October 4
Highway 103 to Williamstown, Massachusetts
I cant count the same section of trail for two hikes without hiking it twice.
So after rain that didn’t fall, I was back on trail, hiking with an AT hiker I had met a few times. We soon caught up with another AT hiker, so the three of us walked together to Bromley Mountain, and a warming hut, available for hikers to use. It had rained during the day, September 30, some times quite hard. Remnants of a hurricane had spun out of the Caribbean, covering the entire eastern seaboard. Vermont was not spared. So the three of us sought shelter in the warming hut, where we stayed... and paced, and slept, and ate and paced... We took one entire rest day, staying out of the torrential rain.
On the morning of the second, the three of us left, walking out into the cold clear morning.
After visiting town for a quick snack and a little extra food, we began the arduous process of hitching back to trail. Buhne (pronounced boon) managed to acquire a ride from an elderly couple. After driving up a dirt road, turning around, driving back, going up a different road... we asked to be dropped off back on the main road. It took two additional cars to get the three of us back to the trail, a mere five miles from town.
The afternoon was brilliant and sunny, but with the crisp cool of autumn. The leaves in southern vermont, were not quit
e at peak color. Or the ones that were... ripe... had been knocked to the ground by the torrential rain. My peak color, I believe, has passed.On the morning of the third, I left early, parting company from the other guys. I had a plane to catch. I had 50 miles to walk in two days.
Stratton Mountain is the last prominent peak going south on the Long Trail. Going south, the trail turns violently east, climbing 1500 feet. After a quick summit and climb of the wind exposed fire tower, I descended quickly, 1500, feet, emerging just a couple miles from where the climb began. Stratton Mountain is one of the more superfluous climbs on the Long Trail, or the Appalachian Trail for that matter. The view in the cool clear morning, was spectacular.
After my brisk climb, I picked up tempo, making 20 miles by 2:00 and 30 by 6:00, finishing my 33 mile day at Congdon Shelter, my last shelter for the hiking season.
Reality donned on my during my solo walking, that my season is coming to an end. I walked much of the day thinking about my experiences, remembering the people I met, and places I have seen.
The Long Trail for me, was a way of decompressing from the AT. It was much less traveled path, and my fall hike was beautiful. The Vermont fall was spectacular. Red, gold, and purple foliage dominated with landscape. The weather, aside form one hurricane remnant, was pleasant and cool. The bugs were gone. This was the perfect time for a Long Trail hike.
On a shorter trail, relative to the PCT, CDT, or AT, one can pick their season. I cannot imagine hiking the Long Trail in any other season than fall.
On the afternoon of the fourth, I arrived in Williamstown Massachusetts, after 280 miles of walking in just over two weeks, done walking and ready for my plane ride back to California.
I have completed a short video documentary
Saunter in a Sylvan Glade
