Day 114 - Rewriting Posts at the Library (July 31)

I made it to Gorham today, and got my first ride by hitching. The second car stopped after I put my thumb out. Chris was the driver. He said he works as a private driving instructor. I think he actually teaches people how to drive backward very fast, slam on the breaks, and spin your car around. We only had a few minutes to talk before we arrived in Gorham.

I'm at the library retyping my posts. My internet connection for my phone is not working. I'm going to call Altel later today.

I did a resupply, and got some stuff at the outfitter. I have most of my stuff done, and will enjoy relaxing with some cold beers tonight.

I met the General and Jukebox at the coffee shop this morning. The General is from the UK, and has already hiked the trail in 2004. He said that within three months of returning from the trail, he knew he had to do it again. His thought on NH and Maine is that it is no more physically difficult than the Southern Mountains. He might be right. The one difference is that they are far more dangerous, but the entire trail has really dangerous stuff.

I should finally be in Maine tomorrow. I want to do the Mahoosuc Notch on Saturday. That section is supposed to be the hardest mile of the entire trail.

I met Jaybird at the hostile this afternoon. I did not talk to him long. I hear that he claims to have done the trail multiple times, but most people do not believe him. I hear he is a yellow blazer who most likely has only done parts of the trail before, but most likely has reported to the ATC that he did those parts as complete thru hikes.

Day 113 - Out of the Whites (July 30)

I'm very happy to be out of the Whites, but I know I have more than a hundred miles of trail just as difficult and dangerous remaining. The ups and downs are physically demanding, but its the danger that I really dislike.

I consider hiking an activity that requires the use of your legs and maybe hiking poles to assist. I consider rock climbing to be an activity that requires the use of both legs and both hands, and involves heights great enough to injure if you fall. There are many portions of the trail that require rock climbing. The climbs would be easy without a pack, poles dangling from wrists, and wet surfaces. However, with these things, the trail is very dangerous.

I often feel mentally exhausted during the day while trying to make my way though these dangerous portions of the trail. This is just one of the mental aspects of the trail.

I did a very hard 19 miles to get to Rattle River shelter where I am tonight. It was only another 2 miles to the road to Gorham, but the way into Gorham would have required hitch hiking. It was too late for hitching.

I'm in the shelter by myself. I've not seen any Northbounders for a few days. It would be nice to have someone to hike with through some of the dangerous sections of the trail. If I am injured on the trail, I could have many hours before someone happens by. That is another thing that is wearing on me mentally.

Day 112 - The Presidential Range (July 29)

This was one of the hardest days of the entire trip. I left Lake in the Clouds hut about 6:00 AM. The hut people failed to tell me nothing would be open on Mount Washington until 8:00 AM. It was very cold with 46 mph winds and gusts to 55 mph. Visibility was very poor. A worker saw me outside and let me sit inside until they opened.

Weather conditions felt really dangerous, but the park people said it was not dangerous. People were walking between huts. I considered blue blazing a short cut trail that dropped in elevation quickly. that was actually probably what I should have done. I would never be hiking in this weather if I could help it. The trail forces us to do some moderately dangerous stuff so often that I just hate to increase my risk level at any time.

The wind was so strong when I went over Mount Madison that I had to walk on my hands and feet like a crab just to not be blown over. After that, I really struggled just walking until I got below tree line. I was walking on sharp large rocks, and the wind gusts kept pushing me off balance. It was really scary.

The AMC is really earning their name as the Appalachian Money Club tonight. I'm in Pickham Notch where they run another hut. There is no work for stay and a bunk costs $57 without meals. I'm stealth camping in some nearby woods. The AMC pretends to be hiker friendly with the pack room and showers, but showers cost $0.25 per 0.75 minutes. I declined the shower.

I hiked with 3 young college kids this afternoon. One had an international studies degree with a specialty in Africa. I enjoyed our conversation.

Day 111 - Lake in the Clouds Hut (July 28)

I had a relatively short 11 or 12 mile day. It was a very steep climb out of Crawford Notch. There were places I was rock climbing with a pack and poles dangling from my wrists. The views were spectacular.

Lake of the Clouds hut is about a mile from Mount Washington. I climbed Mount Clinton (aka Mount Pierce) to get here. I'm doing work for stay this evening so I can get out early tomorrow morning. I want to do about 15 miles to Pinkham Notch Hut where I hope to stay tomorrow.

