Long Trail (Vermont) Journal

As transcribed by Connie's husband, who received her trail notes via UPS delivery man this morning at 1155hrs.

8/10/07 Long Trail Day 1

Randy & I left home at 0730. I forgot to weigh my pack but it seems to still be in the 35 lb range. It's rainy today - hope not an inauspicious start to the trip. Traffic is really slow & I mess up the directions in Troy so by the time we get to Greylock Community Club parking - Jim, my former co-worker, has left. He was there to see me off since he can't hike with me. So Randy & I drive the block to the stairway over the river & he takes my pic & sees me off. It's still raining so I've got rainjacket & pants on. I take it slow & easy leaving R about 1030. I pass a man & woman about 1/2 hr on the trail southbound. At 1140 I stop for lunch. It's a good thing 'cause just after lunch is a big, steep, boulder-strewn rock face to climb. After several false starts, I make it to the top of an unnamed mtn. No view, it's too overgrown. Just beyond, however, is Eph's Lookout where a nice view & cool breeze can be had. Not long after, I meet a young man going south & then I'm at the Mass-Vt line. I sign the register & a nice older man, who is section hiking the AT Southbound (SOBO), took my pic with my camera. Going on my way at 1350, I meet a young man & woman. They stopped to cook lunch, going northbound. Turns out we meet up again. Anyway, I trudge on & over some ridges & past a couple muddy spots I get to my shelter. The young man had passed me earlier & just before the shelter he was waiting for his friend. By the time I got back to the shelter from checking out the privy & water supply, they had arrived. They decided to set up their tent so I had the shelter to myself. I unpack & I realize I'd forgotten both my book and my fleece. Again with the fleece! Good thing my head's attached. It's a little cool tonight but I can do as I did on the NPT. Just wrap shoulders in my bag liner & sit in my sleeping bag. I'll rectify both issues in Manchester Center. The sun started peeking out about 1730, about the time I started to eat. My dehydrated meal (Pumpkin Spaghetti) rehydrated well. Yum! Since I've nothing to read, I'll sit up as long as I can but it will be an early night. About 1830 Craig & his Dad, Steve, arrived. Nice people. Steve is sleeping in a hammock...Craig in the lean-to. Craig lives in Texas & his dad runs a country store in Montana. They used to live here in Bennington & are having a hiking holiday.

8/11/07 Day 2

A hiker came in about 2130 last night. We had all crashed so he had to camp in the dark. He left at 0800. I met so many people today I can't remember. I made it to Congdon Shelter in good time & had lunch at 1240. I spent an hour there with shoes & sox off to let feet dry. I left for the last 5 miles at 1340. It went OK till Harmon Hill. Straight down. The 1.6 miles took me 2 hours. I was shaking with fatigue at the bottom where I rested 15 minutes. I swear if someone in the parking lot had asked if I wanted a ride to Bennington I would have taken it. The last 1.6 miles was like the Harmon Hill except uphill. I questioned my sanity. I definitley was not having fun. If the next 2 days are like this, I'll have to stop. I was 2 hours over my trip time estimate. Not a crisis but on a 14-15 mile day - not good. Anyway, I made the Melville N??? shelter about 1830. Four people already there with 2 camping. Just after I came in & claimed a bunk - 3 more came in & took the top bunks. Full house. Since there was an ATV rally last night near the last shelter all night, I'll sleep pretty good tonight.

[Transcriber's comments: This is a lot of damn typin', podna. And if you think it's easy to read her chicken scratchin', you got another think comin'. That woman is gonna pay, big time, if she ever makes it back home.]

