, then cooked dinner down at the shelter. Started raining after dinner was done, and has only slowed down once or twice. Made the dash to the tent without getting too wet, but not sure if/when the rain will stop.

New boots did well their first day, no blisters and the feet were dry even with the VT mud and rain.

Much more crowed on the tail now. Shelter full and four tenting. A southbounder said the next shelter (north) was the same way. Guess it will be that way for the rest of the trip. Might have to do with the Long Trail Festival this weekend in Rutland, but I think it is just the AT/LT combined section.

Story Spring Shelter
Day: 53-2010
Daily Mileage: 8.3
Mileage: 1620.3

Miles from Springer	Features	Elevation
1621	Glastenbury Mountain (3,748') ?observation tower	3748
1625	Kid Gore Shelter (2,795')?4.3mS; 4.6mN Caughnawaga Tent sites	2795
1628.7	South Alder Brook (2,600')	2600
1629.6	Story Spring Shelter (2,810') ?4.6mS; 10.4mN	2810

08/4/10 7:15 pm

Boy did it rain ALL last night and into the wee hours of today. Tent held its own, but the tent, groundcloth and backpack were soaked. Even with a very late start, everything was packed wet.

Hike was uneventful, even with the wet rocks, mud and water. Thank G_d I got those new boots, I can just imagine what my socks and feet would have looked like in my blown out pair.

Sun started to come out while I was having lunch at the last shelter, and it did turn into a beautiful day. Got here, hung everything to dry, washed up, set up camp and ate. Feels weird only doing an 8 mile day, but I needed an "easy day".

Stratton Pond Shelter
Day: 54-2010
Daily Mileage: 10.4
Mileage: 1630.7

Miles from Springer	Features	Elevation
1631.1	USFS 71 (2,500')	2500
1633.2	Stratton?Arlington Road (Kelley Stand Road) (2,230')	2230
1637	Stratton Mountain (3,936')?fire tower, caretaker cabin	3936
1640	Stratton Pond Trail to (2,565') +Stratton Pond Shelter?10.4mS; 5.4mN	2565

08/5/10 2:50 pm

Woke up to a few raindrops hitting the tent, so I packed quick so I wouldn't have to carry a soaked tent like the other day. Couldn't tell if it was going to clear up, drizzle, rain or thunderstorm (and I couldn't check the forecast...no 3G) so I decided to head off. About a mile into the hike, I heard thunder, but kept going towards the climb up Sratton Mountain. The climb was a little steep at first, but became a gradual climb (hey what do ya know, the profile was right for a change!). Got to the top, not much of a view from the tower, due to the clouds, but got a cell phone signal, so I made a couple of calls. Had to cut my conversation with my mom short when it started to rain. Put the cell phone away just in time for the sky to open up. Hoofed it down hill, though more stream than trail, to the shelter. If I have to be caught in a shelter during a good long rain, this is a great one to be at. It is huge (book says it sleeps 16, I think you could do more comfortably if needed) and has a covered deck with seating and a picnic table. It is a little buggy though (killing quite a few mosquitoes while writing this). Overall, it does not seem like I hiked 10+ miles today (and a lot of uphill too). Not sure if that means I am in shape, or if it was just the rain being such a great motivator.

8/6/10 11:46

Last night had to be one of my least favorite on the trail. Got in and look forward to drying gear, taking a nap, cooking on the picnic table and having a quiet afternoon and evening. Unfortunately a family calling themselves "Camp Gram" showed up. They were not really that bad, but I just wasn't in the mood for teens, pre-teens and even an 8 year old's typical "stop touching me" and "you took my....". Also they took over the picnic table for a card game (although they did make room when asked). They got to bed at 9, then a hiker and his dog came in at 10. On top of that were mosquitoes biting me all night, getting cold half way through the night, and the typical "full shelter" noises of tossing and turning (but at least no snoring). I was having a good day, even with the rain, until all that. Cold wet boots, socks and backpack this morning didn't help either. Hopefully the sunny, cool day will brighten me up a bit.....will see.

Spruce Peak Shelter
Day: 55-2010
Daily Mileage: 7.9
Mileage: 1638.6

Miles from Springer	Features	Elevation
1640	Stratton Pond Trail to (2,565') +Stratton Pond Shelter?10.4mS; 5.4mN	2565
1640.2	Stratton Pond, Trail to +North Shore Tenting Area (2,555')	2555
1642.1	Winhall River (2,175')?bridge	2175
1644.9	Branch Pond Trail to William B. Douglas Shelter (2,210') ?5.4mS; 3.6mN	2210
1645.8	Prospect Rock, Old Rootville Road (2,079')	2079
1647.9	Spruce Peak Shelter (2,180')?3.6mS; 5mN	2180

08/6/10 5:00 pm

I was writing the previous entry sitting in a field right after the turn off to William Douglass Shelter. I wanted to take a nap, but right when I laied down, a cloud covered the sun, the wind picked up and I even got hit by a few rain drops (even though the forecast said sunny all day). So I packed up and started hiking.

