Date: 2011-07-22
From: Killington, Vermont

To: Killington, Vermont
Miles today: 183.2

In Syracuse for a couple days taking a short break from the trail before the final push. Less than 500 miles left. We saw another bear in MA. He was right on the trail but quickly ran away when he saw us. Later that day, two beavers swam by us in a pond we camped next to. We were going to swim in the pond until we saw a huge leech swim by. The next day we stopped to see the "cookie lady." She is famous for giving thruhikers who stop at her house just off the trail cookies, and we surely got some delicious cookies when we stopped around eleven. We climbed up Mt. Greylock, the highest peak in MA at 3,491 feet. It rained for half the way up. When it stopped raining, the sun came out, and as we were walking a huge tree fell a hundred yards behind us right unto the trail. Luckily, we were just a few seconds ahead of the tree falling. It was windy and chilly at the top of Greylock, so we stayed in the enclosed shelter for the night. Unfortunately, a mouse chewed a hole in Sage's food bag that night, but it woke us up before it could eat too much of his food. That morning we had a beautiful, serene view of a sea of clouds between the mountains below. We climbed the observation tower and got a view of the Green Mountains we would soon be hiking through in Vermont. We left MA and entered Vermont later that day. Right before the state line I got attacked by a hornet that kept stinging me until Sage killed it. I think a dog chased it over to us and it took its anger out on me. Vermont has been beautiful. The nights are a bit chillier. We climbed Glastenbury and Stratton Mountains and had great views from the firetowers on both. Both mountains also had terrible flies that were relentless. On the bottom of Stratton Mt. we bathed in Stratton Pond, which was clear and cool. Actual showers are starting to get farther apart. The next day we hitched into Manchester Center, VT to resupply, do laundry, and watch the final Harry Potter movie, which was awesome. We left town that evening and hiked up Bromley Mountain with Vinca and Poncho Verde for another awesome view. The next day was rainy and miserable. I slipped and fell too many times to count. A small part of the trail was completely underwater. The next day we had lots of climbing. We got trail magic of oreos left at a trailhead early in the morning. Passed a few southbounders who started in Maine. Hiked up Mt. Killington, the highest point in Vermont, but did not get a view from the trail. Camped at the top and had another chilly night. The next morning we saw a porcupine while we were getting water from the spring. I had never seen one before, and it was much bigger than I thought it would be. At Maine Junction, where the AT and Long Trail split, we got an apple and almonds from two different people. It's always nice to get food from people who can just tell you are thruhiking by the way you look (and smell). Stayed at Gifford Woods State Park for the night, that's also where we got picked up by Sage's mom the next day. I added more pictures. Less than 500 miles when we return to the trail in a couple days! Finish Vermont, New Hampshire, then Maine.