Dates ........ Wednesday Sept 20, 2000
Miles ........ 14.9 miles
From ........ Vermont Lookout
To ............. Inn at Long Trail, Sherburne Pass, Rt 4, Killington VT
Weather ... Foggy, cool AM, Damp and humid, hazy, warm. 60's-70

Wednesday Sept 20, 2000

Kent Pond, Gifford Woods State Park, Inn at Long Trail

Morning mist in Vermont's Green Mountains seen from the Lookout.

 

The morning fog and mist is hanging around, burning off very slowly and making the hiking uncomfortable. It almost like hiking in the tropics. Very muggy. There was no water at The Lookout so I was not able to take my sponge bath - which I needed badly.

When I came to the clear, cold rushing waters of Stony Brook I succumbed to their irresistible invitation. I took my clothes off and washed them and myself, relishing the cool, refreshing water - even if only for a few moments. Invigorated, and smelling much better, I pushed on. I met Fun Gal and Pepperhead, claiming to be the last of the AT Northbounders.

Small cascade on Kent Brook.

Vermont is a lot less rocky, in general, than New Hampshire. Still, there are places where the rocks will challenge you and even a few places where they put ladders. (Seriously - after coming down NH's South Kinsman Mountain without ladders, the ladders in Vermont are more of a luxury than necessity). Sometimes the trail was so smooth that I got carried away with myself and went faster than I should. Gliding along in a fast rhythmic stride, I was going down a gentle incline when I slipped on the soft dirt and pine needle trail. I put my weight on my trekking pole to break my fall and SNAP - THUD - the pole snapped in two and down I went. I cut a stick and proceeded with one high tech trekking pole and one of nature's finest.

So far on this trip I have not had any knee pain and I have not had to use Ibuprofen. I credit that mostly to using two hiking sticks, good boots, pre-hike conditioning, and long term use of glucosamine sulfate supplements. I love my trekking poles and have come to rely upon them. I am going to miss my broken stick.

I smelled food cooking long before I reached Route 4 and Sherburne Pass. Now Vermont's Long Trail and the AT are combined - one trail - until the Long Trail's southern terminus at the Massachusetts border.

The Inn at Long Trail was a much-needed oasis. Good food, a real bed, shower, laundry and a chance to call home. I showered, and then had shepherd pie, mashed potato, apple crisp and two large glasses of red wine for dinner, did my laundry, got my resupply package and reorganized my pack. I met several other hikers there, one form France and one from Belgium, hiking the AT north in sections. There were also several other Long Trail hikers there and some garden variety tourists. I put extra items in the hiker box; packed the maps, trail guides and exposed film, and my broken trekking pole to send home, and went to bed.