Date: 2017-08-20
From: Stealth campsite along Promfret Brook

To: Hanover, NH (Dartmouth College)
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: clear sky

8/20Stealth campsite along Promfret Brook to Hanover, NH (Dartmouth College)19.6 milesTotal miles:  1748.4In spite of my alarm being set for 5:00, I was unable to begin functioning this morning before 5:30. I guess my body knows how much rest it needs, and I should quit trying to mess with that. I packed up and was on the trail before 7:00. I was excited to get to Hanover because my friend, Dustin, was flying in from Denver to hike with me for several days. Dustin, an Eagle Scout from the troop where I was Scoutmaster, is an avid outdoorsman who, among other accomplishments, introduced me to fly fishing. Several southbounders had told me that the trail into Hanover was not too difficult. Like the past few days, there were numerous ascents and descents, but none of them long. The trail was also just that, trail. There were few obstructions to slow my progress over the last 19.6 miles to Hanover.  The weather also cooperated again, and the day was sunny, cool, and breezy. The woods were again quite fetching, and the trail frequently entered open meadows with views of the mountains in the distance.  As I walked into one such meadow, I observed a small group of sobos enter the field at the other end. It was an enjoyable several minutes as we were both able to watch the other approach.  We paused and talked a bit about upcoming trail conditions before wishing each other Happy Trails and continuing on our respective ways.  It was this way that I learned about the hornets nest that was ahead.  Apparently, several hikers had been stung and informal warning signs had already been posted near the hive. One hiker advised to not take time to read the sign but to immediately bypass the hornets by cutting around them through the woods. I was thus prepared when I saw the note. I observed several hornets flying around the trail as I worked my way through the brush, but was not stung. I, of course, made sure to warn any southbound hiker I saw after I passed the hornets. I encountered a slight delay of a much more pleasant type this morning. Blackberries. Bushes and bushes of wild blackberries grow in this one open section, and I paused to eat quite a few. I have never seen so many blackberries in one place before.  Interestingly, I saw no others anywhere else today.  After passing the blackberries, I continued to make good time. I wanted to make it to Hanover with enough time to meet Dustin and set up camp before dark. The trail led out onto the road in West Hartford, crossed a stream, and then made a left turn onto another road.  I didn't see a blaze and asked a woman who was barbecuing on her porch for directions. This is how I met Trail Angel Linda. "It goes down that road past the old church," she told me. "Before you go, would you like a cup of coffee or a cold soda, or both?" Before I knew it, I not only had two cups of coffee and two sodas, but also two steak sandwiches, a cupcake, and other goodies. Linda has been taking care of hikers who pass by her home for years.  She said her record was 1,500 in a single year. We passed the time awhile, and I signed her guest book, before I left to continue on to Hanover while I still had enough time.  As i was leaving, I was pleasantly surprised to meet up with the Colonel and U-Turn, whom I haven't seen in months. They had decided to do a flip-flop hike, heading to Katahdin after Harpers Ferry and continuing southbound from there. It was great to see them again. I then left and began my final push into Hanover. The final mile and a half is along roads, and I texted Dustin when I reached the road. He replied that he had just recently arrived in Hanover. He hiked out to meet me, and we met just south of the Connecticut River, which is the border between Vermont and New Hampshire. We crossed over the river together,  and Dustin, who was a friend of Beau's, helped me set a bit of him free into the air above the river.  Dustin was a member of the group of us who spread Beau's remains at his favorite hiking spot all those years ago, and we talked again of the butterfly that landed on his dad's shoulder during our ceremony. It was a moment of quiet reflection in the midst of our joy at seeing each other again and another reflection of the influence that Beau had on the other scouts in our troop. Dustin and I then hiked into the town of Hanover, found the spot in the woods behind the softball field, and set up our tents. We headed to the grocery store so I could resupply and then to Murphy's, a pub that also serves food. We had a great dinner before heading back to the woods.  We'll hike out together in the morning. It's great to see him again and to be able to backpack with him again, this time as two adults.