Bear Walker (Southbounder) and I had to wait an hour and a half after dinner was served before we could eat. The rest of the staff waited too. Dinner was very good. Eliza (Assistant Hut Manager) did not have anything productive for us to do. I realized very quickly that we were just going to have to put in time.

My old friend Pete Rix from grade school taught me just what to do in these situations. You just hang out and look busy. The work is not important so the results are not important. One or our tasks was to scrub the underside of baking pans. Only oven cleaner would have worked on this task. We just scrubbed and talked about the trail. Nothing came off and no one expected it to.

Hut life is interesting, and I'm glad I had the opportunity to do work for stay once. I would not want to do it again. I walk as many miles as I can in a day. I don't have the energy to do meaningless tasks. I like to cook when I stop for the day, and I'm usually in my tent by 8:00 PM. I don't want to stay up until 9:30 PM when the hut guests go to their bunks. The hut staff act as if its a privilege for us to stay at their hut. I just need a place to stay, and the huts are the only option in several places.

I've been practicing the photography techniques that Gail and George taught me last night.

Day 110 - Franconia Ridge (July 27)

I slept in this morning because there was a less than 3 mile hike to Galehead Hut. I was hoping for leftovers from breakfast, which they had. I had to do about 20 minutes of sweeping for breakfast. The guy wearing the kilt was there as was Mouse. I met both yesterday. The guy in the kilt is trying to extend his trail time as long as possible.

The trail from Garfield Ridge campsite was crazy. It went down what looked to be a small waterfall, but was actually the trail. There are places where the trail has a 60 to 70 degree decent or climb. I saw a group of middle aged hikers really struggling yesterday.

A woman on the trail today said that she thinks many people are seriously hurt on the trail. She said she has seen injury reports for the trail, but only injuries requiring rescue are reported. she said there are many heart attacks.

I made it to Zeeland Falls hut for lunch. They had a $3 bottomless bowl of soup, and breads and cakes for $1. All of this was leftovers. I think each hut has different rules, and I might have misread the cost sign. I paid $1 and took lots of bread. I left wondering if they could have meant $1 per piece of bread. The first hut was giving away leftovers because they would have to be thrown out and packed down. I'm not sure if I took more than I paid for or if I helped lighten someone's packout load.

I thought about going to Mizpah hut tonight, but that was a 6 mile hike up several thousand feet. I probably would not have gotten there until 8:00 PM. This would probably be too late for work for stay, and I did not want to pay $90 for the night. I ended up getting a ride to a private campground from a very nice couple (George and Gail) from the Boston area. They were staying at the campground where I decided to resupply in case I do not get work for stay at a hut.

I say my first moose on the way to the campground. I have been following moose prints in the trail for weeks. I kept expecting to see one on the trail. its funny that my first moose sighting was on a highway.

I had a really nice evening with Gail and George, their two sons, and Gail's dad. Gail and George BBQed some steaks and baked potatoes in the fire. Gail said the camp store lady gave her some free steaks when she told her that they invited me over for dinner. What incredible trail magic! We drank beers and talked until 11:30 PM, which is way past my normal sleep time.

Gail and George are photographers. I learned a lot of photography techniques I want to try on the trail. Taking portraits of people at angles, paying attention to natural lines in the landscape, and taking low and high angle shots are all things I will try.

Day 109 - Mount Lafayette (July 26)

I did about a 19 mile day to Garfield Ridge campsite from Eliza Brook shelter. The terrain was steep and rugged.

I stopped for breakfast at the Lonesome Lake Hut. They set aside the leftovers for thru hikers who come in after guests leave. I had pancakes, oatmeal, and coffee. The pancakes and oatmeal were cold, but very tasty. The best part was that it was all free.

I met V8, Auntie Mame, and Certain at the hut. They are slack packing the Whites. V8's partner had a medical emergency while they were on the trail so they left the trail in Virginia. Certain had to leave the trail last year when her mom had a medical emergency. She started the trail where she left last year.

V8 has hiked Maine. She said the trail through the Mahoosuc Range is as difficult as the Whites. Maine might get a little easier after the Mahoosucs.

I spent the afternoon on Mount Lafayette, which is part of the Franconia Ridge. This is often described as the most scenic section of the trail. There are way too many really scenic places to pick this as the most scenic. Most of the Southern section of the trail was just as scenic.

I'm staying at Garfield Ridge shelter with a father and son named Singer and Land Surfer. This is a fee area. I had to pay $8 to stay here. There were no other nonpaying options that I could find.

