6/8/2001 ~ Bennington, VT (10.1 miles hiked)

(This section was done SOBO.  These are in NOBO order for consistency)

The mud was a little better today, and the bugs were the same:  bad.  It was warm enough that shorts were required.

I was under the impression that I was going down Glastenbury Mountain today, but no.  There were three bumps on the way down, damn it.  

Last night in the shelter, the moon was so bright when it rose that it woke me up, and I had to re-position my bag and pad!  The shelter thing worked out well this time.  Another guy showed up right about 8:30pm.  He was very nice, also an AT section hiker, SOBO, and a quiet sleeper.  As there were no rodent visits during the night, I did get as much sleep as I get in a tent.  It took about 1/2 the time to get going in the morning and I got started at 8:15, which is early for me.  Since I arrived at the Nauheim shelter by 12pm (8 miles), I took a break so I could wait somewhere nice for Steve instead of arriving at the road early and having to sit around in a gravel parking lot.

There were many people out today, and many people passed by while I was sitting near the shelter.  I'm kind of glad I'm done today.  I'm sure the weekend will be very crowded out here as the weather is great.  Oh, and I think I saw the "weird" guy.  I think he just had too much crap with him and was generally unprepared for the rigors of the AT.  He didn't seem especially weird to me.

All in all, a good trip.  I covered 53 miles in 72 hours, which may be a personal record.  Not that that's important or anything.  ;)

6/7/2001 ~ Goddard Shelter ~ 19 miles hiked

(I can't find this entry, but I really liked this shelter and the area and the Glastenbury Fire Tower)

6/6/2001 ~ Stratton Pond (15.7 miles hiked)

(This section was done SOBO.  These are in NOBO order for consistency)

The GMC caretaker here was very nice and simply took my name and address and gave me a bill.  Stratton Pond is indeed a special place.  I fear the loons might keep me awake or wake me up.  They are incredibly loud when then are doing their characteristic loony call.  I saw another woodpecker today and several toads.  I saw a loon dive away from me, but I didn't really get a good look at it.  

There's a couple here from Boston and a guy from southern PA.  The caretaker came over here from the shelter on the south side of the pond (in a boat) and we all sat around a smoky fire for a while.  The bugs are the worst I've seen, and the fire really helped.  

I finally found out what makes those giant piles of scat I've seen (looked a bit like deer, but the, um, individual pieces were too large as were the, um, loads).  Moose!  That also explains the very large (not as distinct as I'd like because of the mud) tracks I saw by my campsite last night.

I've seen a lot of people today including the cutest, shinest people ever at Spuce Peak Shelter.  They were doing the Long Trail and had just graduated from college (two couples).  Ah, so young and cute.  

I did a lot of miles and I'm very tired.  I'm not very sleepy though, which is unfortunate because I have a pretty big day planned tomorrow.  You know I haven't seen a single spider here?  That's SO odd.  There are a few gnats or black flies in here with me, damn it.  Time to do something about that.

I almost forgot!  They (the USFS) is stocking the lake with fish tomorrow and will be dropping them out of a helicopter between 10:30am and 12:30pm.  I wish I could be here to see it.  Hell, I'm considering staying anyway, schedule be damned.  How often does one get to see live fish dropped out of a helicopter, after all.

6/5/2001 ~ Mad Tom Notch (12 miles hiked)

(This section was done SOBO.  These are in NOBO order for consistency)

Not bad mileage for a start after 12pm.

I was worried about the bugs, so of course it's something else.  Mud.  Thick, black, sticky, boot-sucking mud that covers about 50% of the trail.  I was very lucky that I never sunk in to the ankle, and I've never been so happy to see rocks and roots on the trail as I was today.

I saw a woodpecker today.   The only reason I saw it at all was because it was so vocal that I looked around until I found the source of the noise.  I saw many red efts, and I even saw one swimming.  Where?  On the trail, of course.  At least water is easy to come by.  It seems like I cross a "seasonal" stream every 10 minutes or so.

I always forget something, and this trip was no exception.  This is the first time I've forgotten to bring any cash, ID or a credit card.  I haven't so much as a penny on me.  There's really no use for money out there, but I like to have something in case I need it.  Also, this is going to force me to cut my trip short since I have no money to resupply.  I wouldn't have made it to Great Barrington to link up to my southern mileage anyway, so I'm not mad about that part of my mistake.

I should make Bennington early Saturday.  I will then have to call Steve collect and hope he's home and can come get me.  God, I hope he's home, or I'm really screwed.  All the towns (and phones) are at least 5 miles from the trail up here, which will suck up most of a day to make the round trip.  If he's not home, I'll have to call Tino collect and get him to wire me money or something.  Really though, I'll just have to wait around for Steve because he has my purse, and I'm not going back to DC without that, now am I?

Anyway...I'd rate today's hike as moderate.  Peru Peak shelter was nice, but I really wanted to make some mroe miles, so I could make Stratton tomorrow.  I made 4.5 between 6 and 8:30pm, including Styles and Peru Peaks, so I'm pretty happy with that.  I wish I could make those miles early in the day, but I'm quite sluggish until 2pm or so.  Yeah, I know.  It sucks to be me, right?

I also saw more deer scat that I've ever seen in one place EVER on the trail up on Peru Peak and Styles Peak both.  Weird.  It was all over the trail itself too.  I also saw a small garter (or ribbon) snake today at the base of a rock pile.  I guess that's enough babbling for now.