Getting ready to leave for the trail after attending the FIRST Lego League Partners Conference. Besides all my friends at the conference wishing me luck and safe travels, a few other things happened to get me in a trail mindset.
The first was at the banquet: my first Long Trail Ale since leaving the trail. The second was the gift of chocolates on the table, all having different animals in homage to the Animal Allies theme of the year. Each bag had different animals, but mine had a bear and a Moose.....why is this so prophetic to me....I have been telling people "I already have my bear pic....but I still need a pic of a moose". I love coincidences!
The second was the sing along last night...A lot of great fun. I even did karaoke for the first time, showing I am getting mentally ready to go outside my comfort zone and also getting ready to go with the flow and not be so serious all the time.
Eating breakfast, then pack and hit the road to Rutland,VT.
Stopped at the Long Trail Brewery for a new t-shirt on my way to Rutland. My old one is six years old and falling apart, too early for food or drink...what a shame.
Got to the Inn at the Long Trail around 10:30am. Checked in, Then went to town for fuel, food, shipping street cloths and Legos home and then to drop off the rental car. Enterprise gave me a ride back to the inn...
Tomorrow it really begins, but with the car, being the last vestige of the 'real world' gone...I am ready to get started.
The drive here was neat, I saw a lot of the places I visited between arriving at the Inn and going home (the gorge, wildlife center and the brewery) at the end of my last trip. But even with those good memories I am still feeling the same flood of mixed emotions I did some 20 years ago at Amicalola Falls near Springer......fear, excitement, anticipation, anxiety and so many others I can’t find all the words. I am sure it is the waiting for tomorrow to come and the start of the adventure.
Did weigh my pack...35 lbs without fuel and water and some lightweight odds and ends. I think that is my lightest start weight....which leads to the question....What did I forget?
June 17,2016
Inn at Long Trail to Stony Brook Shelter
8.6 miles for day
Miles from Springer
Features
Elevation
1703.8
Kent Brook Trail Junction (1,700')
1700
1704.1
Vt. 100, Gifford Woods State Park (1,660') Killington, Vt. 05751
1660
1704.8
Kent Pond, Trail to Base Camp Outfitters, Thundering Brook Road (1,450')
1450
1706
Thundering Brook Road (1,280')
1280
1706.2
Thundering Falls (1,226')?900-ft. boardwalk
1226
1706.5
River Road (1,214')
1214
1707
Quimby Mountain (2,550')
2550
1710.8
Stony Brook Shelter (1,760') ?12.1mS; 10.2mN
1760
6:52am
After writing the previous log, I took a nap, did some reconisance of the trail back to the AT and had dinner, a few beers and desert. Got to bed around 10pm.
Now just having coffee and waiting for breakfast to start in about a half hour....but my brain keeps saying "get hiking" but so far the somach is wining with "food" knowing what is about to happen.
8:30am
Had breakfast with "8:30" a flipfloper from Macon, GA. I was able to ask about how things have changed on the trail due to technology. As expected, most now use cell phones at will (a far cry from 96 when using tech at a shelter was a no no).
Now it is time to get moving!
10:20 first time I heard a Loon call from the trail....Talk about a quintessential call of the wild! Haven’t heard that sound since my first backpacking trip in Canada in the 80's.
11:30 taking a boots off break after seeing thundering falls. Just about half way to the shelter...but starting my first major uphill (~1300 ft)
3:45 At Stoney Brook shelter. Got camp set up, water from one of the best water on the trail i.m.o.
To catch up from the previous entry, the uphill was something, at least for me since I am just starting. Not sure if I am more out of shape than I thought or the difference in altitude (Memphis not more than a couple hundred feet, here one to two thousand), but I just couldn’t catch my breath on the uphills. I had to stop frequently. A number of hikers did pass me. Made it to the powerline overlook, found two Ausies there sitting on what looked like a couch but it was the boulder mentioned in the awol trail guide. They hiked on after a few minutes, so I took over the couch and did a boots off break.
As the profile showed, the hike from there to here was a little down...then flat...then up....then way down. Muscles starting to complain a bit right before getting here.
Over all a good 8.6 miles for the day.
Mosquitos out a bit, but perfect hiking weather today, sunny, high probably around 80, light breeze from time to time. Probably will be a bit cool tonight though...starting to cool off already.
