Week 14 – New England Milestones Continue

Days 93-99

Day 93 we walked .04 mile into Lee proper to Joe’s Diner, where after a good breakfast we were offered a ride to the trailhead. Hiking out of Lee offered a moderate climb and a relatively easy day to Dalton at 19.2 miles. The weather was clear and warm! Legendary trail angel Tom Levardi let us tent in his backyard and graced us with some amazing cookies, then coffee and doughnuts for breakfast! He’s been a trail angel for 40 years now. Tom hosted Earl Shaffer three times—talk about legendary. Thanks, Tom.

Day 94 Memorial Day

I start out this day with a prayer of appreciation to our brothers and sisters that answered the call to duty and made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. My continued gratitude and heartfelt appreciation for their service as well as their families for their sacrifices and loss. Today we remember our heroes and their families. Fittingly, we hiked Mount Greylock, at 3,489 feet. The climb reminded us that we will be climbing again after a short layover from The Priest in Virginia. This is a 20.9-mile ascent gaining 5.070 feet on the day. After 20.4 miles we called it a night at Wilbur Clearing Shelter—with some big milestones lined up for Tuesday.

Day 95 Big milestones
We depart Wilbur Clearing Shelter with just under ten miles to our 12th state, Vermont, and 1,600 miles backpacked. The day ended in Bennington, with 580 miles left to Kathadin’s summit.

On this day, we zeroed in Bennington, VT, after 16 trail days and 316.2 miles for me and slightly more for Resident Daddy (RD) and Farmer. Thank you Kerby and Cindy for the visit and all the wonderful trail magic you supplied us with.

Day 96

Bennington, VT. Mile marker 1,611.7 to east Arlington was a 22.6-mile day and we got our full on initiation to Vermont and its bottomless mudholes. The beauty was incredible and as you’re fighting to reclaim your trekking poles you look up to witness it.

Day 97

Was another day of mud ( Vermud) is Vermont’s nickname and it lived up to its billing.

Was a late start and featured lots of mud. Not to be outdone, the black flies kept us company all day too. We still managed to hit two significant summits: Stratton and Bromley mountaintops. We hiked 20.5 miles on a very beautiful and slightly overcast Vermont day.

The highlight was after walking up ski slope to watch the sun set in the west and Farmer, RD, and me enjoyed the ski patrol warming hut for our overnight.

Day 98

We hiked from Bromley to Little Rock shelter, though only 17.8 miles it had its share of vertical ascents and the ever-tiring mudholes. Rain threatens all day and graciously waits for nightfall to begin.

Day 99

Little Rock Shelter to Governor Clement Shelter 1.692.4 mile marker we packed in 19.7 miles. Warm, 55 degrees, overcast and threatening. Tenting—shelter filled with youth hikers. 5,800-foot ascent. Tons of moose sign.

We caught up with the legendary Leapfrog Cafe, aka Fresh Ground. Lucky and I saw him on day two during a difficult rainy and cold 35 degree morning on our way to Neel Gap. He had a wood stove and tarp. He made us amazing coffee and grill cheese and really picked up our spirits. It was great to see him again. He proclaimed us to be the NOBO bubble and wished us well as he would stay with us, returning in a week to get us through the Whites of New Hampshire. Really, holy cow—we hit the trail magic mother lode. We also finish the day 499.4 miles from Kathadin.

Loving the adventure, Catmando!