Day 65/June 5

Miles hiked: 12.24 in 5:47

Start: Moose Mountain Shelter, NH

Finish: Smarts Mountain Fire Warden's Cabin, NH

Elevation gain: 4,291'

Really nicely engraved marker showing the distance to Mt. Katahdin. Not sure why they chose that location though--middle of nowhere.

Lots of wet rock faces to climb in New Hampshire--beautiful stone though.

Route from my Suunto.

Day 64/June 4

Miles hiked: 12.19 in 6:42

Start: Norwich, NH

Finish: Moose Mountain Shelter, NH

Elevation gain: 2,838

Another state done. The first 20 miles on the AT after it diverges from the Long Trail are surprisingly rugged.

Route from my Suunto.

Day 63/June 3

Miles hiked: 18.40 in 8:05

Started: unofficial tent site, mile 1728.4

Finish: downtown Norwich, VT

Elevation gain: 4,052'

Funny how I knew that I did not want to walk 20+ miles into Hanover, New Hampshire, but 18.4 into Norwich would be OK.

When I got to Norwich, I went to the library, where they had a list of "trail angels", people in the Norwich/Hanover area who will put up a thru hiker for a day to four days. And the best part is that there is no cost. Yes, these are wonderful folks. They have been doing this for twelve years. I only learned about them the day before.

Early-morning mist envelopes the nearby hills.

Route from my Suunto.

Day 62/June 2

Miles hiked: 18.05 in 8:45
Start: Stony Brook Shelter, VT
Finish: unofficial tentsite, mile 1728.4 on the AT
Elevation gain: 5,039'

I realize that I would rather be out hiking and finding beauty in nature any day, rather than sitting at home watching TV. These birches were gorgeous.

Vermont doesn't have a lot of thru hikers yet; most are section hikers, like this Boxer, Sydney.

No, I really didn't need this junk food, but another section hiker mentioned the place to me and it was only 0.2 miles off the trail.

I just love walking through hay fields.

Found at the edge of the hay field.

Route from my Suunto.

Day 61/June 1

Miles hiked: 16.64 in 6:48
Start: Route 140, Wallingford, VT
Finish: Stony Brook Shelter, VT
Elevation gain: 3,953

Bruce Shenker was awesome today--not only did he drive me to Vermont, he even suggested that I could slack pack a six-mile section that I had skipped, but he hiked in and met me for three sections.

That saved my butt, since it is so much easier to hike with a lightweight pack.

Bruce descending to the suspenion bridge near Route 103

View of Killington from just north of Route 4.

After ten miles of hiking, I suggested that since we had a car, lunch might be nice. We drove to Pittsfield, Vermont and had lunch at the general store. Quite good, too.

These fungi caught my eye due to their unusual bowl-like shape. Some guy who came along as I was taking the photo asked if I knew what they were. Of course I didn't. Then he pointed out that unlike most fungi, this variety had no gills. And, he said they were very tough--he could not rip one apart.

Route 1 from my Suunto.
Route 2.
Route 3.

Day 60/May 31

Miles hiked: zero

I worked out a deal with Frank Boscoe--he gets to use my Audi for a month and a half, but he has to drive to Katahdin, if I get there

I am pleased, since I won't have to worry about a ride home, and I think Frank is happy since there are three drivers at home, but only one car to share.

Day 59/May 30

Miles hiked: zero

Another day spent getting my gear in order.