I'm going to try to do a work for stay at a couple huts. I'm not sure what the chances of being turned away are. They want $90 a night at a hut, which is more than I will pay.

Day 108 - White Mountains (July 25)

I'm in the White Mountains today. Mount Moosilauki is the first of the Whites we cross. All of the hype about how we would be lucky to do 10 miles a day seems to be untrue. I did a 17 mile day after getting a fairly late start and getting into Eliza Brook shelter a little after 5:00 PM. I considered continuing to a campsite 4 miles further, but there is a steep climb and the trail is rugged. I was concerned that if anything delayed me, I would be on the trail after dark.

This part of the trail is extremely rugged and dangerous. I heard from many people that the last 20% of the trail will take 80% of the effort. I think people are confusing physical danger with physical difficulty.

I think the next 200 miles will be extremely dangerous. There are many climbs and descents on a steep (often vertical) rocks. A sign at the south bottom of Moosilauki described the trail as extremely dangerous with the possibility of tragic consequences. There was no warnings at the north side or top.

I'm on the trail between Kinsman Notch and Franconia Notch. This part of the trail is rugged with few views. I've been scrambling up and down boulders all afternoon. There are also many ankle deep mucky areas that are hard to get around. The rocks are very slippery and dangerous.
I should be on Franconia Ridge tomorrow afternoon. Many believe this is the most beautiful section of the entire trail.

I also get to experience the huts and tourists tomorrow. I'm going to try to do work for stay at at least one hut. The huts have left overs for sale during the day. I also hear that the tourists like to feed the hikers. My food bag is low so I'm hoping for some handouts.

I have 381 miles to go. If I stay healthy and uninjured, I can finish by the August 16th weekend. I also will have 1,800 miles done tomorrow. I'm hoping this starts to feel like a lot when I get into Maine.

V8 was at the hostile to slack pack with Certain who was also at the hostile. Lizard and Stripe also joined the slack pack. Auntie Mame was supposed to join them with another car, but I did not see her.

Bear Paw is helping Phat Chap run the hostile. I met Bear Paw earlier on the trail, but I do not remember where. She has a distinctive bear paw tattooed on her chest. She said she got off the trail before the Shanandoahs. Also at the hostile were Savage (Lizard's husband), Iowa Bebe, and Pipper. Baltimore Jack and his friend were also at the hostile, but staying in the house.

Pipper is pushing to finish the trail by August 12. That's over 21 miles per day average. My guess is that if you try to do that many miles a day on this section, you significantly increase your risk of injury. The trail is too rugged to go fast here.

Most hostiles on the trail are extremely primitive. We had electricity and a computer with Internet, but no indoor plumbing or phone service. Some hostiles do not even have electricity. A cool hostile that I may have to skip because I do not want to take time away from the Whites is Chet's house.

Chet was a hiker who wanted to do the trail until an MSR fuel bottle blew up in his face severely burning, blinding, and crippling him. He got a settlement so it sounds like it was not his fault. This is another reason to use alcohol stoves.

Day 106 - Anticipation (July 23)

There is just about 400 miles left. These are supposed to be the toughest and most beautiful miles of the trail. I expect to start the White Mountains tomorrow afternoon. I hope to do at least 15 mile days and be through them in about a week or a little less. Then we do 60 of the hardest miles of the trail.

The trail information on the next 400 miles has been the most contradictory of the entire trail. Some people are saying you can not do them in less than 37 days and other people are saying you can average 17 or 18 mile days (22 days). I have no idea what to believe or how to plan for the remainder of the trip.

I decided that I will continue getting on the trail early, but I will probably not try for anything over 20 miles in a day. I feel good, and want to make sure I do nothing to change that at this time. The only problem I have is some pain and soreness in my left knee. The pain comes and goes. I might not feel anything for several days, and then it comes back. I've been taking vitamin I several times a day as a preventative measure.

I met another very fast hiker yesterday be the name of Pipper. I've been hiking with Mountain Sailor, and I was expecting Pipper to pass us today. He had a foot problem yesterday, and I think that may have slowed him down. He is trying to go as fast as he can so that he can finish as soon as possible, and that might be causing him some problems. I think it is critical to manage pain and injuries if you are going to stay on the trail. It will be interesting to see how someone who is in the sprinting mode at this time will do on the trail. It might work for him. I think its a little too early to start sprinting. He was hiking with his dad earlier on the trail. His dad broke his leg in NY or NJ on the climb after the Lemon Squeezer.

