Day Nineteen: Cooley Glen to Stark’s Nest

Rained last night and this morning.  I slept in this morning in my tent until the rain let up enough to make a run  for it.  Spent the morning getting really soaked from all the wet branches.  At about 11:00 am the sun came out and we had a beautiful day.  Had lunch at Battell Shelter and got great pleasure out of changing into dry socks.  The highlight of the day was climbing Mount Abraham and enjoying the fantastic 360° views.  This is my favorite spot on the trail so far.  Enjoyed walking along the ridge all afternoon.  I got a little lost at the Sugarbush Ski Area missing a turn of the LT as it left a ski trail and having to backtrack up a very steep hill.

Stark's Nest at Mad River Glenn Ski Area

I arrived at the Stark’s Nest on Mad River Glenn Ski area just before 8:00 pm.  The Stark’s Nest  is a ski-warming hut that was recently rebuilt. Stoney and another couple are here as well.  Great views, a fabulous sunset and a fireworks show that looks to be coming from Derby.  Awesome day!

Hiked 13.8 miles today.

Day Eighteen: Boyce Shelter to Cooley Glen Shelter

I slept in this morning as I really liked the Boyce Shelter as it is up high off the ground and quite clean.  Hiked this morning to the Emily Proctor Shelter for a brief rest.  Had lunch at a beautiful spot on top of Mount Roosevelt called Killington Lookout.  Awesome view as it was very clear today.   Also on the cool side, a perfect hiking day.

Arrived at the Cooley Glen Shelter at about 4:30pm and decided to call it a day.  I would have pushed on but spoke to a group of south bounders who didn’t see any camping spots north of here and I didn’t think that I could make the next shelter.  There is a camp group of 14-15 year olds here who have been very entertaining tonight.  These kids are all very rich from places like Scarsdale, Potomac, Bloomfield and the Mainline.  Also a boy named Ray from Gongdong China who said that he liked talking to me instead of the immature kids in his camp group.  I am putting up my tent as this group has pretty much overrun the shelter.  I am hiking much better than I was earlier in my trip.  My knee feels much better and I am confident that I can finish the trail.  I hope to have a big day tomorrow.

Hiked 9.5 miles today.

Day Seventeen: Sunrise Shelter to Boyce Shelter

Up early and cooked a hot breakfast.  Today was a great day!  Although a little hot, I was up on a ridge most of the day with strong breezes.  Stopped for lunch and a nearly three hour rest at Sucker Brook Shelter.  Pushed on and had heavy rain in the afternoon when I reached Middlebury Snow Bowl Ski Area.   Went for the first swim of my hike in the rain at Lake Pleiad.  This really cooled me off and inspired me to push on.  Marched on and arrived late at Boyce Shelter out of water, tired and hungry.

This is the second straight night that I have a shelter to myself and I only saw 3 hikers all day on the trail.  I had an awesome day and am quite excited as this shelter is the halfway point of the Long Trail.

Hiked 13.9 miles today.

Day Sixteen: Green Road to Sunrise Shelter

No rain last night, my tent is now the driest that it has been since I started.  The black flies were swarming this morning so I skipped breakfast and moved on out as soon as possible.  Hiked from Green Road to David Logan Shelter in the morning.  It is very hot also humid.  Took break from heat at shelter and then moved on for Sunrise Shelter. Saw only 5 other hikers during the entire day.  What a difference from before when the AT and LT share the same path.

Arrived at Sunrise Shelter at about 4:45 pm and decided to call it a day.  I am totally exhausted from the heat and believe it or not miss the cool rainy weather from the first week of my journey.  Had an early dinner and have the shelter to myself tonight.

Hiked 10.1 miles today.

Day Fifteen: Long Trail Inn to Green Road

Another great breakfast at the Long Trail Inn.  I packed and organized all my stuff and gave Christine a few things to bring home including my book, olive oil and honey.  I can’t believe how heavy my pack must have been when I started.  We went to the Pico alpine slide.  Samantha really liked the slide ride and wanted to go again.  The girls had ice cream and I finished up the leftover pizza from last night.  I also made a new Fosters can stove stand/wind screen.  This time with bigger holes.  It works better, but the holes need to be higher up the can.  We said our good byes at the Route 4/LT trailhead.  I am going to miss both of them and will just have to hike faster so I can finish and get home sooner.

Maine Junction

I started hiking at 1:40 pm.  Got to Rolston Rest Shelter where I was planning on staying and decided to push on.  I camped on Green Road, which is now a snowmobile trail at the crest of a very steep hill.  There is a great view of the Chittenden Reservoir.  This is my first time not staying in or camping at a shelter.  I really like the relative peace and quiet of the LT now that the AT hikers have veered of towards New Hampshire.  I only saw three other hikers all day and no one passed me.  The black flies were terrible while I was setting up camp so I fired up a Cohiba and they didn’t bother me at all.  I am really enjoying the peace and serenity of today and this spot.

Hiked 8.9 miles today.

