Finally out of the mud hole that was Vermont. There were actually some really nice peaks (Glastenbury, Stratton, Bromley, Killington), but a lot of muddy tread way in between. Rob and I got a lot of trail magic in Vermont, starting of course with Uncle Don. The next day New York Minute ('08 thru-hiker) and Val had a grill set up at a road crossing, with hot dogs, hamburgers, fruit, and cold soda. On the 23rd we met Leo and Ana from Boston--they were really excited to meet a thru-hiker, and gave me a little bottle of Irish Whiskey. I redeemed my "Get out of trail jail free" coupon that Rob gave me for Christmas by getting a shower, laundry, and a bed a their house in Richmond for the night on Thursday. Very nice after getting drenched in a downpour earlier that day. Rob ended his trip 10 miles short of NH, to match Rosemary's schedule for picking him up.
June 24
Rob dropped me off in West Hartford, VT and I walked into New Hampshire. The last stretch was really easy, through a pine forest. I found a cooler of watermelon and sweet bread by the road in Norwich, VT. It was very much appreciated because it was a long hot road walk into Hanover, where I was met by Dan Mott. We spent the afternoon eating Ben and Jerry's and playing cribbage. Rachael joined us in the evening for dinner and Toy Story 3 (in 3D). It was very funny. I enjoyed it.
While in Vermont we met Kite and Sandpiper, Beans, Wazi, Tommy (PA to ME), Freedumb and Redtail (PA to ME), Cookie Monster, Olaf, Cool Tool, Yukon and Litterbox, Turtleback, The Roaming Gnomes (POW and TLC, finishing their thru hike from 08 and 09), Roaring Lion, Cakon, and Camp Chair. Most of them are now ahead of me.
I'm looking forward to Moosilauke and the White Mountains!!! Updates may be few and far between for the rest of my hike, as I don't have many town stays planned, but I will do my best.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Radical Rob Joins the Hike
It's hard to believe June is almost over already. The New England states are going by much more quickly than the Southern states. We have a very brief update for now, hopefully more later.
On June 8 Emily made it into Massachusetts. She hiked 20 mile days to meet up with Rob in North Adams. The mountains were getting bigger, which was exciting.
On June 12, Rachael met her in North Adams, MA for breakfast, before Rob and Emily hit the trail to Vermont.
On June 13, she met up with Radical Rob (his trail name) and they began hiking Vermont on the combination AT/Long Trail.
On June 19, Trail Angel Uncle Don showed up at VT. Rt. 104, with bags of fruits and vegetables and other trail magic. He had walked down the trail for a couple of miles hoping to meet them as they hiked northward, didn't see them but did meet Snow White and Rooster. Eventually Switchback and Radical Rob appeared and they had a good ol' lunch and filled their packs with provisions. Uncle Don Burchard was officially dubbed as a "Trail Angel" by Switchback.
On June 21, they got slowed down because Radical Rob re-injured a bad knee, so they are only doing about 7 miles a day. Weather has been hot & humid at the lower elevations but quite nice and comfortable up high.
Expected arrival dates in the future:
Glencliff, NH June 28
Crawford Notch July 3
Pinkham Notch July 8
Rt. 2 in New Hampshire July 10
Maine July 14
On June 8 Emily made it into Massachusetts. She hiked 20 mile days to meet up with Rob in North Adams. The mountains were getting bigger, which was exciting.
On June 12, Rachael met her in North Adams, MA for breakfast, before Rob and Emily hit the trail to Vermont.
On June 13, she met up with Radical Rob (his trail name) and they began hiking Vermont on the combination AT/Long Trail.
On June 19, Trail Angel Uncle Don showed up at VT. Rt. 104, with bags of fruits and vegetables and other trail magic. He had walked down the trail for a couple of miles hoping to meet them as they hiked northward, didn't see them but did meet Snow White and Rooster. Eventually Switchback and Radical Rob appeared and they had a good ol' lunch and filled their packs with provisions. Uncle Don Burchard was officially dubbed as a "Trail Angel" by Switchback.
On June 21, they got slowed down because Radical Rob re-injured a bad knee, so they are only doing about 7 miles a day. Weather has been hot & humid at the lower elevations but quite nice and comfortable up high.
Expected arrival dates in the future:
Glencliff, NH June 28
Crawford Notch July 3
Pinkham Notch July 8
Rt. 2 in New Hampshire July 10
Maine July 14
Monday, June 7, 2010
Emily Meets a Celebrity
June 1-6
It's been hot and humid, making hiking a lot of work. A lot of swamp walks too, with mosquitoes of course. I hiked a marathon on June 1--26.7 miles...in some massive thunderstorms. It was a long day, but not too tough (I didn't want to do just a 12mile day). I crossed into New York on that day and climbed over the Lemon Squeezer. It was a narrow crack in the rocks, followed by a 7 foot rock wall. Challenging because it was so wet.
June 2 I climbed Bear Mtn...it was pretty crowded. On the way down I got interviewed by a local newspaper reporter about the new trail on Bear Mtn. Grand opening on June 5...so I was a couple days too early. The trail-side zoo was small but neat. The lowest point on the AT is right in front of the bear pen. New York is a deli walk--you can stop at a store almost every day for food. I actually started skipping some because I wasn't really craving anything store-bought.
June 3 the Cambridge Boys (Walleye, No Point, Nap Time) and I were at RPH shelter eating supper, and David Miller (Awol) showed up to take photos of the shelter. Nap Time recognized him (he's the author to our guide books!), and he gave us some trail magic--apples, hohos, water. An AT celebrity. Too bad we didn't think to get his autograph. I heard that Nature Boy and Toeman have summited Katahdin already!!!
June 5 NEW ENGLAND!!! Crossed into Connecticut, and passed the largest oak on the AT.
June 6, Lauren (a college roommate) came to pick me up and I'm spending the night at her place for a nice relaxing evening.
Editor's Note: New England already!? Time for another round of superlatives! Get your submissions in now, via comment or email.
Also, two new verses have been added to Emily's song... go back and check it out
It's been hot and humid, making hiking a lot of work. A lot of swamp walks too, with mosquitoes of course. I hiked a marathon on June 1--26.7 miles...in some massive thunderstorms. It was a long day, but not too tough (I didn't want to do just a 12mile day). I crossed into New York on that day and climbed over the Lemon Squeezer. It was a narrow crack in the rocks, followed by a 7 foot rock wall. Challenging because it was so wet.
June 2 I climbed Bear Mtn...it was pretty crowded. On the way down I got interviewed by a local newspaper reporter about the new trail on Bear Mtn. Grand opening on June 5...so I was a couple days too early. The trail-side zoo was small but neat. The lowest point on the AT is right in front of the bear pen. New York is a deli walk--you can stop at a store almost every day for food. I actually started skipping some because I wasn't really craving anything store-bought.
June 3 the Cambridge Boys (Walleye, No Point, Nap Time) and I were at RPH shelter eating supper, and David Miller (Awol) showed up to take photos of the shelter. Nap Time recognized him (he's the author to our guide books!), and he gave us some trail magic--apples, hohos, water. An AT celebrity. Too bad we didn't think to get his autograph. I heard that Nature Boy and Toeman have summited Katahdin already!!!
June 5 NEW ENGLAND!!! Crossed into Connecticut, and passed the largest oak on the AT.
June 6, Lauren (a college roommate) came to pick me up and I'm spending the night at her place for a nice relaxing evening.
Editor's Note: New England already!? Time for another round of superlatives! Get your submissions in now, via comment or email.
Also, two new verses have been added to Emily's song... go back and check it out
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