Date: 2014-06-28
From: Karl's Dad's House, North Adams

To: Congdon Shelter
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: clear sky

Looks like the joy ride is over. From here I'm back into the mountains. Since about Pennsylvania I don't think you can call the Appalachians much more than big hills. But after this it's real. First the Green Mountains of Vermont than the Whites of New Hampshire. Glad to be back in it but sad to say good bye to easier days, plentiful delis, three day resupplies, and great cell service. Now I've got five days food in my pack - heavy - and know the road crossings and town visits are fewer and far between. Slept in just a tad - day drinking'll do that to you - then Karl dropped me off right where he picked me up and I started the inevitable hike uphill. This was just to the next road up then right between two residential homes. Actually up the driveway of one. Very nicely landscaped. Like being in the Shire! Also a note to feel free to fill water from the spigot. What a great lot they have. Backs up to a rushing steam that you follow uphill for some way until you finally crest the "mountain" and there it is, the sign welcoming you to Vermont. I can't believe it - Vermont! Psychologically it's so close to the end even though I know I still have more than a quarter of the trail to go. At this point for about 100 miles the Appalachian and Long trails are the same. The Long is a much older and popular trail. I expect to see lots of people. Vermont is also known for being muddy. And they really are not kidding. It's a swamp in spots! Even though you're gaining elevation it's still really wet. As you're moving north and are a couple hundred feet higher than you've been for some time, the vegetation begins to change rapidly. You're in the "North Woods" now. Here all the way to the end. Think fir trees, moose, and loons. The oaks seem to be thinning out and trees like white birches are getting more and more common. And the smell has changed quite a bit. It's very balsam and Christmas-y now. I always fantasized that if I ever won the lottery I'd buy a huge timber cabin in Vermont with a two story living room and floor to ceiling windows. This is solely for Christmas time and the two story Christmas tree I'd put there. I'd invite all my friends for the season and we'd cook lots of good food, take hikes in the snow to collect wood, decorate the holy crap out of the place, stay up late singing Christmas karaoke, and take the train into New York to go shopping. The things you think about when you've got time on your hands.Back to the hike. Did I say it's muddy? It's muddy. I'm hiking a short day as I like to do when I'm coming from town. It's only 14 but I'm complaining as always when I just want to be done. The shelter is decent but obviously full of mice so I and two guys who are finishing up their Long section hike move across the brook and find some good campsites. Very cool guys - Mike and Dan. They're locals and game me a good heads up on what's in my near future on the trail. Then Dan offered up his house as a place to stay if I needed it in the next few weeks. Score! Man you gotta love people. Unbelievably early I started yawning and went to bed well before dark around seven. Safe from the bugs in my tent.