Astrogirl » Vermont

9/18/2008 Bennington, VT

Nicole — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 20:03:22 +0000

The day dawned bright and beautiful, and since I’d stayed up late enjoying all that hiker companionship, I got started quite late. I slept well, but I had a lazy morning.

In this short 4.3 miles I was really grateful for my map. There were many junctions with woods roads and trails and the foliage seemed to conspire to grow over blazes making it hard to find the trail. In this, the map really helped.

I had a wonderful break in a high meadow before I headed to the road. The descent was rugged and rocky including some fine trail work of rock stairs. My shuttler was on time and a very nice guy and we had a great deli lunch on the way back to Sheffield. My car was, of course, right where I left it but was now unbelievably dirty.

Just like the drive here, I made great time going home, though the GPS sent me via a completely different route.

9/17/2008 Congdon Shelter, VT

Nicole — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 19:58:47 +0000

The walk out of Williamstown was long and long. It really wasn’t longer than the previous day, but since none of it counts and it’s first thing in the morning, it *seems* longer. The trail north was actually straight up someone’s driveway. They had blazes *on* their driveway. I’ve never seen that before! The walk from there to Congdon Shelter was 14.1 miles.

The day was sunny and pleasant, but the climb up the creek was buggy. I inhaled a bug, actually. I *hate* when that happens, and luckily, that is not often. I noted that ahead of me was a bad weather by-pass. I certainly wasn’t taking it as the weather was delightful. Usually, these are for very exposed areas that might be risky if there’s lightning. This was not that — it was a vertical boulder field! It was interesting and fun, and I really enjoyed the challenge. What I did not enjoy was trying to figure out where the trail, the boulder field and the by-pass all came together at the top. I walked/climbed around up there for a good long time looking for the northbound AT. I think I actually finished the rock climb the hard way and missed the last blaze. Anyway, on I went. That was by far the most interesting part of the day.

In pretty short order I reached the Vermont Line and the start of The Long Trail. I had now completed Massachusetts.

I crossed a couple of ponds, but no where I wanted to get water. This would eventually become a problem. All the streams appeared to be pond overflow. That just didn’t seem like something I wanted to drink. Towards the end of the day, I traveled next to a big noisy creek. At this point, it was getting dark and I was really wondering where on earth the shelter was. This is a pretty common experience for me though, so I wasn’t actually worried. Eventually, I was hiking in a stony, shallower version of the creek. Yikes.

When I finally made it to the shelter, there was a big friendly group there, all southbounders. One group had been there all day (Razor and two really nice guys from Kentucky: Lt. Dan and … damn it, I can’t remember) and had explored there area and gathered a LOT of firewood. There was a lot of companionship and a huge bonfire. I enjoyed all of this as much as the peaceful night alone at Mark Noepel — the opposite experience.

Tomorrow, I would hike down to VT9 to catch my ride.

Mad Tom Notch

Nicole — Sat, 31 Jan 2004 22:38:52 +0000

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.

Stratton Pond

Nicole — Sat, 31 Jan 2004 22:36:46 +0000

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.

Goddard Shelter

Nicole — Sat, 31 Jan 2004 22:33:34 +0000

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)

Bennington, VT

Nicole — Sat, 31 Jan 2004 22:33:33 +0000

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. ;)