AT Post #10: Majestic and Muddy Vermont

• Begin: Day 63 (Saturday, June 22) Manchester, VT

• End: Day 69 (Friday, June 28) Hanover, NH

• Biggest Trail Miles in a day this period: 16.6

• Total Trail Miles Hiked: 729.3

Click here for photos

This week's photos are in the VT folder.

---

Thundering Falls

DAY 63 - Saturday, June 22

Start: Pinnacle Lodge - 1658.1

End: Big Branch stealth site, VT - 1674.5

Miles: 16.4

Ascent: 3289  |  Descent: 3623

Highest Peak: Styles peak elev. 3375’

We woke up Saturday morning at the Pinnacle Lodge near Manchester, Vermont. It was a great stay, and the owner even drove me down and gave me a tour of Manchester where there apparently is a lot of money from where people migrated from New York City into Vermont.

This was a pretty big day with lots of assent and we hiked over two peaks (Bromley and Styles mountain). We got rained on a little bit and we ended up camping at a stealth site near big branch suspension bridge. As a sidenote, we saw a lot of moose poop on the trail so there is moose out here even though we have not seen any yet.

Rain will definitely be a common occurrence this week as you will see.

DAY 64 - Sunday, June 23

Start: Big Branch stelth site- 1674.5

End: Big Minerva Shelter- 1687.8

Miles: 13.3

Ascent: 2853  |  Descent: 2750

This was a rainy and stressful day. We hiked over an abundance of mud rocks and roots, and with the rain made for very slippery and slow progressing. Lemonade snapped one her hiking poles during a slight stumble, so I let her borrow one of my poles until we can get to an outfitter to replace them.

The most stressful part of the hike was while we were going over Bear Mountain in Vermont. We encountered a fairly severe thunderstorm on top of the mountain so we were moving quickly to get over the top while it thundered around us; it was not a fun time.

We made it to a shelter just as the rain was dissipating, and we ate a quick dinner and set up the tent before the next line of thunderstorms came in. Our leaking tent made a new appearance so we will have to troubleshoot this one more time.

As a sidenote, we met a hiker named  Yard Sail. He was the second sailor that we have met on our hiking trip so it was interesting to hear his sailing experiences.

DAY 65 - Monday, June 24

Start:  Minerva Shelter- 1687.8

End: Pico Slopes, VT - 1703.4

Miles: 16.6

Ascent: 4703|  Descent: 2868

This was our biggest climbing day and it included mud, rain, rocks, roots, stream crossings, and sometimes walking into the stream because of the rain.

Near the beginning of our hike, we crossed over Clarendon Gorge.  This was a really neat vista since it was a suspension foot bridge that crossed a very narrow gorge with a lot of rushing water.

We hiked through the rain and crossed near the summit of Killington Peak. The peak is over 4,000’, but the trail only climbed up to elevation 3,982’.

We made it to a shelter near the top of the mountain, but due to the rain, wind and the condition of the shelter (ie looks haunted) we decided to eat our dinner there and then proceed on for another 3 miles. We ended up camping on a ski slope at the Pico Ski Resort. The resort allows campers to tent there in the off-season.  Luckily the rain ended just as we were getting to camp at about 7 PM.

Tiny 500 miles to Katahdin sign

Again, due to the rain, our feet were permanently wet as we trumped through the mud. It appears Lemonade needs to keep an eye on her feet due to the wetness as her soles turned white and were rather painful to walk on.

DAY 66 - Tuesday, June 25

Start:  Pico Slopes- 1703.4

End: Greenbrier Inn, VT - 1711.5

Miles: 7.1

Ascent: 855|  Descent: 2717

Since we had packages waiting for us in Killington, Vermont, we decided to make a short day of it. Luckily we woke up to beautiful skies, although a bit cool, the weather was just right for hiking.

I know we have been complaining a bit about all the rain in Vermont, but the state is truly beautiful and we can tell that the climate is transitioning into a more northern feel and it is reminding us more and more of Maine.

We ended up coming into the Greenbrier Inn a little after lunch and we spent the afternoon reprovisioning, shopping for hiking poles and resting and drying our weary feet.

As a sidenote during our hike today, we saw a runner/hiker that is attempting the fastest known completion of the Appalachian Trail. He sped by us going quite quickly and is probably averaging 40+ miles a day. The time frame is shooting for is around 40-50 days when our completion time will probably more like 180 days.

DAY 67 - Wednesday, June 26

Start:  Greenbrier Inn-1711.5

End: The Lookout, VT - 1725.6

Miles: 14.1

Ascent: 4279  Descent: 3422

After a nice rest at the Greenbrier Inn, today’s hike was glorious and sunny for the most part. Lemonade and I felt revitalized and we hiked quite well.

A few of the highlights- we saw Thundering Falls which isthe tallest waterfall in Vermont.  Also we stayed at a rustic cabin called The Lookout. It is a well-maintained private cabin, which the owners allow hikers to use. It was in very good shape with a fantastic view of the surrounding mountains and New Hampshire to the east.

DAY 68 - Thursday, June 27

Start: The Lookout, VT - 1725.6

End: Thistle Hill Shelter, VT - 1740.4

Miles: 14.8

Ascent: 3679  |  Descent: 4435

Another great day of hiking in steep Vermont. It started out at about 43° this morning so it is definitely odd to be in the low 40s in the summertime for us Florida people. We crossed the 700 miles hiked distance today.

We ended up hanging out at a little farm store for a couple hours halfway through the day.  One reason for the stop was to eat some food and some pastries that the farm store was locally known for, and the other was to wait out a very small storm that passed by. It was a nice enjoyable rest stop.

A relatively typical day, but we did get chased by a ruffed grouse about halfway through the day. It must’ve been protecting a nest and didn’t fly, but ran around us making threatening noises.  Wierd.

Entering New Hampshire

DAY 69 - Friday , June 28

Start: Thistle Hill Shelter,VT-1740.4

End: Hanover, NH 1755.0

Miles: 14.6

Ascent: 2649  |  Descent: 3805

A beautiful day with a fantastically fast hike. Lemonade and I were both eager to get into town so we moved relatively quickly.

The day ended with a very long road walk and a traverse of the Connecticut River into Hanover, New Hampshire (home of Dartmouth College). We plan on staying in Hanover, New Hampshire for a couple days to rest our feet and to get ready to tackle the White Mountains of New Hampshire, which is one of the most difficult parts of the entire trail.  We probably will be in the middle of traversing them this time next week.