We have been meeting a lot of Southbounders over the last few days. Most have the attitude that they just beat the trail by getting through Maine and the Whites. They have only done about 400 miles. Most will not see Springer. Each section has its own challenges. Each mile is very difficult for very different reasons. The psychological aspect is even more important than the physical.

About 10% of thru hikers start in Maine. I think there are more Southbounders on the trail now than Northbounders.

I'm at Ore Hill shelter listening to the rain. There are three Southbounders sharing the shelter with Mountain Sailor and I. I did not get their names.

Day 105 - Trapper John Shelter (July 22)

It took a little longer to get out of Hanover this morning than I would have liked. We only did 16 miles to the Trapper John shelter. I would have liked to have made it to the next shelter.

Iowa Bebe, Dolly, and two section hikers are here tonight. Dolly attempted a thru hike in 2000. she had a knee injury that took her off the trail in Connecticut. She has been slowly trying to finish the trail.

I heard Bill Bryson does not live in Hanover any more. I heard he is living in the UK again. Robert Redford is supposed to be making a film of "A Walk in the Woods". Does anyone know the status of this film?

As for Thought Foot, he called me last week to let me know he is at the Delaware Water Gap. That is about 3 weeks behind me. He said his is only doing miles in the upper teens. I think he was really pushing himself to keep up with me.

Greetings from New Hampshere (July 21)

It was a wet day, but there was no more rain. Everything was wet. The ground was wet, and all of the grass was wet. It did not take long to soak my shoes and shorts. I walked 15 miles with wet feet to Hanover where Mountain Sailor and I are spending the night at the Sunset motel.

It was a very expensive day. I bought my fourth pair of shoes. I got less than 200 miles out of my Keens. I also bought a new rain jacket and a mid weight shirt for the Whites. My current rain jacket was leaking the last few days. I bought cheap rain pants, and cut them off so that they will keep my shorts dry. My camera thinks its in a docking station, and will not take pictures. I bought a new camera too.

Mountain Sailor and I crossed the Connecticut River to enter New Hampshire. We have been getting wildly different information on what to expect next. I'm sure there will be some of the hardest climbs coming up in NH and Maine. Some people say it will be hard to do 10 miles a day, and other say you can do 15 to 20 miles a day depending on terrain.

We met Baltimore Jack in town. I think he lives in Hanover. He did the trail 8 times. Seven were thru hikes he did 7 years in a row. He was on the trail earlier in the year. I met him in a bar in Damascus, but did not know how many times he had previously did the trail.

The last 20% is supposed to be harder than GA, NC, and TN. Looking at the profiles, I agree that there are harder sections, but there are also flatter sections too. The south had nothing resembling a flat section.

I talked to a few section hikers who said they completed Maine averaging 15 miles per day. I suspect I can do it a little faster after walking for the last few months, but I will not know until I get there.

Painting....

Hotdogs:

Just checking in to see how the paint job (as mentioned earlier) is coming along? Did you go with the purple and orange stripes?

Tadpole

Lakes of the clouds hut

Monday.
Joe is staying at Lakes of the Clouds Hut, it's right before Mount Washington. There is a live web cam on top of Mt Washington. He should be up there tomorrow morning. He's going to try to call me so he can wave at the camera.
http://www.nhtourguide.com/live_webcam_mt_washington_nh.htm
http://hikethewhites.com/lakes_hut.html

Day 107 - Glencliff NH (July 24)

I made it to the Hikers Welcome hostile in Glencliff, NH this morning. Its been raining for the last few days. I've been hiking with Mountain Sailor the last few days. I have no phone service, and it seems unlikely that I will have phone service before Gorham, NH. I will post my daily updates when I have phone service.

We decided to nero and rest for the big climbs in the Whites. The next 250 miles is definitely going to be the hardest of the entire trail. This is also the part of the trail with the most contradictory information. I've heard that we will not do more than 10 miles a day, and I heard that 17 to 18 mile averages with a few 13 to 15s is probable. I have no idea how to plan for the next sections. I think I will assume I can do minimum 15 mile days. I still hope to be in Maine by the end of the month.

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Day 103 - More Rain (July 20)

It poured rain all day today. Everything I have is wet. My pack cover is no longer water proof. Everyone in the shelter say their pack covers leaked too. The water also leaked through my water proof pack liner too.

