8/25/12 (Sat)–7.1 mi to Emily Proctor Shelter

7.1 mi from Middlebury Gap to Emily Proctor Shelter in 4 hrs. Took a bus from Rutland to Middlebury and hitched to Hancock, grabbed a maildrop and stayed at the Gathering Inn yesterday. Slept in til about 1230 and hit the trail by 2. Felt lazy for most of the hike, so hopefully less of that tomorrow.

8/26/12 (Sun)–19.5 mi to Stark’s Nest Warming Hut

19.5 mi in 9.5 hrs, much less lazy. Staying at a warming hut called Stark’s Nest in the Mad River Glen Ski Area. Beautiful day over the Abraham-Ellen ridge. Have a maildrop at a place I don’t want to stay – it’ll force me into a 3.5 mi day, but I have a lot to get done if I hope to start school when I get back, so I can find the library and use the internet.

8/27/12 (Mon)–3.5 mi to VT 17 (Waitsfield) + 1.6 mi to Birch Glen Camp

Walked from Hancock to Waitsfield faster than Priority Mail! The VT section of the USPS needs to get it together. Spent the day in Waitsfield, did laundry and showered, then headed to Birch Glen Camp. I planned to stay at the Hyde Away Inn, but they’re closed because of a recent fire. They were still amazing hosts, with a cute kid. 21 mi planned tomorrow, we’ll see how that goes.

8/28/12 (Tue)–21.2 mi to Duck Brook Shelter

21.2 mi over Camel’s Hump with a quick stop in Burlington courtesy of Brian. Got a sandwich and some new trail shoes after taking some hard falls around Mt Ira Allen and one on Bamforth Ridge. Was in the fog most of the day, bad for views but good when you want to keep moving.

8/29/12 (Wed)–13.2 mi to Taylor Lodge

13.2 mi from Duck Brook to Taylor Lodge in about 7 hrs. Really took my time, hung out at Buchanan Lodge and Puffer Shelter for a while. Realized I left my camera back at Harrington’s View when I wanted to take a picture of a great easterly view of the Whites at Puffer, debated going back to look for it but it’s up to the trail gods now. I sent a kid a pair of sunglasses he left behind; hopefully someone will return me the favor. I left a note about it at Puffer. I guess I’ll use my phone’s camera on Mansfield and pick up a disposable in Stowe. Would hate to lose all the pictures I took though.

8/30/12 (Thu)–8.5 mi to VT 108 (Stowe) + 3.8 to Smuggler’s Notch Warming Hut

8.5 mi over Mansfield to VT 108 that more than made up for my view of clouds on Camel’s. I could see the Whites to the east, Burlington, Lake Champlain, the Adirondacks and the Great Wall of China to the west. I also got one of my first looks at the trail going north; there’d always been bigger mountains in front of me. Went into Stowe for a few hours courtesy of a couple out celebrating the wife’s 70th birthday in their Mustang convertible. Got a bacon grilled cheese and iced tea, then a bacon cheeseburger w/bourbon sauce and a raspberry egg cream. Picked up a bunch of food that doesn’t need to be cooked, as I have no fuel tabs til tomorrow because the Vermont USPS moves slower than the speed of walking. They’re still not sure if my package will make it to Johnson by tomorrow, but I can improvise fuel there and get my first shower and laundry since Monday. Did 3.8 mi out of Stowe after a ride in Peggy’s Pickup (not a pickup). Peggy was from Detroit circa 1983 and had a hideous laugh. Camped in a ski hut on Smuggler’s w/a couch. I’d been trying to catch up with a nobo named Bam Bam, but now I’m ahead of him.

