Days 12-19 What is it with the "V" States??

There's so much about hiking on the AT that hikers assume non-hikers know. One of those is that Virginia is known as the long green tunnel. Hikers hate it because it's hundreds and hundreds of miles through the trees. I did Virginia and I think that Vermont gives it a run for its money. I know that this blog covers a lot of days, but there aren't that many photos because there just wasn't that much in Vermont to photograph! I know that it's a whiny hiker thing to think that you should get a view on every mountain, but not in this State. Oh, just in case you're curious, this is me in front of Thundering Brook Falls which is just past Killington, Vermont.

One thing that Vermont does have going for it is that the water is beautiful and clean. I can't tell you what a joy it is to take a little birdbath right before one sets up one's tent for the night. In the woods there's nothing you can do about having dirty clothes, especially dirty socks and dirty equipment, but having a clean self is the best thing in the world.

The one place that you're supposed to get views in Vermont is on the ski slopes. If you've ever wondered what they look like in the summer, here's a photo of the Run-Around 1 ski slope in Bromley Mountain Ski Resort. You can even see snow-making guns off to the right. As I was hiking up it, I couldn't believe how steep even the Green ski trails are! I'm glad that the AT didn't run up Black Diamond trails.

When I got to the very tippy-top, there was the Sunder chair lift. I miss skiing and so I couldn't miss the opportunity to have my photo taken on it. I was just lucky that there were other hikers around to do it for me so it isn't a terrible selfie.

It's amazing how you can get lost in the oddest places. Towns and any other oddities tend to get hikers turned around. So someone at the ski resort put up this enormous sign on a long-defunct Ski lift pillar. If you notice the symbol to the left of the AT symbol, it appears to make an LT. This is because for 103 miles, give or take, the Appalachian Trail and the Vermont Long Trail run concurrently. They break off from each other shortly after Killington.

I know that I said there are no views in Vermont, but this is one from Baker Peak. I got lucky and was here when the clouds were pulled back and the sun was out. I'm always amazed that I even have cell signal out here because as you can see there are very few houses or any civilization for miles.

Today was not my best day. It started raining very early. I get up around 4:00 a.m. and I barely got packed before it started. Then I hiked all day in the rain. My only piece of luck is that just before 4:00 p.m. it stopped and allowed me to hike about 45 minutes to get my clothes somewhat dry. The good thing is I got a beautiful camp spot by this stream.

This is Little Rock Pond. One of the other things about Vermont is that they have a lot of pay campgrounds /shelters in the State. I get why they do this because a lot of people from the surrounding areas come up here with their kayaks and spend good amounts of time. Having a caretaker allows the parks to ensure that people are respecting the environment and the rules. Luckily I haven't needed to stop at any of them, mostly because I prefer to stealth-camp in the middle of nowhere.

Every once in a while you run across an odd sight at a lookout. This is Rutland airport. I have to say there are not very many airports on the AT, in fact this might be the only one I've seen in over 1600 miles.

Now this photograph is very amusing to me. Firstly it gives you an idea about what 99.9% of the trail looks like, and I was absolutely tickled by the fact that the town of Shrewsbury thought that there was a need to sign this road. See if you can even find the road in this photograph! As a hiker I know that it is most likely a long-defunct logging road. It is amazing how long it takes for these roads to fully disappear into the forest.

Every once in a while you come across a sign at the round mile markers. This one was very encouraging as it puts me under 500 miles to my end point. It is after signs like this that I really miss Gadget (Mike) and Luna. They get a little shout-out in every trail book that I sign in to.

Yesterday was a rainy and crappy day, so another day without any photos. Also I hiked a ridiculous number of miles because I foolishly thought that I'd be able to find a camp spot on my way up Killington. Let me tell you that didn't happen. But the good thing that came from it was that I got to my hotel ridiculously early the next day.

It is an adorable place just .5 miles off the trail. Now normally I don't like to walk this far off trail but hopefully you can see why I would do it here.

This hotel is nestled in ski country and you can see Pico Mountain in front of the hotel.

The other amazing thing is that for $60 you can get your own Room! There isn't a lot of privacy on the trail so this is a rare and amazing moment. Also when I checked in, the woman convinced me that the last thing I want to do is miss breakfast tomorrow so I'm going to have eggs. I can't tell you how excited I am about that!

