The Long Trail: Section 3

On year three of my section hike of the Long Trail, I found myself hiking solo in the Green Mountain state. My friends and I had been unable to agree to a week in August for the hike. John was tied up with projects at home. I had a limited window, and Jeff was concerned about weather, wanting to delay. I decided to press on with my start date. A fierce nor’easter storm with wind and rain was due to pass through the day before I started. It had scared off Jeff, and John who wanted to avoid the same mud issues from the year before.

I drove to the Vermont area after the storm, getting a late start. It had rained quite a bit, but it was not the apocalypse the meteorologists had predicted on the nightly news. The day after was bright and I decided to hike south this year to Mad Tom Notch Road, where we had finished the year before.

I started the hike from the Pico trailhead on Route 4. Climbing towards the first mountain on the trail,I passed the Churchill Scott shelter. It looked quite dark and wet from the previous weather. I continued on my way to Pico Peak. The summit was off a short spur trail from the Long Trail, but I wanted to bag it for my 100 highest list. Gaining elevation, the trail became dry and I was making good time. Reaching the hut before dark, I unrolled my quilt and inflated a sleeping pad.

The shelter at Pico is fully enclosed. It’s not insulated or heated,but an excellent shelter from the wind. Many fully enclosed shelter are infested with mice, but tonight Mickey and I might have to share some space. The sound of scurrying and scratching did not awaken me during the night and I arose at dawn.

I hiked past the shelter at Killington Mountain and continued on my way to Little Killington. Descending past Governor Clement Shelter at 12+ miles, I decided to camp at Clarendon Gorge Shelter and get a fresh start early the next day. Arriving there, I was alone but for a short time. A young hiker soon joined my. She was on summer break and was hiking some Long Trail sections she had already completed as part of her hike of the Appalachian Trail years before.

A pastor from Pennsylvania joined us. Every year he came back and hiked a section as I did. Soon a father and his young daughter arrived, and then a young attorney on break before beginning practice with a new firm. We ate dinner, chatted around the fire and one by one retired to sleep.

Arising early at dawn, I nodded to some of my trail companions as we quietly packed our gear, and headed in different directions.

I put in another 12+ mile day, and was learning that if I stopped for longer breaks, I was able to put in longer distances for the entire day. Arising early, I had at least 14 hours of daylight to use to my advantage.

The following morning, It was rather cool. I had opted to use my bivy tent, and not slept as well. The ground was damp as I pulled up stakes and rolled up the shelter. I made a note that I might start earlier in July next year instead of August. I would probably be able to take my hammock instead of the bivy and get a better night’s rest.

The weather today was overcast. I had been making good time and was ahead of schedule. My mileage limit in the mountains on most days is 10-12, but I was exceeding it. When the rain began to fall in the afternoon, I decided to quit early at the Peru Peak Shelter.

The steady drizzle during the day made cooking dinner difficult. I had opted for a wood burning gasifier stove. It’s quite lightweight. You need not carry fuel, because nature supplies it! Unfortunately, the damp weather was thwarting my attempts to create a self sustaining fire. Finally I was able to get my meal cooked and consumed.

A few hikers arrived. In their 20’s, they were cheerful but loud, and shortly after their companions arrived. The group numbered about 8 in total.

They were very chatty, but friendly. As they began to cook and eat dinner, one of the male hikers rolled up a cigarette of the cannabis variety for dinner. Ole’ Jack doesn’t partake, but he does not sit in judgement of others. The group passed around his smoke. Soon deep, existential questions and solutions to the thorniest problems bounced around my fellow hiking companions. Rather than help them find answers to life’s mysteries, I screwed in a pair of earplugs and was soon asleep.

The morning was cold and foggy. I carefully packed up trying not to awaken my fellow bunk mates. The cannabis carrying hiker from the previous evening, and was enjoying a potent breakfast smoke. I would have enjoyed a hot cup of coffee, but decided to put up some miles and have something to look forward after the sun had been given some time to rise.

A light rain fell as I hiked over Peru Peak, and there was a bit of mud and some water trickling down the stony trail. Eventually the sky brightened, and I made my way down a steep and twisty trail to a rendezvous at Mad Tom Notch Road. This year’s section had come to a close.