Date: 2004-10-09
From: Canada Border 

To: Jonesville, VT
Miles today: 0.0

The weather was perfect up at the Canada border.   The sky was deep blue. The leaves were all at peak color.   What a beautiful day for a walk.   I slacked packed from the Canada border to Hazen Knotch Camp.   Very nice section. Jay peak was a little tall but switched back nicely.   The wind kicked my butt a little but I made it through.   Besides the wind gives you those nice rosie cheeks. The next few sections of trail had some great lodges with views.   I was impressed by most of the shelters in this northern section.   I stopped and spent time at each shelter enjoying the view.   The walking was rather easy so I kind of found myself bored at times. I hitched into each town that I passed.   I didn't need any supplies but it was nice to get fresh fruit when I could.   I would get into a town buy 5 banannas and a Mtn. Dew and eat away as I called back home.   By the way the burps from those 2 things are great. I know it sounds nasty but it is really good. Try it and see for yourself.I was starting to pick up my pace towards the end of the week.   I almost did a 21 mile day with a visit into Johnson for my maildrop.   I decided at the last minute not to go into Johnson until the next morning. There was a bar and a hostel in town. I was afraid I wouldn't leave I would stay for the night.   I really have been trying to save the little money I have.   I think I have been doing rather well with holding on to my funds.   I knew if I took a early day and stayed just outside of town I would spend less money if I went in early morning.   So that is what I did.   I stayed in Roundtop shelter and watched the sunset.   Ok so I was done hiking at 3:00 in the afternoon but I had already hiked 15 miles.   So I sat around and ate everything left in my food bag. I ran into Johnson completely empty. How sweet it was!I got in and out of Johnson in a hours time.   I only spent a few dollars on fresh fruit and mtn. dew!   I got a ride from a woman and her young son who used to live in New Jersey.   Not far from where I live now.   Then I met an older farm couple that lived next to the trail. I sat and talked with them for about an hour. The man told me of the best water source in the area.   It used to supply the town of Johnson. And until recently it was not treated by the town.   He was right it was a great source. I have begun drinking 8-11 liters of water a day.   That might be the reason I dropped another 5lbs.   I was thinking about spending the $6.00 and camping at Sterling Pond shelter for the night.   I got up to Madonna Peak at Smuggler's Knotch ski area and found a nice warming hut to sleep in.   I liked the free campsite idea much better, plus I had the perfect spot to watch both sunset and sunrise.   I like that idea.   I was happy I thought ahead and figured there might be a cool campsite at the top of this so I brought water.   Always thinking!Sunrise was awesome. I got up at 4:30 to wait for the sunrise.   I think it was well worth it. What do you think of the picture? I wanted an early start to my day, it was a big one. I was climbing up and over Mansfield.   Everyone warned me it was really steep.   I wanted to take my time it there was bad section and ladders.   The weather was going to be clear skies and high 70's for the day. I didn't want to be up above treeline for hours under a sunny sky. I didn't want the sunburn. Mansfield turned out to be a piece of cake.   There was no really steep sections. A few spots there were steep sections but they put ladders in those sections to help with the climb.   I didn't spend much time on this mountian there were tourist everywhere. I just wanted to escape. So I took off and hauled ass off that mountain.   I headed into Taylor Lodge for the night.I had Taylor all to myself after all the day hikers went home.   Nice lodge, good view and great water!   I was asleep by 7:30 and awake by 4:30.   I watched the sunrise, well kind of.   There was a peak in the way of where the sun was actually coming up but I could see all the colors of the sky perfectly.   I even started hiking before sunrise. I caught the sunrise through the trees at the top of Bolton Mtn.   I was moving this morning because today I finish the northern section of the Long Trail. And I have already walked the southern section in 2001 so I was completely the trail today.   It was going to be a easy walk 15miles into town today.   The weather was perfect again today.   Just love that blue sky. I was hauling ass doing 4 mph sometimes.   I didn't have to be in town until 3:00 but I just wanted to finish. Everything went great right up until aboutr 2 1/2 miles into town.   I got a stick caught between my 2 feet and tripped myself.   I went right down landing on my knees and my hands.   There were roots all over the place and I got nailed hard on both knees and my left hand.   I thought I broke my hand.   The knee puffed up but I could still walk. My hand I could barely move it.   I started feeling sick and that's when I thought I had broke my hand.   Yeah great day turned into really bad day quickly.   That was it I was not happy. I got out to town. The advil started working on the pain in my hand.   I was even beginning to move it. Most likely not broken just hurts like hell.   After getting picked up and driving around looking for a hotel under $200.00 for the night, I was on my way back to New Jersey.   It turns out the gas would cost less then the hotel room for the night so Tripod brought me back to New Jersey for a couple of days. I could rest my knees and hand for a few days, exactly what I needed.