8/31/12 (Fri)–11 mi to Johnson

11 mi to Johnson and the Awesome View Hiker Hostel. Saw a bear and a moose within about a half hour of each other near VT 15. Had raspberries from a local farm and then 2 hot dogs and soda (fo’ free!) on the way into town, finally got my maildrop, did laundry, hit the library then grabbed a bacon, egg and cheese on a bagel w/an iced mate before going across the street to The Hub Pizzeria + Pub, had 2 pepperoni slices and 3 ciders. They had a quarter beer special for hikers and encouraged me to check out “Hick Jam” at the local campground. Instead I went to my hostel, made some chili and watched a beautiful sunset.

9/1/12–(Sat) 11.4 mi to Corliss Camp

Easy 11.4 mi out of Johnson to Corliss Camp. Hiked the morning with Brian. Stopped and sunbathed for 45 minutes or so then ate a ton of candy. Made some chili mac + cheese for dinner, glad to be eating that again tomorrow. A guy named Slow Stepper is in the shelter and he’s pretty annoying telling me about his blood sugar and diabetes supplies. Exactly what I don’t want to hear about.

9/2/12 (Sun)–15.0 mi to Tillotson Camp

7-9am–2 Nutrigrain bars

¾ pack Gu chews

1045am–1 liter water w/raspberry EmergenC

15 combos

½ king size Baby Ruth
1245pm–1 ¼ liters water

10 combos

1 beef and cheese snack

5 sour patch watermelon

¼ king size Hershey w/Almond

310pm–½ liter water

1 Almond Joy

10 sour patch watermelon

5-6pm–½ box Kraft mac + cheese

1 cup Carolina Shelf Reliance beef chili

¾ cup Carolina Shelf Reliance cheddar cheese

1 Almond Joy

2/3 Peanut butter to go cup

1 ½ liters water

15 mi Corliss Camp to Tillotson Camp. Last night in a shelter.

9/3/12 (Mon) – 11.4 mi to Vt 242 (Montgomery Ctr)

11.4 mi to VT 242 and then to Grampa Grunt’s Lodge in Montgomery Ctr. Owner’s daughter Mary gave me a ride to and from the trail. They’re former Long Islanders. I ate a bunch, watched some TV for the first time in forever and went to bed early. Last day on trail tomorrow.

9/4/12 (Tue) – 11.9 mi to northern terminus of LT + 1.3 on Journey’s End Trail

Made it to Canada on a cool, foggy day. The number of consecutive days took a toll; I was worn out w/little weight. Sent home my sleeping bag, pad, cookware, anything I didn’t need today.

6/14/14 (Sat) – 3.8 mi on AT to southern terminus of LT + 2.8 mi to Seth Warner Shelter

Got to Williamstown around 1415, walked to Stop and Shop, picked up a sandwich and jumped on the AT to cross into VT. Hiked about 6.6 mi on trail, 2.8 mi on the LT to Seth Warner Shelter. Got into VT around 1700. Tents everywhere and a full shelter.

6/15/14 (Sun) – 13.1 mi to Melville Nauheim Shelter

Got on trail bright and early (6am) with plans to hike 20 miles to Godard Shelter. Got lost about 1.5-2 hrs into a cool, foggy morning and went on an adventure of a 3-hour loop on woods roads before I found the trail almost exactly where I lost it. Found an awesome cabin somewhere I probably couldn’t find again. Only wound up doing 13.1 mi to Melville Nauheim Shelter.

6/16/14 (Mon) – 17.4 mi to Story Spring Shelter

Felt sore + sluggish most of the day, but long daylight and good weather make it pretty easy to cover decent miles anyway. 17.4 mi to Story Spring Shelter. Incredible spring here (one might say it’s worth a story), terrible bugs. Running really low on food, I will be hungry in Manchester Ctr on Wed, when I have to decide whether to go faster and finish Sun in Middlebury.

6/17/14 (Tue) – 21.1 mi to VT 11/30 (Manchester Ctr)

Got another decently early start after waking up to throw up around 5am. Got up to Stratton by about 10am and called to see if the Green Mountain House had opened. They had, so I made quick work of the next 14.5 mi, getting to Rt 11/30 5.5 hrs later. Only stopped for a quick lunch at the enormous and mosquito filled Stratton Pond Shelter, then to check out Prospect Rock and Spruce Peak. Made it into town in time to get my maildrop, got some good Ben + Jerry’s, some bad pizza and bought way too much food at Price Chopper.

