Date: 2015-06-30
From: VT 9

To: Franconia Notch
Miles today: 205.1

Days 132-143, 6/18-29Omissions from last entry:Big beaver dam on a pond. Watched one beaver swim around for about ten minutes. Longhorn got pics. Longhorn also had a very close encounter with a timber rattler.Really enjoyed visiting Bennington Battle Monument and Robert Frost home/museum and grave.New entry:Clare helped us slackpack while she was up in Vermont. On a southbound day we saw many hikers. On a northbound day we saw only one other hiker.Special thanks to Mountain Goat in Manchester Center and the folks at Darn Tough socks. We swapped out our torn up and stretched out socks for new ones and really appreciated their help.We camped at Cooper Lodge Shelter. The shelter and tent platforms are in bad shape.We caught a ride out of Rutland with Archangel and Lorax. Got into some nettles while gathering water. Not fun! Longhorn and I hiked to and stayed in The Lookout cabin. Fantastic views there.Thanks to Dartmouth College's Mike, who gave me a little tour of the pool. It was built in 1919 and is still in great shape. Also visited the library and saw the Orozco murals. Dartmouth Outing Club very hiker friendly.Sent out a few postcards while in Hanover. Nice town and college. Longhorn ran into Archangel and Lorax again.Zeroed in Lyme at the Murphy's. They took great care of us. Longhorn swam and roomed with Patrick while they were at UT. Funny we had to walk from Georgia to New Hampshire so they could hang out together. His mom went out of her way to make sure we had a great visit. Sister Emily helped me get pics off my camera. Back in 2008, Pat broke the national age group record in the 15/16 100 meter backstroke.Seeing plenty of their poop, but still haven't spotted a moose.Skipped croquet at Ackerly's. Follered Blue Collar up Smarts Mountain. Ate lunch at Fire Wardens Cabin. SOBO Skunk was there. Both he and the cabin look like they've seen better days.Stayed at Hexacuba Shelter. The Pub Club showed up later.Climbed Cube early and later got hitch into Warren for lunch. Legion drove me back out to trail and took my pack to the hostel while I hiked the five miles there. Blue Collar, Lorax, and Archangel were there.Rained all night.Got dropped off at Kinsman Notch and went up and over Mt. Moosilauke. Very steep and slippery ascent. Very windy and cold above tree line. Group of guys said winds were 80 mph, but it seemed more like mid-seventies to me.Late start from Kinsman. Very challenging hike/rock climb. Saw only one NOBO and two SOBO hikers all day. Rolled into Lonesome Lake Hut after dinner. In exchange for doing dishes, the Croo treated me to dinner leftovers (black bean and cheese enchiladas) and let me spend the night. One had been a high school swimmer in Maine, so we talked swimming a bit.Fairly easy hike down to U.S. 3. Only real challenge was water crossing where bridge was out.Tried hitching but had no luck. After walking part way to town, got a ride to Lincoln with Leif's (Trail Journal guy) sister. She showed me the spots I needed to go before dropping me at Price Chopper. Got almost all my errands done early.Weather tomorrow might mean a zero. Was told that Garfield Ridge is no place to be in a thunderstorm.Notes:Chivo, you were right about Dartmouth. Definitely one of the highlights for me.Neon, thanks for the encouragement and help offers. We got through Massachusetts pretty quickly and were able to slack a bunch in Vermont.Marielle, thanks for ride and great advice. Ran into guys (Pub Club) who were headed to Chet's later. Hiking out Thursday if weather improves.Links to pics on blog:Pics Through Dartmouth College -http://zipperthruhike.blogspot.com/2015/06/pics-through-dartmouth-college.htmlInto the Whites -http://zipperthruhike.blogspot.com/2015/06/into-whites.html