07-24-13 On Baker Mountain Together

Today was a nice peaceful day. We didn't see many folks, but the terrain more than made up for it and greeted us with its beauty.

Through the fog we could see the ski runs and gondola atop Bromley Mountain. The ridge continued to Styles Peak where we stopped for lunch. Down we went to Griffith Lake then back up to the most enchanting view on Baker Peak.

A final two mile descent to Lost Pond Shelter for the night. Though mosquitoes are in the area, there aren't enough to warrant bug spray--what an amazing gift.

We are near the brook which adds an additional level of coolness to an already cool night. We will be sleeping extra snug in our sleeping bags tonight.

07-23-13 Together in Manchester Center, Vermont

The rain started around 2 a.m. and never let up. With only five miles into town, we decided to sleep in and let the rain pass. It never did.

B checked the Doppler on the smartphone to discover that we were a small pin in a sea of green.

Yep. Not only were we going to be hiking in the rain, but also tearing down and loading up in the rain.

We tore down the tent under the rainfly only to find out our camp spot was a huge puddle. Even though the inside portion was dry, it was only a matter of time before it would be wet in the bag. It was at that moment we decided to stay in town.

The five miles of trail were a series of streams, roots and mud puddles. Our feet were soaked in the first five minutes which actually made hiking in these conditions easier. The stream crossings became waterfall crossings. 1,000 miles ago I would have been miserable. Today I was having fun (it also helped that I knew I would be in town).

At the highway we hitched a ride with a lady and her children into town. One brand new SUV. Two smelly, wet hikers. Equals awesome trail magic--thank you!

According to a local, the main industry in Manchester Center, Vermont is tourism--golf, skiing, outlet malls. We stripped down to our ponchos and washed our clothes, then showered and had lunch with Morning Kid, her parents, Bamboo and Shaman.

Tonight we are staying at the Chalet courtesy of Morning Kid's parents. They also treated us to a special dinner. Thank you so much for your generosity!

It's amazing how one's day can change--starting it in a wet tent, ending it in a dry bed.

07-22-13 Inspired On Stratton Mountain Together

Beginning at three o'clock in the morning it began lightly raining off and on. At 6:30 when it began lightly raining again as I started my hike, I didn't think much of it and figured it would stop shortly. Wrong. For the next hour and a half it rained steadily with short fits of downpours.

The trail was flooded, and as I slouched through the puddles, it was a new sensation--ice cold water.

The rain stopped early morning, in time for us to reach the top of Stratton Mountain (elev 3,936 feet) and climb the tower for a view. One hundred years earlier, James Taylor stood in that very spot and dreamed up the Vermont Long Trail followed a few years later by Benton MacKaye's Appalachian Trail idea.

After a three mile climb back down the mountain, we were sitting on the shores of the Stratton Pond eating lunch, and drying our shoes, socks, feet, etc.

The rest of the day was fun; well, once you got over trying to be clean or dry. We saw the best of the best in Vermont mud. Slid, slipped, tripped, full on fell, splashed and sloshed; you name it, we did it.

Filtered water in preparation for dry camping near Prospect Rock. Arrived before the rain, and set up in time. Once it passed, we ate dinner looking out towards the Green Mountains and down into Manchester Center, Vermont.

07-21-13 Somewhere near Glastenbury Mountain

The evening shower made for a cool morning. While we ate our bagel breakfast, I almost felt like we were getting ready for a bicycle ride; nostalgia dies hard. Regardless, today was excellent hiking--or biking weather.

The first 105.2 miles of the Appalachian Trail in Vermont are also the Long Trail. So far, I am loving the terrain. There's variety--mud/rock hops, steep up and downs, but my favorite is the spongy pine-needle laden trail where we can just cruise.

Enjoyed a chilly, but spectacular view from the lookout tower atop Glastenbury Mountain. Continued on to Kid Gore Shelter for lunch also with a great view.

With 12.8 miles already in the belt, we headed to Story Spring Shelter a final 4.6 miles on the day. It's refreshing to have a spring again that outputs cold, CLEAR water. Cheers!

07-20-13 Together in Vermont

For the most part, the terrain was pleasant and we made great time. In some sections, the trail was muddy so we had to be strategic about which rocks to step on. Once, I stepped on a "false rock" and watched as my foot disappeared into a pile of mud. Surprisingly, my shoes didn't get wet.

We stopped for lunch at the Congdon Shelter with Shaman, Bamboo and Morning Kid's dad. Filtered additional water to keep hydrated. Unfortunately most of the water in this area is tinted an off color. Thankfully though, it tastes much better than the sulfur water we had several days previous.

The trail led us straight down--literally, straight down--800 feet to Vermont Highway 9. We took a brief break at the bottom to recoup and were reunited with Wolf Man and Grey Cloud. They were being dropped back onto the trail, so their buddy kindly took our trash--thank you!

Then it was straight back up 1,100 feet to our campsite at Melville Nauheim Shelter. The climb actually wasn't that bad, except I ran out of fuel. Even with the snack we had just ate, my body was starving.

Had a hearty dinner with friends while it lightly rained outside. Fell asleep to the sound of subtle raindrops on our tent.

07-19-13 At the highest peak in Massachusetts together

We resumed our ascent of Mount Greylock, the highest point in Massachusetts at 3,491 feet. At the top is a Veterans War Memorial Tower where we had our morning snack.

The signs signaling us down the summit were not only confusing, but pointed in the wrong direction. We ignored them and followed the path that actually looked like it was going down.

We followed a ridge to Mount Williams and then plummeted down the mountain into Williamstown, Massachusetts.

The trail has been leading us through all sorts of towns lately. This is indicative of why the Appalachian Trail was originally created: to give people in town an outlet into nature.

Rode a couple of trail-magic bikes to the Stop and Shop for yet another resupply and lunch. Our eyes were bigger than our stomachs, so we had to pack out some of the food we bought for lunch.

We dropped the bikes off and the homeowners let us fill up our water bottles too. It felt great riding a bike again; wind in our hair... Why are we hiking again? Oops, I digress.

The climb back up to the ridge was gradual, but tiring with the midday heat. We crossed into Vermont, our twelfth state, and set up camp shortly after the border. Slathered my burns in Neosporin again for the night. Leg is much better, but hand still feels like a really bad sunburn.

07-18-13 Somewhere with first and second-degree burns

Now don't get too worried with the title; remember second degree burns is like a really bad sunburn with blisters.

Before we get to that story though, let's start from the beginning...

We enjoyed our last few hours of civilization in Dalton then headed back into the woods. Packed out a sub sandwich for lunch and ate it on the marble outcroppings named "The Cobbles" with a view down to the Hoosic River Valley and Mount Greylock.

Continued downhill and into the town of Cheshire, Massachusetts. From there it was a gradual uphill as we began our ascent of Mount Greylock. Stopped short of the summit at Mark Noepel Shelter where we called it a night.

For dinner, we headed over to the shelter with friends Bamboo, Shaman, Morning Kid, her dad, and Steady State.

I was in a seated position boiling water on our alcohol stove. The water reached a boil and the flame burned out. I was pouring the water into our Rice Sides' sleeves when I lost my grip and spilled it on my leg. In a frenzy I raced to set down the pot and spilled more on my hand. I rushed out of the shelter eager to get my pants off the burned skin.

B poured cool water on the burned areas and we slathered Neosporin on. I ventured back over to the shelter for dinner, but spent the remainder of the evening airing out my wounds in the tent.