7:50 still light but in the tent. three other hikers here and had a good time talking and listening to music. The two younger hikers have a great taste in music. Had mac & cheese with summer sausage for dinner. GREAT combo!
June 18,2016
Stony Brook Shelter to wintturi shelter
miles for day 9.9 + 0.4 side trails
Miles from Springer
Features
Elevation
1710.8
Stony Brook Shelter (1,760') ?12.1mS; 10.2mN
1760
1711.6
Stony Brook Road, Stony Brook (1,360')
1360
1715.5
Chateauguay Road (2,000')
2000
1716.2
Lakota Lake Lookout (2,640')
2640
1718.3
Trail to the Lookout (2,320') ?observation deck
2320
1720.7
Winturri Shelter (1,910')?10.2mS; 11.9mN
1910
6:40am
Got up at 5:30. In last night with Sorority Steve, Youngblood and Mango. Good night. Sleeping bag was great. Stiff, as expected but ok...see how the pack feels in a moment.
Heard a strange group howl twice this morning, could be dogs, wolves, elk or moose?
Well time to get moving!
8:15 Hiked about to miles...uphills still getting me. Doing a pack off break
Might have spoken too soon. Now 8:50 and all uphill from break. Had to stop to adjust pack. also had first snack.
9:30 Stopped for snack an water
10:36 Chateauguay rd only gone 3.9 miles....well now that is depressing.
11:40 Overlook
12:30 Boots off break, Must be close to fire tower, but don’t see it yet.
1:10 At the firetower / cabin. Climbed up the platform on the roof. Way out of my comfort zone but well worth it for the 360 view. Taking a big break here before moving on.
2:10 Woken up by two thru hikers. They were here for the view and went on to the next shelter. They signed the register as Darwin (darwinonthetrail.com) and Snuggles.
2:47 Now a group of day hikers.
3:47 Just cooked ramen and eating. I do want to move on after finishing.
4:00 One more hiker in for the view - Heath Bar
packing and about to move on.
8:15 made it to the shelter around 5:15 after being blown past by a few hikers during the uphill stretch. Set up the tent, got water ate and did camp chores including washing my shirt which was pretty ripe after just two days. There are 8 people here in total but most are tenting like me. Long day....I just hope I can move tomorrow.
12:45
got up at 5:30 but stayed in the tent for about an hour after that. really slow getting started, left camp at 8:10. hiking slow all day. here at the woodstock stage rd crossing stream for lunch. a few nice overlooks and a few good streams so far today. doing better today, but very little energy. well time to fill up on water and move on.
4:30 couldn't take another step so decided to camp on the up hill climb beyond Pomfret Rd. Just tired from three days of adjusting to the trail. Nice views today when crossing fields...reminded me of VA. Lots of variation in forest as well....birch to evergreen and back depending on elevation. also hit first trail magic of the trip...a soda left in a bucket by a road crossing.
not really disappointed I couldn’t get to the shelter tonight, 11.6 miles was a bit of a stretch for day 3 in of the hike.
got here about an hour ago. set up, did a camper’s shower, washed my hiking cloths and now writing this. But now it is time for dinner.
7:40 had a good dinner, read some and napped a bit. still hot (and it was definitely the hottest day so far) I am sitting in my tent sweating. but I am sure that will change when the sun finally sets.
glad I stopped when I did, I was more tired than I wanted to admit...no way I would have made it. I did carry 6 liters of water here from the road, but my camp is by an unmarked water source (might be seasonal but flowing well now) but it was insurance since I knew I was going to camp.
cell phone charger working well..charged my fitbit and phone last night (fitbit to 100% phone to about 80% and the battery recharged i n the sun today. finished recharging the phone over dinner. all ready to send photos and journal, but no service here.
oh yea, forgot to mention, fitbit is TOTALY WRONG about trail miles walked. It says I did 15.04 miles. previous days just as wrong. must be calibrated for flat, city walking.
