Long Trail 2025: Pico

I arrived at the trailhead late in the day. After a grueling hike in New Hampshire, I had decided to drive straight to Vermont, rather than take a day off at home. Having finished the day late in the Granite State, I did not arrive at my Vermont starting point until almost 1900hrs. The AT/LT trailhead parking area on RT 4 in Vermont can fit at least a dozen automobiles. I had hiked south from here the previous year, and would now reverse that trend and go north. I quickly began assembling my gear in my backpack, moving necessary items from the small day pack I had used during the New Hampshire hike and adding what I would need for the next few days. Most of the gear was prepacked. My sleeping bag, hammock, a tarp and med kit were already inside. I had prepacked my poncho, stove and safety items too. Tossing in a puffer jacket, I loaded in the bear can that carried my food and added my water bottles. I made sure the GPS transponder was secure and working, laced up my boots and set out for the journey.

I glanced at the sun rapidly dipping towards mountains behind me. Sunset would occur a little after 2000hrs, but the forest would darken quickly once the sun fell below the surrounding mountains. My goal was a modest one. I wanted to set up camp at the Tucker Johnson shelter, located just a mile and a half from the trailhead. The distance was relatively flat, and even with a full pack at 22lbs, I estimated that I would be there in no more than an hour at a very slow pace.

Once into the trees, I felt the adrenaline push me along and a second wind begin to carry me to my destination. I arrived at the shelter without incident at dusk. A tent was located near the shelter, and a hiker greeted me with a wave. I set up my hammock a distance away to allow us both some space. This shelter was equipped with a bear box. The heavy bear proof steel box was a convenient way to store food away from hungry bears, protecting them from accessing human food.

In bear country, it is necessary to carry a bear proof container such as my bear can, or to hang food from a branch out of the bear’s reach.

I visited the shelter to store my relatively empty pack to keep it dry in the event of rain during the night. I was greeted by a second hiker who had chosen to spend the night in the shelter instead of setting up camp. The shelter is in good condition. A three sided structure, it was in a heavily shaded area, and was a bit dark inside. In a heavy rain, I would have opted to stay inside.

Returning to my campsite, It became dark as I swung my legs into my hammock. I secured the tarp over the mesh net that protected me from the hungry mosquitos. There was little breeze, and it was a warm evening. I was wiped out from the day’s hiking, and soon was asleep.