The terrain today was unexpectedly hard. My pace was very slow. I could not figure out why I was going so slow until I got to the shelter and everyone wanted to know if I had as hard of a day as they did.

I'm at the Thistle Hill shelter. Mountain Sailor, Frog, and Piper are here. Piper is yelling into his cell phone next to me. I met Frog in Virginia. I hear he is a yellow blazer and can show up anywhere on the trail. He thinks he broke his toe, and can not walk far. We all gave Frog some food to hold him over. I met Mountain Sailor at the shelter last niight. We are planning on splitting the cost of a motel room tomorrow.

There were a group of ladies staying in the shelter who offered to tent when Piper and Mountain Sailor arrived.

I hiiked with Hamburgler and Pipi in the morning. We met Willy Boy and Len at the last shelter. We all went to a farmers market off the trail. Hamburgler was wet and had the chills and Willy Boy did not want to hike in the rain. When I left, they were trying to get 100 dallar a night B&B rooms. I did not want to spend that much to get out of the rain.

My down sleeping bag is damp. I'm hoping there is enough fluff left to keep me warm.

Day 102 - Thunderstorms (July 19)

I got soaked this afternoon. The sound of thunder was rolling across the sky. It was really cool, but a little scarey too. I had a really steep mountain to climb and several miles before the next shelter. I made it without any trouble.

None of my stuff will be dry tomorrow, which means I will be walking in wet shoes.

I'm at the Stoney Brook shelter with a new group of hikers. Pipi and Hambergler, Dartman, Mountain Sailor, Willy Boy and his brother in law, Len, who is with him for the week, and a guy with a Just Josh n one side and Stupid Sucks on the other.

I should be in Hanover, NH on Monday. Its going to be another expensive day at the outfitter. My shoes need to be replaced again, and my rain jacket is leaking. I keep thinking I'm almost done so why worry about this stuff, but its only on the AT that you can think you are almost done with 475 miles to go. I probably have about 4 weeks left on the trail.

I should be in the Whites on Thursday. I hear they are both beautiful and difficult. The AMC huts will be very expensive. I need to find other options. They want 90 dollars to stay at a shelter. The shelters are lodges for rich people. This makes it very difficult and expensive for thru hikers.

A section hiker was talking about running marathons. I asked him about distances people run to train for a marathon. He said that the professional athletes might run about 120 miles per week. I do more distance than this while wearing a pack and walking on extremely rugged terrain.

Day 101 - Cooper Lodge (July 18)

I'm staying at Cooper Lodge tonight. This is more like a run-down mouse infested shack than a lodge. Its one of the AT shelters. Its at an elevation of about 3,900 feet so it should be a cool night. There are some mosquetoes out that I hope will go away when the temperature drops.

There is another couple here tonight who are out just for the night. They are tenting nearby. There were n thru hikers at the shelter last night or at Sutton Place. I now might go a day or two before seeing another thru hiker.

My left knee was kind of sore yesterday. The soreness comes and goes. I pushed a few extra miles yesterday. I am surprised that I feel no soreness today.

I decided to start taking ibuprophin on a regular basis now. Ibuprophin is so common on the trail that it is refered to as vitamin I. I'm hoping regular use will help prevent problems this last month. I hear many people are taking lots of vitamin I to get through this last month.

Day 100 - Bears (July 17)

I'm laying in my tent listening to paniced campers talking about a bear they saw this evening. They were apparently camping near the Greenwall shelter were I am now. They packed up all of their stuff and ran to the shelter. It sounds like they are quieting down a little now. If I wasn't so tired,I would talk to them about shooing techniques.

I blew out the sticking on my new shoes today. I only got a little more than 200 miles out of them. I'm wearng Keens, and the exact same thing happened to my first pair of Keens at just about the same mileage. I got dirt inside my shoes, and the bottoms of my feet feel abraided.

Hitch hiking in the northeast is very difficult I hear. I went to Mrs. Murphy's Donut Shop this morning where the book said it would be easy to find a ride. No one was going toward the trail. I then found a place out front with a parking lot for people to pull off. No one stopped. Slow Poke came by and told me he had to walk the 5.5 miles into town from the trail yesterday because no one would give him a ride. Frank Sutton stopped by to give me encouragement saying the locals always pick up hikers. I was about to give up when a guy I talked to earlier picked my up after he got his hair cut.