8/12/07 Day 3

Slept pretty good last night. Got up at 6AM & had tea & cereal. I was the last one to leave camp at 0800. Saw 2 moose droppings this afternoon. Otherwise, only a couple of mountain climbs. Still by the time I got to Kid Gore Shelter my feet were very rock weary. The trail is nothing but rocks and roots. When I got to the campsite I wanted it was closed. The neighboring site - Kid Gore, was full of a wilderness teen group. The 2 guys I have been hiking with came right behind me. So the group set up their tents and we got half the shelter bunks. That was nice of them. Tomorrow is a 15 mile day over what looks like difficult & steep terrain. Craig (from the 1st night) wants to do 20 so he can get to his designated exit point on Wednesday (Danbury, VT). John (from last night) is going to the site with me. Tomorrow is my make-or-break decision on continuing this trip.

8/13/07 Day 4

Rain last night about 0430. Craig, trying out his dad's hammock, came into the shelter. The kids & Craig were up at 0530. I got up at 0545 because I wanted an early start. I skipped tea & got ready & was on the trail by 0730. John, trail name Budman, and I flip-flopped back & forth leading each other. Turned out we met up again at 1230 at a nice stream where we had lunch. Not knowing how hot or arduous the climb up Stratton Mtn would be, we refilled our water bladders. I'm glad 'cause once at Stratton Pond Shelter the water source is a slow spring, 1/2 mile round trip from the shelter. I had a liter and a half left so I'll get water in the morning. The climb up Stratton was not as bad as we had anticipated. We climbed the fire tower and took some pics. 3.2 miles and 2 hrs later, we are at the shelter. Again, feet very rock weary & my left heel skin is wearing off. The AT hikers here say duct tape instead of band-aids. I've noticed over the last 4 days lots of marble & quartz rocks & boulders in the trail. Many times it looks like ice, left over from winter. It started raining as we were packing up at lunch & so all my clothing is wet. I'm getting really used to putting on cold, wet clothes.

8/14/07 Day 5

The day started well but cold. I got up about 0645 knowing I was going into town. Tried to take a pic of the shelter - a grand one - but the camera wouldn't work. I chatted with the other hikers and ate brekkies and by the time the others had left I was packing & was gone by 0900. I made the 5 miles to Rootville Rd by noon. From there to Rt 11/30 is about 2.5 miles. No trail angels to offer a ride. Had to ask which way to Manchester Center 'cause there aren't any signs. No angels to give me a ride to town. I stopped at Susie's Cafe at the edge of town at 1PM & had a burger - no fries. Walked the 5+ more blocks to arrive at lodging at about 1420. No one home. Workmen in the back said they'd be right back. By 1515 I asked workmen who seemed to be friends if the owners were coming back. Guy let's me in and shows me my room, which is OK but no phone, no door lock & shared bath. I shower & dress in town clothes & head to center again. Get fleece, get phone call to Randy & get some lunch & heel 1st Aid supplies. Walk back to Suttons. Finally meet woman - I forget her name. Ask for washer & dryer. She directs me to laundromat in area I just came from. Back I trudge. 7PM I get back & meet Frank. Ask if there's breakfast - Nope. Ask for ride to Post Office & trailhead - Nope. Nicely directs me to eateries where I might catch a ride to trailhead in the morning. No good - I need to send a box! Not helpful. 1930 now and I still have to walk to supper. Not much of a rest day for my feet. Well, a modicum of good news and a new plan. I checked out Frank's suggestion for breakfast, a cafe called Up For Breakfast. They open early. The shiping center just around the corner opens at 0830. So, go to cafe about 0800 see if I can hook a ride that will wait for me to UPS a package. Then head for trailhead. If no free ride developes, get shipping store to call a cab. Finished checking out the Main Street shop possibilities for the morning, saw a little restaurant offering Lamb Tangine. Chucked my steak house plan (3 more blocks) & ate at the Harvest Grille. The Lamb Tangine was perfect. A taste trip back to Pakistan. Back to the room by 9PM. 2 glasses of Chardonnay have put me out.

Lessons Learned this section:

1. No downhill goes unpunished - meaning, the downhill is balanced by an equally challenging uphill next.
2. Sport tape in med kit for rubbed-raw places like toes & heels.
3. Take the climbing as slow at the bottom of the grade as you would be going at the top. It's not a race, don't arrive at the top looking like a heart attack about to happen.