The hike all day was BOARING! No mountains, no lakes, just a few streams, but nothing spectacular. Got here and tried to nap once again and succeeded beyond expectations....I slept for 3 hours! When I woke I had no ambition to hike the 4.8 miles to the next shelter, so decided to make it up tomorrow and stay here. This is a neat shelter, well actually a cabin complete with a door, windows, porch and wood stove. I love the rustic feel to it (see pics).

Too lazy to pitch the tent. I just hope I am not setting myself up for a repeat of last night.

8/7/10 7:45am

Spruce Peak was exactly what I needed when I needed it. One other hiker here, so I had the shelter to myself. The wind did kick up, but I closed the door on the shelter (it it rare to find a shelter with a door). It was cold (my guess high 40's), but it meant no mosquitoes. Was a bit cool in the polar fleece bag, so I had to wear my long cloths to bed and, for the first time this trip, use my emergency blanket over the bag. It even rained between 4-5am, but I was inside! So I got a lot of sleep, feel good and my gear dried out (except for the boots). Should be good for a 12+ mile day.

PS: there were mice in the shelter, even saw one come out before dark, but they really didn't bother me.

PPS: A little low on food, but will make it to a convenience store at VT103 before I run out, so ok there.

Top of Bromley Mountain
Day: 56-2010
Daily Mileage: 5.8 so far today
Mileage: 1644.4
08/7/10 1:15 pm

Wow, finally a 360 view!

Griffith Lake Tenting Area
Day: 56-2010
Daily Mileage: 13.4
Mileage: 1652.0

Miles from Springer	Features	Elevation
1647.9	Spruce Peak Shelter (2,180')?3.6mS; 5mN	2180
1648.3	Spruce Peak (2,040')	2040
1650.7	Vt. 11 & 30 (1,840') Manchester Center, Vt. 05255	1840
1652.7	Bromley Shelter (2,560')?5mS; 8.2mN	2560
1653.7	Bromley Mountain (3,260')?ski patrol hut	3260
1656.2	USFS 21, Mad Tom Notch; Peru, Vt. (2,446')	2446
1657.8	Styles Peak (3,394')	3394
1659.5	Peru Peak (3,429')	3429
1660.8	+Peru Peak Shelter (2,605')?8.2mS; 4.7mN	2605
1661.3	Griffith Lake, +Griffith Lake Tenting Area (2,600')	2600

08/7/10 8:15 pm

Wow, what a day! Great weather for hiking, clear and cool (sometimes almost cold). Views started early with Spruce Peak, then Broomley Mountain (see above entry), then Paru Peak and end with Griffith Lake. Even got water at "Mad Tom Notch"...got to love that name!

As you can probably tell, I am in a much better mood, catching up on sleep does wonders, but so do good trails, wonderful views and good weather.

Got here and looked at sites, found one but went to check the rest, saw another group of hikers looking in the other direction, only two sites left and one sucked so I ran to the other one, just beating the other group. Latter I invited two others to join me on the tent platform since this place was full up.

Keep seeing moose sign (droppings and hoofprints) but still no sightings.

Already cooling off...going to be a cold evening!

Campsite off of Wallingford Gulf Road
Day: 57-2010
Daily Mileage: 15.5

Miles from Springer	Features	Elevation
1661.3	Griffith Lake, +Griffith Lake Tenting Area (2,600')	2600
1661.5	Griffith Lake (north end) (2,600')	2600
1663.5	Baker Peak (2,850')	2850
1665.5	Lost Pond Shelter (2,150')?4.7mS; 2.5mN	2150
1667	Old Job Trail to (1,525') Old Job Shelter?2.5mS; 1.2mN	1525
1667.2	Big Branch Shelter (1,460')?1.2mS; 3.3mN	1460
1668.5	USFS 10, Danby?Landgrove Road (1,500') Black Branch Danby, Vt. 05739	1500
1670.5	+Little Rock Pond Shelter and Tenting Area (1,920')?3.3mS; 5mN	1920
1670.6	Spring (1,854')?water for LRP Shelter	1854
1670.8	Green Mountain Trail to Homer Stone Brook Trail (1,854')	1854
1674.8	Trail to White Rocks Cliffs (2,400')?vista	2400
1675.3	Greenwall Shelter (2,025')?5mS; 5.3mN	2025
1675.9	Bully Brook (1,760')	1760
1676.7	Sugar Hill Road (1,260')	1260
1676.8	Vt. 140, Roaring Brook (1,160') Wallingford, Vt. 05773	1160

08/8/10 9:00 pm
My Location: N 43°27'21.66", W 72°55'59.58"
394 m
map it

Big day today. I think I was the last one out of camp, but the hiking was fairly easy until the top of Baker Peak, but the view was well worth it!