I asked an older couple at Sutton place how they were getting back to the trail. The man said something about a jaguar, and not having room for me. The trail is just a few minutes from town by car. It doesn't take long to do two trips. I'll just have to remember to let them know if I see them with a broken bone by the side of the trail that I would like to help, but I can't help carry someone with my pack on.

I met Sage on the trail and he told me he has had a hard time getting rides since the south. In the south he said he often got a ride from the first car that passed him. He said a Vermont local told him that the locals joke about hikers being smelly. That is both funny and pathetic. The people making the jokes are most likely people who have never attempted something like this, and never will if they only think about the triivial.

The guy that picked me up was telling me how hard thingshave become after wealthy east coast people started buying second homes in Vermont. He said that 10 years ago you could buy a small ranch home for 80K. Now the same home will cost 280K.

Now that I've spent some time in the northeast, I noticed three culteral differences from the south. Teeth are not as optional here. People are not as hospitable here. Picking up hitch hikers is a good example. And people of the northeast crave money. Everything is more expensive here. I'm still shocked that a bed at Sutton place cost 50 dollars, and Frank did not even offer to give me a ride back to the trail.

I've uploaded Joe's latest photos on Flickr

Just click the photo show to the left to go to Flickr.

What is Joe's usual hiking pace?

Weight loss

Day 99 - Stratton Mnt & Birth of AT (July 16)

I started this morning from Story Spring shelter, and made it to Manchester Center before the outfitter closed. I made it to the top of Stratton mountain by early morning. There is an old fire tower on the top of Stratton mountain that is open to the public. If I remember correctly, it was built by the CCC in the early 1930s. The wind made the tower shake, which was a little unnerving. The viiew from the top was absolutely spectacular. Once again, I'm in a very remote and unpopulated part of the country.

Stratton mountain is supposed to be the inspiration for both the AT and the Long Trail. The Long Trail was conceived first in about 1909. It was conceived as a trail that linked the ridges and mountains of Vermont. While it was being built in the early 1920s, someone (Benton McKay?) conceived the idea of linking all of the Appalachian mountains. I don't think work on the AT began until the 1930s.

I'm staying at Sutton place in Manchester Center tonight. If the bathroom scale is correct, my weight is down to about 160 lbs. I was hoping my weight lose had stopped. However, its been a few hundred miles since I last weighed myself so my weight loss might have stablized since PA.

Its a good thing there is a McDonalds in town. You can no longer supersize at McDonalds. Maybe the large is the same as a supersize. I also think you do not get as many calories per dollar at McDonalds as you do at Hardies and Burger King. I can't wait until the time I no longer have to eat this stuff. I already had one large value meal, and I need to go back for a second once my laundary is done.

I spent another 150 dollars at the local outfitter today. My Steripen stopped working yesterday. Monica at Goat Mountain Outfitters spent at least an hour on the phone with the manufacturer to no avail. Normally, the manufacturers do everything in their power to fix problems for thru hikers. This one did not. They can lose a lot of sales by not being responsive. Everyone looks to us for equipment advise. I bought a water filter and had the outfitter send the Steripen home to me.

I also got a new Leki hiking pole for free because a pin in the handle of my pole kept coming out. My down sleeping bag needs to be refluffed do to water coming into my tent. Frank Sutton lent me three tenis balls. I will know soon if this works. If it doesn't work, the White mountains will be cold.

I did my first hitch hiking today. I took a blue blaze trail that got me within walking distance of town. I came out near a tavern, and asked a lady if the road went into Manchester Center. I did, and I asked her if she would be kind enough to give me a ride. She did. She said her husband always wanted to do a thru hike, but is too old (60) and too out of shape. I told her neither should keep him off the trail. I wish I would have given her my email address to give to her husband.

Day 98 - Green Mountains (July 15)

I hiked about 23 miles to get to the Story Spring shelter. It was a beautiful clear and cool day. Much of the terrain is beginning to look like the northwoods.

Vermont has been a very pretty state. The trails are not too steep, which makes walking fairly easy even with 2,000 foot plus mountains. I was going to hike a couple more hours after dinner to get closer to the road to Manchester Center, but Seattle Sailor showed me a short cut that gets me closer to town without having to hitch. I will try it tomorrow.

I think Lyme disease and giardia are taking some more people off the trail. Pond Scum who I met at Goose pond shelter thought he had giardia. It did not sound like he was treating his water very well. Jack Frost who I met a few days ago thought he had Lyme disease. Seattle Sailor said he knows of several other people getting off because of Lyme disease.