June 20,2016
aprox a mile beyond Pomfret rd crossing to thistle hill shelter
miles for day ~4.1
Miles from Springer
Features
Elevation
1730
Cloudland Road (1,370')
1370
1732
Thistle Hill (1,800')
1800
1732.3
Thistle Hill Shelter (1,480')?11.9mS; 9mN
1480
6:50
woke up around 5am got out to tent at 6. still feeling tired and my stomach is a bit off, probably pushing myself too hard too soon on too hot of a day. Plan right now is to only go the 4 miles or so to the next shelter and take it easy the rest of the day (unless I fell much better when I start hiking).
10:00 just got to thistle hill shelter. going to take a long break then decide what to do next. logbook last entry indicated no water at happy hill shelter.
10:30 ate a big snack....still don’t want to move. hear animal scurrying behind the shelter...too tired to care.
found I have internet so I got the weather forecast....cooler the next two days with a 40%-50% chance of rain. might factor into my decision to stay or hike on, but right now at 10:35 my body is saying rest...time for a nap!
2:00 woken up once by a hiker. he came in got water then rolled out his sleeping bag and fell asleep. we both woke about 30 minutes ago..he is on day 2 of a southbound chunk and is in the same place I am in. it was fun commiserating with someone in the same boat. we both know that it is just time for us to get our trail-legs. he hiked on, probably to the camp I stayed at last night, but I am staying here.
new info on Happy Hill, the hiker said if you go upstream you can find water.
8:00 lost count of how many are here in total, but i am in the shelter with four others (one named nascar arrived first, another is a rodeo rider from Ohio (magic i think), gadget and I didn’t catch the other trailname). needed the short day today. shooting for the next shelter tomorrow. good night!
June 21,2016
Thistle hill shelter to The Norwich Inn
miles for day 13.8
Miles from Springer
Features
Elevation
1732.3
Thistle Hill Shelter (1,480')?11.9mS; 9mN
1480
1733.8
Joe Ranger Road (1,280')
1280
1737.1
Vt. 14, Patriots Bridge over White River (390') Hartford, Vt. 05047
390
1737.7
Tigertown Road, Podunk Road (540')
540
1738.5
Podunk Road, Podunk Brook (860')
860
1740.6
Griggs Mountain (1,570')
1570
1741.1
Happy Hill Shelter (1,460')?9mS; 7.6mN
1460
1744.6
Elm St. Trailhead (750')
750
1745.4
U.S. 5 (537') Norwich, Vt. 05055
537
1:40
rained last night around 3am but dry in shelter. didn’t think I slept that much but my
fitbit said otherwise, but whatever it is, cooler temps, downhills, the low mileage day, eating more, or the sleep but the miles are coming easer.
got up early (mostly due to nascar getting up at 4:30) and got out of camp by 7am. good views and mostly downhill all the way to west hartford. had the best time in this very small town thanks to mrs hart and trail magic. she called me over and served coffee, an omelet, toast and reasons for desert. she has been doing this for years and even after a flood caused by irene destroyed the town, the family rebuilt and continues to do trail magic. easily in my top five trail magic encounters I have had on the trail and, being early in my trek, most appreciated. hike on to this shelter for a spaghetti lunch and probably moving on to Norwich for the night, but will see after lunch.
one bad note....my backpack has a broken suspension bar. hasn’t affected how the pack feels but it is a concern.
just used a handicapped accessible privy. only our government would make trail clubs build a handicapped accessible privy where no wheelchair can go. (see pics).
also two weird section hikers just left. not sure what direction they are going but they had a ton of gear, were wearing jeans and cotton t-shirts and were just odd.
it is now 2:25 to town I go!
6:00
at jasper murdocs alehouse restaurant at the Norwich Inn (claim to it inspired Newhart tv show). splurged and got a room instead of going on to Hanover (just couldn’t do a 1.5mile road walk). this place is a madhouse. was at the bar but moved to a table to order dinner.
hike in was easy, glad I did it. Also found trail magic on the road walk in (cake). also stopped at the store for a drink, and again to check out for resupply tomorrow and to pick up a toothbrush, paste and another drink.
i did get a kick out of the fact that when I got a room, I had to ask for the hiker rate, because I changed into a clean shirt she said "she couldn’t smell me."
proud I did more than 12 miles today, and tomorrow a new state. Only two left yea!
more on the strange section hikers....saw them in the store buying canned food. these guys are just wierd. also, how did they get behind me? or did they just sit around for an hour or two figuring out what to do next?