Many days ago, at Straton Pond, I read the bridge was out at Big Branch and that the river was too dangerous to ford.....but multiple SoBo's said BULL and they were right. It would have cost me a 3 mile road walk for nothing.

After the "dangerous ford", I was at the Big Branch Shelter complaining about how little I had left to eat. Zuni Bear heard me and said she had too much food and realy saved my butt! Thanks Zuni Bear!!!

Pasted up a total of 6 shelters/campsites today (a new record).

Also took the side trail to White Rock Cliffs (great views / family from hell - "son you know mama cant breath when you get too close to the edge") and saw two rock sculpture gardens!

Hiked most of the day with the Flask Brothers, who tented with me last night and again tonight.

Good day, good weather, but boy I am bushed.

PS over 500 miles for this trip!!!

Swan Song Shelter (a.k.a. The Secret Shelter)
Day: 58-2010
Daily Mileage: 13.1

Miles from Springer	Features	Elevation
1676.8	Vt. 140, Roaring Brook (1,160') Wallingford, Vt. 05773	1160
1678.9	Bear Mountain (2,240')	2240
1680.4	Minerva Hinchey Shelter (1,605') ?5.3mS; 3.8mN	1605
1683	Clarendon Gorge WMA (800') Mill River Suspension Bridge	800
1683.1	Vt. 103 (860')?railroad tracks	860
1684.1	Clarendon Shelter (1,190')?3.8mS; 6.2mN	1190
1684.6	Beacon Hill (1,740')	1740
1685	Lottery Road (1,720')	1720
1687	Cold River Road (1,400')?paved	1400
1687.8	Gould Brook (1,480')?ford	1480
1688.6	Upper Cold River Road (1,630')?gravel road	1630

08/9/10 9:15 pm

Another big day, but only a few views. Did get to the convenience store at VT 103 (the Whistle Stop is closed mondays) and got Ben and Jerry's, 2 drinks, a sandwich and a bag of potato chips (and helped one of the Flask Brothers finish his Ben and Jerry's). I paid for it going up Claredon Gorge. Don't know if it was the heat and humidity, the sugar rush, the climb or what but I almost passed out! Took a long break and then hiked on to Clarendon Shelter for a bigger break. After a brief rain, we hiked on and ran into "Chrome Dome" who had stayed at the "Secret Shelter" the night before. This privately owned and built shelter is not on any AT or LT map, but is a great place to stay the night (they ask that directions not be published...sorry). The alternative was Gov. Clement shelter which is reportedly and run down shelter with many reported run in's with locals (I want to check it out tomorrow and see for myself).

Did get some food at the convenience store for lunches/dinners for the next day or two, but probably I will push on to the Long Trail Inn tomorrow and be done with my chunk for this year, ending right after Killington Peak....hope the weather clears (raining now) and we have great views.

P.S. Less than 500 miles left to Katahdin!!!

Killington Peak
Day: 59-2010
Daily Mileage: 5.? so far today
Mileage: 1684.8
08/10/10 12:45 pm
My Location: N 43°36'17.45", W 72°49'12.59"
1294 m
map it

Final hurrah for the trip, Mnt Killington. Not perfect conditions but getting better and better as we sit here.

Inn at Long Trail - US4
Day: 59-2010
Daily Mileage: 10.6
Mileage: 1691.2

Miles from Springer	Features	Elevation
1689.3	Sargent Brook Bridge (1,730')?gravel road	1730
1690.2	Governor Clement Shelter (1,900') ?6.2mS; 4.3mN	1900
1694.5	Blue-blaze Trail to Killington Peak (3,900')	3900
1694.5	Cooper Lodge (3,900')?4.3mS; 3mN	3900
1697	Jungle Jct.; Sherburne Pass Trail to (3,480') Pico Camp?3mS; 2.5mN	3480
1698.9	Churchill Scott Shelter (2,560') ?2.5mS; 12.1mN	2560
1700.8	U.S. 4 (1,880') Rutland, Vt. 05701	1880
1701.8	Maine Junction at Willard Gap, Long Trail to Tucker Johnson Tenting Area (2,250')	2250
1702.7	Sherburne Pass Trail (2,440')?to Inn at Long Trail	2440

08/10/10 10:00 pm
Hike down from Killington seemed to take forever. Even saw the inn from the trail but it seemed miles away. I did take the old AT, which lead right to the inn instead of the new AT which would have ended up on US4 0.9 miles away, then an unsafe road walk to the inn.