Day 14: Long Trail Inn

Had an awesome breakfast at the Long Trail Inn and went for a hike with Christine and Samantha.   I carried Samantha on my back in the Kelty child carrier.  We climbed Deer Leap Mountain to the lookout and then around to the Maine Junction to the LT south to Route 4 and to the Inn.

The girls took a nap while I did laundry and watched the Red Sox get clobbered by Chicago.  We went to the virtual café so I could check on 1918, my roto team.  We are in 3rd place but dropping points rapidly.  The season doesn’t look good for 1918 unless Pedro makes a remarkable recovery.  Went to Outback Pizza for dinner and to Ben & Jerry’s in Rutland for ice cream.

Hiked 0 miles today.

Day Thirteen: Cooper Lodge to Long Trail Inn

Started the day leisurely as I was only going as far as Route 4/The Long Trail Inn.  Relatively easy hike today down from Killington and over Pico Mountain to the Inn.

Arrived about 12:30 pm and who was sitting at the bar but BJ the Bear.  Had the Irish beef stew for lunch.  Called Christine and much to my surprise, we had a room reserved at the Long Trail Inn as everything in Brandon was booked.  My day was now much easier as I will not have to hitch or take two buses to Brandon.

I met Hungry Howie at the Inn and took his picture.  I am admirer of Hungry Howie and had picked much of my gear after reading his advice on  Wingfoot’s AT thru-hike bulletin board.

Hungry Howie

Went in to Rutland on the shuttle bus to re-supply and get the strap on my pack fixed.  Had dinner and watched the band at the Inn while waiting for Christine and Samantha.  They arrived at about 10:30 pm.  It was great to see them after being away for two weeks.

Hiked 6.3 miles today.

Day Twelve: Clarendon Shelter to Cooper Lodge

A really pleasant day.  Not as humid as yesterday and no rain again.  The mosquitoes were really bad in the shelter last night, I sleep much better in the tent.

Started on the trail just after 8:00 am.  The morning hike was flat and easy.  Had lunch at Governor Clement Shelter with Kirk and BJ.  Found some “trail magic” courtesy of Gnome today, cans of cola in a stream.  The soda was most refreshing.  The afternoon hike up Killington was brutal, straight up on rocks and roots forever.  It appeared to be a newly cut trail that had not yet been “broken in” and was by far the toughest section of trail that I had yet encountered.

I am camping on a platform near the top of Killington (2nd highest peak in VT) behind Cooper Lodge.  I bid farewell to BJ the Bear, who is pushing on and who’s company I have enjoyed so much these past few days.  He is doing the AT and the trail splits up ahead.  What could be better, camping on top of a mountain with solitude and a Davidoff cigar, the Red Sox game on the Walkman, and dinner of couscous and sun-dried tomatoes.  I am pooped and will turn in early.

Hiked 10.1 miles today.

Day Eleven: Greenwall Shelter to Clarendon Shelter

Out of bed by 6:30 am and on the trail by 8:00 am.  Made a wrong turn onto a side trail and hiked an extra mile out of my way.  In the process, I fell on a wet rock and banged my elbow pretty good.  Got back on the trail but was somewhat down after my wrong turn and spill.  Warm humid day and no rain, which was a nice change.

Kirk and B.J. The Bear at the Clarendon Shelter

Reached the beautiful Clarendon Gorge and walked over a scary suspension bridge.  BJ the Bear was sitting on the other side of the gorge putting away his food drop.  I found a $5 bill on the side of Route 103 while walking with BJ to the Whistle Stop, a restaurant ½ mile from the trail.  Had a tasty cheeseburger and 2 diet Pepsis.  Wow, real food was awesome!  Hiked up a really tough hill on the other side of route 103 with BJ and arrived at the Clarendon Shelter.

Slo Toe, Pokey and Gumby from Indiana

Kirk was already at the shelter and then a father and two sons from Indiana, Slow Toe, Pokey and Gumby showed up.  Pokey and Gumby were quite an amazing story, two 7-year-old twin boys who were thru-hiking the LT.  A salty old Vermonter showed up at the shelter on an RV to keep us company.  I really enjoyed the second half of my day after the slow start.  Sleeping in the shelter tonight with a few very friendly mosquitoes.

Hiked 8.7 miles today.

Day Ten: Griffith Lake to Greenwall Shelter

It rained throughout the night and in the morning.  Taking down the tent and packing up in the rain is the pits.   It cleared up by late morning and actually turned out to be a very nice day.  I was tired all day and hiked rather slowly.  Climbed over Baker Peak and White Rocks Mountain.  The hiking was moderate all day and I hiked for 11 hours today.  Met some interesting people including Stoney, who is from VT and spent the past 8 years hiking across Siberia and then down to Laos, Cambodia and Viet Nam.

Rock art on the Long Trail at junction with spur trail to White Rock Cliffs

Arrived late at the crowded Greenwall Shelter so I put up my tent behind the shelter in the dark.  Hopefully, everything will dry out tonight.  I listened to the Red Sox game before falling asleep.

Hiked 13.8 miles.