Five Lessons from the First Five Days on the Long Trail

Lots to Learn!

In the days leading up to my Long Trail thru-hike, I felt what could be best described as stage fright. I knew the nerves would fade away once I started hiking, like they always did as soon as I stepped onstage. Nature is one of my happy places after all! I was eager to start this 272-mile journey, and knew that I would have a lot to learn. 

On my first day, I started hiking the Long Trail from the Massachusetts border. By the fifth day, I had made it to Manchester Center for my first town resupply. Over the first five days, the Long Trail taught me a few lessons about life and thru-hiking.

Southern Terminus of the Long Trail.

1. Vermud is Real

I had heard the name “Vermud” before starting the Long Trail, referring to the muddy hiking terrain in the Green Mountain State. But I didn’t quite realize just how muddy the trail could be. My socks and shoes refused to dry out from all the puddles. By the end of my first five days on the trail, I had too many blisters to count, as a result of walking so many muddy miles. 

Sometimes the trail is all mud. Sometimes the trail turns into a river. Sometimes the trail is just rocks. But you just have to keep walking!

One of the (less muddy) sections of the Long Trail.

2. Community is Key

Starting my thru-hike solo, I had hoped to make friends on the trail. After passing the Southern Terminus of the Long Trail, I went two full days without seeing another woman or person under the age of about 60 years old. This wasn’t a total surprise to me, but it was definitely different from my daily life. Even though the few people I met in these first two days were very friendly, I still felt lonely at times. Then, on the evening of my second day, I ended up forming a “tramily” (trail family) to hike with. The next day, I quickly learned just how much conversation and good company can make the miles fly by. 

Walking over a brook on the second day.

3. Observe and Notice

During my first two days of hiking solo, I came to appreciate my surroundings more, even while hating the rocky uphill climbs. I found that any time I’d stop and admire a flower, birch tree, red eft, fern, or mountain view, I could appreciate each mile a little more. I had been dreaming about a thru-hike for years, and finding these moments of gratitude made each blistered footstep worth it. 

Found a red eft hanging out on this root on the trail!

4. Seek Out Adventures 

Some of the highlights of my first few days on the trail were the little adventures along the way. I set out on the Long Trail hoping to discover new stories and experiences.

Late morning view from Stratton Pond.

One of my favorite adventures included a detour to Stratton Pond with my new tramily, where we spent two hours sitting by the water, swimming, snacking, watching loons, and floating on my inflatable sleeping pad. I also loved climbing to the top of the Stratton Mountain fire tower just before sunset. On top of the fire tower, we felt the wind and could see the mountains for miles.

A sunset view from the fire tower on top of Stratton Mountain.

5. The Trail Provides

While on the trail, I found that strangers seemed so happy to lend a helping hand. The hikers I met were willing to share so much, from their life stories to hydrocolloid blister bandages.

When we made it to our first town, I was overwhelmed by how welcoming everyone was. My new trail friends and I hitched a ride into town, received trail magic, and chatted with locals about the trail. I felt more inspired to hike and find community in the towns and on the trail.

Pro tip: Check out Mountain Fresh Bowls in Manchester Center – their delicious smoothies were perfect after a day of hiking in the sun.

Walking through Manchester Center after a delicious burger dinner.

Onward!

As I move forward, I hope to continue to observe the world around me, look for adventures every day, and come to appreciate every pair of dry socks. For now, I’m looking forward to what else the Long Trail has to teach me.