29 June - Moose Mountain Shelter

No rain this morning on us but rain nearby.  Warm, low 80s in the sun.  Clearing and cooler this evening.  Wendy is sleeping in heavyweight long underwear, wool socks, Under Armor shirt, polar fleece top, all in her 20° sleeping bag.

Left Hanover and climbed all day - mostly gradual.  Made good time.  Got here before 3:00 and took a nap.  My legs were very sore, knees, hips, and shin.  All is better for now. 

This is a nice shelter; it even has a bit of a view.   The privy is unique.  I have seen a "box over a hole" privy before.  This is a composting privy - a small box with a toilet seat over a bigger box for composting.  But this also has four large posts supporting a roof - no walls though.

On our way to the White Mountains.  "Still living the dream" as a trail angel reminded me.  He is a painter but would really rather be out here hiking. 

Sunset over the Connecticut River, behind the Sunset Motel

28 June - Hanover (unplanned zero)

Thunderstorms, high 80.

Woke to heavy rain and a forecast of thunderstorms and high winds.  We went back to sleep and stayed another day at the Sunset Motel. 

Went into town to mail the bounce box so we can leave earlier in the morning.  Got lunch, watched Toy Story in 3D, and came back to the room with dinner.  During the week, there is a free bus system in this area.

Student protest is alive and well here at Dartmouth.

Hanover / Dartmouth

Took some time today to walk around Hanover and Dartmouth. Not too much walking because I need to rest my legs. Very pretty campus and town.

We are finally in New Hampshire. Only Maine and New Hampshire left for our northern trip. We will leave tomorrow and in about 4 days we should be in the White Mtns.

25 June - Podunk Rd. (literally)

Sunny beautiful day. High maybe 80 in the sun.

Nice trail today. Mostly good footing with a few climbs. Many different views of the AT: deciduous forests (like Virginia), northern pine forest of Hemlock or White Pine, even a few open meadow peaks that almost seemed like alpine meadows. These had some wildflowers (see pics in separate mail).

We saw the network of tubing that is used to collect sap to make maple syrup. Each tree is tapped (not now) and the tubes are connected and eventually run downhill to where the sap is collected and cooked to thicken.

We crossed the White River at West Hartford just before the end of day. Katie (Mark Shaw's wife) picked us up at the Podunk Rd. trail head. Then she took us to the Hanover, NH Post Office to pick up our bounce box. Then she took us shopping for new shoes. It was really a great help.

Mark and Katie have a nice home and open it to hikers (including dinner if you want). We stayed there two nights. He provides shuttles and knows all the trail heads in the region. He charges for these services but depending on your situation, it can be a great value. (802 477_2048 if your in need)

26 June - Hanover, New Hampshire

Cloudy and cool, high in low 70s.

Hiked in from Podunk Rd. under threat of rain.  Started raining as we came into Norwich, VT, which is just across the Connecticut river from Hanover.  Not too wet. 

Trail goes right through Hanover and Dartmouth College campus.  We plan to take a zero day tomorrow and see the place.

Picture is of Happy Hill Shelter, the oldest shelter on the AT.  It is older than the AT actually.   The original was built in 1918.  This is a replacement.

Wildflowers

24 June - South Pomfret, VT

Cloudy, sunny, rainy, thunderstorms. Warm with cool breezes. Lots of weather today. High close to 80 but usually cooler.

We started hiking and it looked like rain. Stayed that way most of the morning without much rain. It was good hiking weather. Then it rained very hard but we were able to hide in a shelter for most of it. Then the skies cleared and it was sunny and beautiful with big puffy white clouds. Wendy commented on what a nice hike it had been given the terrible forecast. Then the rain returned, off and on at first and a hard rain later.

Overall it was a very pleasant hike as Wendy said. Trail conditions are improved (soil is better or has better drainage) although with the rain it became very muddy in a few places. We were a muddy mess at the end of the day. We hiked 12.7 miles today.

We are staying with Mark Shaw (Bad Influence when he through hiked). He has been doing the shuttles for us. It was great today to be able to hike knowing our packs were dry and we could get dry tonight.

Water day near Killington

23 June - slack pack

Rained all night.  Cloudy and cool in the morning with some sun in the afternoon.

We hiked 13 miles today.  Mark Shaw gave us a ride down the trail and we hiked back to the Inn at Long Trail.  This is a great place for hikers and it has a wonderful Irish bar.  Their slogan:  "A place where the dressed up folk, travel-worn motorist and roughly dressed hiker all might mingle with no apologies necessary ".

We saw some more trail maintenance workers from the Vermont Youth Conservative Corp  (VYCC).  Apparently the Green Mountain Club got some stimulus package money to work on the trail here and they are working with the VYCC to employ college age kids to do it.

We saw something new on the trail today - a ladder.  They are using it temporarily to get up and over a boulder.

Today was water day.  In particular, a two mile section of an otherwise dull trail had lakes, ponds, streams, and waterfalls.  See pictures attached to separate message.

We met Bill and Stephanie, the couple we first met in Manchester Center who got engaged while on the trail.  They caught up to us today and we had dinner in the bar.  They will go up the Long Trail tomorrow.

Mark will pick us up in the morning and take us back to the same spot and we will continue hiking north on the AT.

No Doubt's pack - too much!