6/18/14 (Wed) – 16.5 mi to Story Spring Shelter

Green Mountain House was a great stop; a bed, shower, laundry and full kitchen in a nice house w/a ride back to trail in the morning. My stomach felt awful all night. Didn’t even feel well enough to make the bacon I’d bought for the morning. Went up Bromley relatively quickly considering how badly I felt and likely would have stayed at the warming hut, but there was no water. Went to the Lost Pond Shelter, where I planned to stay the night, but I found bread, tortillas, salsa and a couple packages of cheese there. I didn’t think anyone behind me would make it that far so I packed it up and brought it to Big Branch Shelter where Sunbeam, an LT sobo named Jackson and I made quesadillas.

6/19/14 (Thu) – 16.9 mi to Clarendon Shelter

Woke up very nauseous in the middle of the night, made it to about 5am before throwing up for the third morning in a row. Started relatively late, didn’t eat much for the second day in a row and felt a little worn out. Stopped at the Whistle Stop Restaurant a mile before the end of my day. Figured a real, hot, homemade meal would be better for me than a Pasta Side I’d be forcing myself to choke down. Didn’t miss this chance for bacon and the bread in VT continues to amaze me. Didn’t eat too much but I do feel a little better. I’ll see how the night goes.

6/20/14 (Fri) – 16.4 mi to VT 4 (Rutland)

Stomach still in pretty bad shape but the long hike up and over K Peak wasn’t too bad, still managed to get the 16.4 mi for the day done just before 4. Hiked up to the summit, beautiful and windy. Random snowboard on top. I’ve had a surprising amount of energy for how little I’m eating and keeping down, but it’s taking a big toll on me. Had a beer at Inn @ LT w/Sunbeam and a couple trail magic slices of pizza before Rocket and Michigan Wolverine gave us a ride into Rutland. Sunbeam and I stayed with the cult in Rutland along with several other LT/AT hikers. The cult invited us to join their prayer service and dinner. The people were extremely nice and accommodating, but there was an overall weird atmosphere. The fresh baked bread, couscous and broccoli were very good (the little I ate) but once they brought out some fish it was way too much for my stomach and I had to leave.

6/21/14 (Sat) – 12.7 mi to David Logan Shelter

Met up w/Brian after being badgered by the cult to come to their volleyball game all morning. Still throwing up around 3-5am every morning. After we split up all the food I’ve been carrying and not eating between the two of us and eventually figuring out which bus got us back up to the trail, we finally headed out at about 1245pm. I felt okay at first if I didn’t go too fast but before long I was vomiting A LOT of Gatorade. First time I’ve been sick during the day so far. I was beginning to get pretty worried about how smart it was to continue on after the second mass Gatorade ejection but things started to turn around after I started drinking plain water. Even managed to eat a Larabar and a tiny bit of couscous Hops Along gave me. Rocket and Wolverine convinced him to hike the LT north from Maine Junction instead of the AT. He agreed w/o even having a map. Brian had one we could use for tomorrow so I gave him mine and autographed it for him. Dude was awesome. 12.7 mi for the day felt a lot longer, took about 6 hours.

6/22/14 (Sun) – 17.1 mi to VT 125

Woke up to see it was light out and I hadn’t thrown up yet. Asked Brian what time it was and couldn’t have been happier to hear it was after 6. Had a little bit of muffin for breakfast and a few small snacks throughout the day. I was just just trying not to eat too much, too soon. It was a relatively easy day but going up Mt Horrid had me a little light headed. The cliff wasn’t nearly as bad as I expected, and the rest of the day was uneventful and flew by. We reached the Middlebury Snowbowl around 1 and couldn’t believe we were there already. After an easy mile down to VT 125, I had finished the Long Trail.

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