After my relaxing day yesterday and an amazing breakfast today I started hiking with Steve. Perhaps you remember him from my last blog. He is the only hiker with whom I've done 3 days on the entire trail. I truly enjoy his company as we are both teachers and he appreciates my knowledge of the local Flora and Fauna. We stopped to use the bathroom at Gifford Woods State Park and I found this Waved sphinx moth, Ceratomia undulosa, hanging out in the bathroom. I re-homed it to the wild outside and we continued our hike.

I asked Steve to take this photograph of me because I thought it was so funny that someone had dragged a ladder all the way out here to make this descent or climb easier. Usually they do rebar hammered into the rock but this was an interesting twist on a theme. You never know what you're going to find on the trail.

Today was just the day of butterfly and moth species. I have been trying to get a decent photograph of these guys for days as they are very prevalent in this area. This is the male and female White Admiral, Limenitis arthemis, butterfly. They love to get down in the gravel beside rivers and drink the water so that they don't get their wings wet.

Where this photograph was taken I am about 475 miles from finished and I have to say I've never seen anything like this! We were hiking up Mt. Quimby and ran into a little Lending Library!!! Mike and I fully intend to put one of these in our front yard and so I'm a bit obsessed with them. In fact I used them a ton on our Parachuting Beaver road trip to keep my book selection diverse... but in all of those 14 months I never found one on the side of a mountain 10+ miles from the nearest road.

I stopped in at a shelter just to use the privy and was treated to this. It was put in by Cloudland which is a market about 15 miles away. I have to say that each privy you go to is different from the last. And I doubt I'll see another one like this before Katahdin.

I'm almost at the New Hampshire border, and the very end of Vermont has these beautiful open fields. I have not had very many sunrises and sunsets on this portion of the trip, which makes me sad. I think I got a little spoiled by them down South and kind of assumed that I'd have them all the way through. I'm really hoping that when I get into New Hampshire's White Mountains where you are above tree line I'll have halfway decent weather and some beautiful views. Cross your fingers for me!

Here is just another example of how certain communities come together to make hikers' lives a little bit easier. After my beautiful sunrise I had breakfast on this bench.

I put this in because it is me crossing the White River. I am told it's a wonderful river to swim in but it's a bit cool this morning and so I'm contenting myself with a photograph. I didn't know it when I took this photograph but when I get into Hanover, which is just across the border in New Hampshire, I will see people swimming in the river. I can only assume that they are Dartmouth students as Hanover is home to the Ivy League college.

And here is a picture of the Green in Hanover. The town of Hanover is very cute and you can feel the Ivy League college vibe all over it. I've been told that there is a high chance that the AT will be rerouted 50 miles around this town. And let me say it's not the AT that isn't in love with Hanover, it's that Hanover may or may not be in love with AT hikers. Whenever I hear this it makes me a bit sad because walking through towns is one of the hikers' highlights. Not that I necessarily stop and eat but it's just nice to see something that isn't trees every once in a while.

Near the border between Vermont and New Hampshire, you climb up Moose Mountain. Not a whole lot of shade at this summit but I did enjoy the breeze and the view even if it is a bit hazy. Hey, beggars... I mean hikers...can't be choosers.

I have to say I'm in love with New Hampshire already. This is a panorama of Holts Ledge. From where I'm taking the photograph it's actually a scary, very vertical drop-off but it's the nicest view and the most extensive view I've had in ages. On the left-hand side you can get a view of bedrock where the side of the mountain has slid into the valley. Sadly nowhere to camp with a view but again I'm just happy to have one.

I took this photograph because this pillar was in the middle of the woods. I have no idea who put it there or why 412 miles? Why not 400 or 450? Sometimes on the trail you just take your photograph, thank God that it hasn't started raining yet, and walk on.

I know that every once in a while I mention that I get a Box on trail. This is where Mike has sent my most recent one. It is just .3 off the trail and a lovely place to spend an afternoon.

Tomorrow I get into the White Mountains for real… Cross your fingers for me, as it's supposedly the hardest portion of the Trail. If I manage to make it through this I'll practically be in Maine, the last State, the last push. Bye readers, see you down the trail.

OK, so hiker midnight is supposed to be 7:00 and I was fully prepared for bed and then along came the Danes with their traditional fireside treat from Denmark!!

Most of you know my obsession with new food so of course I HAD to stay and make one. They are called Snobrød (Twisted Bread).

You can see my level of excitement as I toast away. The Danes were guests of the owners who are really amazing hosts. I was so lucky for this opportunity.