We learned from Bill and Stephanie that No Doubt sent 30 lbs of gear home with his girl friend.

One more from Killington

22 June - Inn at Long Trail (Rt. 4)

Sunny, high in the low 70s in the mountains.  Cool last night but I was warm in my new sleeping bag.

Another beautiful day on the Vermont trail.  The mud is not quite dried but it is much better.  Although it is raining now so tomorrow is another matter. 

We started the day with the climb up Killington.  From Clarendon Gorge it is a mostly gradual climb of 3000 feet.   We did the first 1000 yesterday getting to Governor Clement Shelter.   The 2000 foot climb today went better than expected and got us to a shelter 0.2 miles from the summit.   The Companion describes that remaining trail as "very steep".  In places,  it was more like a rock ladder.  But it was a beautiful view and worth the side trip. 

We are staying at the Inn at Long Trail.  This is near the point where the Long Trail will continue north and the AT will go more northeast to New Hampshire and Maine.

We said goodbye to No Doubt tonight.  His girl friend met him here and she gave us a ride into the Killington Post Office to pick up our package from Shana (food).  We had dinner together here.  Tomorrow he goes north and we go east.  Good kid.

Killington, Vermont

Killington is the highest peak along the AT in Vermont and the second highest in the state.  The peak is unfortunately decorated with antennas.  The ski slopes started just below us.  If we had been here just a few days later, we could have ridden the ski lift down to the village for food etc.

21 June - Governor Clement Shelter.

Sunny and warmer, high in the low 80s (70s on the trail).

Today was the best hiking day we've had in Vermont. Started with climbing Bear Mtn. at 1500 feet. Coming down, I took the picture from Airport Vista.

Then we crossed Clarendon Gorge on a suspension bridge. It was very tempting to go swimming but we were trying to do 15 miles so we kept going.

We met Ken on the trail - he is a peak bagger (done all the AMC 100 highest peaks). Today he was just out doing trail magic - he gave us a bag of his wife's homemade cookies. Wonderful!

We have been hiking with "No Doubt". He is hiking the Long Trail. He is carrying a 60 lb. pack, left after us, went swimming, and still beat us to the shelter tonight.

Today is Hike Naked Day on the AT. It is on the first day of summer and very unofficial. We did not see anyone however, No Doubt saw nine guys pull into a trail crossing lot, strip, ask him to take pictures, then hike south on the AT.

498 miles left to Katahdin.

20 June - Greenwall Shelter

Rainy and warm - low 80s.  But cooler on the trail.

We were tenting last night.  While packing up, it started raining.  We are now huddled in the tent waiting for the rain to stop....

_____________

Rained a couple more times today.  We hiked to the next shelter and took out the tent to get it to dry.  We hiked 10+ miles today to Greenwall.  We went by Little Rock Pond and crossed White Rock mountain.   Both very pretty.

I am so tired of wet rocks, wet roots, and mud.

Location Note from #Compass

White Rocks Mountain

Altitude: 2551 ft
Latitude: 43°25'54.8" N
Longitude: 72°56'31.9" W

19 June Peru Peak

19 June - Lost Pond Shelter

Sunny,  high in the 80's but only the low 70s in the green tunnel.  Nice breeze most of the day.

Good hiking weather.   Mud is still bad in many places.  Climbed 1500 feet to Bromley Mtn which has a cabin, tower, and ski lift.  Then up and down to a 800 climb up Peru Peak.  Some more small up and down until we arrived at Peru Peak Shelter. We planned to spend the night but felt good so we continued to Lost Pond Shelter, almost 15miles total.  We are tired but feel OK - should be ready for tomorrow.

Wendy read in the shelter register an entry signed by Solo.  He is using his new trail name.

She also saw an entry from Mo Fo and Dave the Man.  They are several days ahead.  They must not have taken a zero day after all.

Summit of Bromley Mtn.

Manchester Center

Great town visit.  The town is very scenic and the people very nice.  Sutton's Place has been very nice too.  Good location for access.

Ate at Ye Old Tavern for dinner, Mrs. Murphy's Donuts for breakfast, and Zoey's Bakery and Deli for lunch.  All were excellent and there were many places we would have liked to try. 

Mountain Goat is a great outfitter.  Eastern Mountain Sports is also good.  Lots of high-end outlet stores too but I did not bother looking.

Said goodbye to Joe from Iowa and Train Wreck this morning.  They are taking some time off to rent a car and drive to the coast.  They may or may not come back on the trail next week .

There is another thru-hiker and two Long Trail hikers here tonight.   The LT hikers are a couple and the guy proposed back at Stratton Pond.  They are celebrating tonight with champagne.

Breakfast tomorrow at Mrs. Murphy's and then hitch back to the trail.

Typical town visit

1. Go to PO for packages - bounce box and/or food from ground control (Shana).

2. Plan next phase, 10+ days (town/food stops; next zero and resupply).

3. Do laundry.

4. Clean gear.

5. Buy additional groceries, drugs, etc.

6. Go to outfitters if needed.

7. Get cash.

8. Go to library etc. for computer access to update journal and map.

9. Back to PO to mail bounce box etc.

10. Rest.

18 June - Manchester Center, zero day pictures

Quote from last week on yet another rainy morning...

  "I just want this damn hike over."
       - Olaf, thru-hiker (maybe)

Olaf needs to take a zero day.