Day 131 – Sometimes A Plan Comes Together

I got up around 7:30 as people were stirring outside the shelter. I noticed Iroh was there, who I had not seen since PA. Eating breakfast, we chatted with the SOBOers about the merits of the Mormon religion (there’s a few).

Hiking started before 9:00 a.m. I saw some comments referring to this section as the “rollercoaster” of Vermont. They weren’t wrong. There were extensive ups and downs on the day. But my knee today was feeling ok after some Tylenol and Ibuprofen.

Roughly seven miles in, I came to a private cabin with a lookout built on the roof. Iroh was there taking a break and we both went up top to explore. There was a nice breeze and a great view from the top.

My goal was to make it to a farm stand and coffee shop about nine miles in. As it turns out, they were 14 miles in, my map was just lying to me. When I got to the farm stand around 3:00, it was closed. In fact, the hours said open Thursday – Sunday 10-5. It being a Wednesday, I was S.O.L. There was, however, charging on the porch and water out back; I needed both.

I was there about an hour when the owner showed up and asked if I wanted to purchase anything (I did). I got some beef sticks, protein bars, and ice cream (just the essentials). After a few more minutes of charging, I got going towards the trail.

It was seven more miles to the next shelter. There were more steep ups and downs that led through all sorts of terrain. Fields, pine forests, birch trees, and more. Around 7:30 p.m. I came to a bench and a lookout. I watched the sunset, and not too keen on night hiking further, set up my tent in the grass.

I’m looking to press 18 miles tomorrow into Hanover, NH. I may do a zero in town to resupply and explore before getting into “the Whites.”

Until then, stow away in my pack for day 132 on the Appalachian Trail