Celebrated at the bar, drinking way too much, but I had a lot to celebrate: 500 miles hiked, less than 500 to Katahdin and I made my goal of reaching the Long Trail Inn in 60 days or less! Also had people with me who I met on the trail and wanted to celebrate with. It will be odd not hiking tomorrow, but I need the break, but look forward to finishing the trail someday. And if you have to get off the trail, today was a great day to end with: Killington and the Long Trail Inn!

8/11/10 4:00pm

Woke up and had Blueberry Pancakes for breakfast. Then the whole crew took the $2 bus into Rutland. Got my street cloths, duffle bag and beard trimmer as well as my new Merrel Boots. Then got some other "clean up" supplies and got the bus back to the Inn. Said a goodbye to all my friends who then took off north (that was sad not to be going with them, even though most where LT hikers and the AT/LT split is less than a mile away and if I were still hiking I would have had to say goodbye anyway). Had lunch, did laundry and dried out my tent. I also trimmed my beard and mustache. I dropped my trimmer, killing it in the process, but my beard and mustache don't look too bad and should do for the trip home. Now just chillin' hoping someone I know will show up to eat and drink with tonight.

8/12/10 9:15pm

Ate dinner with a few hikers, but none I knew well, but still had a good time then had a beer and went to bed.

This morning over coffee, met a few more hikers: Red Hat (AT NoBo older woman), Razor (GA ridge runner and former Thru Hiker) and Nature (she came to do the LT with Razor after just finishing a NoBo AT thruhike). While talking, they found out my situation and asked if I wanted to go car touring with them for the day. Well I did go with them. We started off going to the Long Trail Brewery for lunch and the tour. Then we went to Queenee Gorge which, in my opinion, rivaled the Royal Gorge in Colorado. Then we went to the Simon Pearce Fine Hand Blown Glassware Factory, where you watch them make it....I was fascinated by this. Part art, part dance and part manufacturing tech. On top of that it was in a gorgeous setting, pond, dam, waterfall and covered bridge. Got back to the hotel, swapped a few more stories, then ate and packed up for the trip home. Not looking forward to Memphis hazy, hot and humid weather (got use to VT), but I accomplished all my goals for this trip: Lost weight, hiked 500+ miles and only have ~500 miles to go on the AT. I just wish I could keep hiking and finish, but the "real world" is calling and the AT ain't going anywhere. It's been a good summer!!!

8/13/10 1:00pm

Well I should be on a hedge-hopper flight, almost to Boston now, but instead I am in a van just leaving the Rutland Airport...but I get ahead of myself.

I woke up, finished packing then ate breakfast and caught the Killington -> Rutland bus into town. On the way I called a taxi to take me to the airport from the bus terminal downtown. Got to the airport and had to kill 2 hours before my flight, so went upstairs to the "Plane Bagel" coffee shop. The TSA came and found me and told me my fuel bottles could not go, but the owner of the coffee shop said he would ship them for me (still do not know why they can't go now when they have been on two other flights already...I emptied them and dried them out for 24+ hours, just like the other flights). The plane lands (a Cessna 430 I think) and we go though security (which took a very long time for just eight people). We get on the plane and they put me in the co-pilots seat (which was neat, but did not instill confidence). But when the pilot tries to start the second engine...NOTHING!! They have no backup plane, no mechanic, all they can do is offer a van ride to Boston, but there is no way I will make my flight (leave Rutland at 1pm, three hour car trip, Memphis flight leaves at 4pm). But I do book a flight out for tomorrow and take the trip into Boston where I can try again tomorrow. They had better give me a hotel voucher for this or else!

Reminder to self: NEXT TIME DON'T BOOK ON FRIDAY THE THIRTEETH STUPID!!

8/13/10 6:10pm

Well made it to Boston, the airline put me up at the Chelsea Wyndham. Getting dinner, plan to use the jacuzzi, watch tv and go to bed. Hopefully nothing will go wrong tomorrow and I will get home.

'10 Hike Map